The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-04-22

,fthe hills and on what is now known u
e Rio Rio Horn River. had given the Sioux Il
he IDEA Of digging pits over which buffalo
n NO. could be dried quickly by the heat q
e f;re and while making a pit Of this Il
,ort one day we came upon particles OF =
,,ollow metal which took to be gold. I
Nv COMPANIONS said it was, and informed
me- that they had found gold there before. !
and that the hills had always been IA
nous for their gold. A few days after
that took some nuggets from the bed OF
the Big Horn River which were
THE FINEST QUALITY OF GOLD.
The Sioux informed me that the Black
Hills had always been known as abound
ing with gold and other precious metals
but the 'smeuntain of gold" which Gen.
Sheridan refers to I did not then hear o.
nor did afterward, though very marvel,
ous stories were told about the gold found
there.
II knew Father de Smet we'll, and am
indebted to him more than to any man
who ever lived, of which l will presently
tell you. l think Father de Smet must
have misunderstood the story to some ex-
tent. as the Sioux knew the country
thoroughly and knew perfectly the dlfier-
ence in value between gold and mica:
They believed that rich beds OF metal
Law hidden deep in the soil OF the nils,
hut there was no belief of mountain OF
gold.
Every tribe has its rude artisans, and
number of them among the Sioux mace |
the gold found here into ear and niger
r;nos. and for knife handles and orna-
ments for belts.
= In the fall of 1888 we left Big horn
river and penetrated the hills to the east
frequently travelling over long stretches
of valley, making our way lelsurely and
killing game, which abounded IN great
profusion. From what is now known as
the Powder River Hills we turned north,
and travelled in that direction till we
struck the Yellowstone. Two (perhaps
tbree) wears subsequent to this remem-
Der we travelled through the hills over
nearly the same route, went north 10 the
Yellowstone again, and hunted down II
till we came to the Big Horn, on the
western edges of the hills.
In 184l (about) hunting party OF US
made another long visit to the BLACK
Hills. this time coming down the Laramie
river and going into the hills from the
south. We travelled to the Cheyenne
river and camped a number Of weeks on
the South Fork of that stream. Here
we saw indications of gold also. Harvey S
Peak is in this vicinity, and is on the
eastern side Of the Cheyenne Hills. There
must be good
5 GOLD DIGGINGs RIGHT AT >aARNEY PEAK.
The western slope of the Cheyenne
II p~Orch nf tho (thQV.
: enne river, near its confluence with the
South Fork, have visited several times
on the route down the main stream, and
G gold is plentiful, both il nuggets IN the
river bed and in the lodges and sides o.
the hills. Some of the nuggets which
Father de Smet saw were doubtless taker
II from that locality. Further west. ant
e between the Big Horn and Tongue rivers
. is one of the highest peaks to be found II
r. the hills. The Sioux called it the Grea
l Arrow, from its sharp point Near !
y there is gold in rich quantities.
le In fact, am certain gold will be foun'
te in every part of the Black Hills, and Il
l many places silver ore in paying quantl
ID ties. In the immense lodges Of slate an
r limestone rocks there is
to EVERY INDICATION oP PRECIOUS METALS.
~ Remarkable beds Of gypsum Il did nc
ch then know it's use) nearly hundred fee
n, in thickness can be found there.
nd am not metallurgist but practic'
~ ,ndpe of what metal or mineral IS whe
=. I see it.
MT The Powder River district furnish'
h gold. Twas on that stream the last tin
20 in 1857, travelling more than one hundrt
no miles directly up its valley. de not 7
member to have seen nuggets IN tn
ng river, but observed, as had frequent
led before, good signs of abundant gold.
SO / am certain that gold in paying qua
l titles will be found in the immediate
ng, cinity Of Harney's Peak, but l belle
sgs General Sheridan's supposition that
I'll. 1T Is MORE PLENTIFUL IN THE wEsTE
ECU LIMITS
~ of the hills is correct. When l roam
~ over that country my object was not 60
and took comparatively little inter,
in such subjects. was not prospect
- for precious metals, and my Observable
~ were only such IS would naturally fall
~ NV way. Therefore l am not prepared
' :u1 speak of the relative wealth OF the va
Ing GUS Black Hills, but know in . gene
nos way that
THEY ALL PRODUCE GOLD.
~ have never mined for gold, but sil
t far my disconnection from the Sioux (ls6.
have worked for silver ore in the Ca
NV vA Floyd mining district Of Utah lToe
'1>' county, and [ am certain that there
plenty Of silver diggings IN the BIZ
Hills that will assay go ounces TO
;rea ton
- Nv informant communicated mum
H.. of other facts concerning the rich gu
L. IT,, ties Of the Black Hills soil, but all Of
ne. cumulative character, and only tendin;
ont. make stronger what he had already m
apparent-that gold exists there IN
,,r+. pious and remunerative quantities
, The weird and romantic story OF
= nv Caruther's life had piqued my curios
..,hs into an abnormal state Of activity. An
;on1 could not refrain from propounding =
e;n., questions to him concerning his past
tory, an allusion to which he sho