The New York herald., 1875-09-19
Arrest of Barefooted Miners on
Castle Greek.
PERILS OF THE PLAINS.
Hundreds Of Indian Lodges Moving
Toward the Agencies.
ACROSS THE bad LANDS"
RED CLOUD INDIAN AGENCY, Nebraska, |

| marching
from Camp Terry, the head waters of Bear Creek,
toward Enhen Kahgah for Inyan Kara as corruptedJ,
when on August 81 We met by courier FROM Fort
Laramie He handed a despatch which he had
brought $50 miles in four days In pursuance OF Its
contents pushed to the principal camp of the expe-
don and started thence for the Indian agency the
White River. scanty supply of bedding was placed
upon Indian pack pony it necessary travel
with light burden possible, and mounted on
raw-boned horse which had already faithfully carried
me through three months Of exploration, started.
The work of the expedition was nearly completed,
and l bid 1t goodby without any reluctance
There few discoveries to be made,
and mystery of the Sioux Paradise had
been thoroughly probcd. A lonely ride Of seventy
miles, over General Custer's n-going trail to the
camp of Captain e. Pollock, French Creek,
consumed day and half | bivouacked on the first
night in a small forest glade Castle Creek, about
mile above the mouth Of Gold Greek, where the fifteenth
camp ofIieutenant Colonel Dodges expedition was
made in June AS very few readers of the HERALD
probably have enjoyed in solitude the deep silence
of the primeval forest during long night it
may interesting to them learn the sensations of
one who has
"RoUGHING IT."
The sun hung low the hills in the west and it
became apparent that to dess from travel and repose
for the night would be wise jaded horse appeals to
the sympathy of his rider, who himself not without
touch of wearness in his detected looks stumbling
pace, strongly than could any words, and ''Red
Cloud" my steed, emaciated and somewhat be-
yond the prancing period of youth So, turning into
small ravine forming a sunken avenue, through
the dense OF trees which covered the low hills
north of the stream old game trail led through
some cumps Of willows to a level, grassy space, circu
lar form and hcdged in by the dark gloomy shadows
Of the pines. The pack taken from the pony and
he picketed knee deep in the grass the glade
which had been turned from green TO brown by freak
OF the early frost journey OF quarter OF mile back
the creek then needu in order to get water for
the preparation of coffee Imagine pair of ancient sad
die pouches, with greasy outward appearance con-
tanning of subsistence for journey Of four days
and half tin cup with handle served coffee urn
coffee cup and saucer A half handful OF coffee and
half pint of water placed within and are soon
sleeping and sizzling and finally boiling over fro Of
pine burrs knots and twigs The lonely wanderer
should always remember the practical wisdom Of the
Indian, who is the Arab OF the great Western world
"The white man, " he says ''make big fire and then
get far from -too hotl Indian, ne build little fire.
sit right close and is warm. WaSbtai Good I"
There is a slight moral in this simple comparison.
The small fire does its best to throw a cheerful CLEAN
on grim trunks Of the trees and dsspate some Of
the gaunt shadows that lurk in the darkness but in
vain, although, you sit to its genial warmth
as possible you feel that would be the loss Of
friend. Nothing inanimate can be more friendly
than a camp fire Out Of the same greasy
pouch you take a slice of bacon, pre-
viousy whiting the bark of forked stick, and
place it thereon holding the flames, that it
may fry The coffee and bacon cooked; the former
is sweetened with brown sugar and stirred with the
sheath knife from your belt Hard tack" takes the
place of ethe staff Of ife" He who has given his
faith to Delmonico may doubt that this feast would
please any mortal palate however Of fastid
But it has been found sweeter than the am
brosa Of the gods You sit upon the grass and sip tho
coffee from the blackened tin cup with peculiar relish
which from the finest Of gilt china on
city breakfast table Hard tack" and bacon are in the
wilderness quite equivalent French rolls and quail on
toast elsewhere. sitting all day the saddle a bet
ter tonic and appetizer than ounglng at the club or
''bucking the tiger" in genteel style. Frequently
wealthy Englishmon visit the Western wds OF America
and trough it" as thoroughly the rontersmen who
have lived here for years, and who patronze my lud"
freely when they meet him. Rarely American
citizens OF means accept recreation although
to them convenient of access.
START.
Old traditions OF the conduct Of wild animals toward
a traveller at night in the forest tend to fill him with
nervous apprehensions The books advise fire TO awe
ber Pile the wel-dried pine agots which are strewn
over the ground They will burn til few hours Of the
dawn, and although the restless tread Of an army of
wolves catamounts cougars and panthers may disturb
the slumberer he will be safe from their enmty 1t Is
very romantic to spread ono's blankets the soft turf
undera friendly pine and Gle down to pleasant drcamsn
although after longs days aunt the very for
tunatey apt to prove truant But fiery eyes gleam-
ing out Of the darkness all sides at the victim whom
the red shining flames alone protect being torn TO
pieces do not I'll the brain with the most soothing
images. however soon fell asleep after rolling my
self up in two blankets and buffalo robe and did not
awake until just before the gray dawn Then the last
1ckerng ember Of the nre had expired and
although the darkness yet dispersed the vora-
cious lobos and kiotes longer watching me- l
saddled my and packed the pony by the starlight
Before the peeped the pine frnged hills on the
east side Of Gold Creek had ridden fifteen miles The
grass in the valleys encrustcd by hoar frost that
gstened and cleaned and gave the morning breeze
keen edge. AS rode along in the perfect quetude Of
nature while she was taking her morning nap came
upon browsing deer in large numbers They did not
sartie until was close upon them and then ran only
short distance 10 stop and gaze back at me with nno
cent curiosity noble black tail buck stood upon a
hillside hundred yards from the tra looking around
at as ! passed with steady noncha
lance, lie was still in tho same spot until
lost to view. Over breezy DIVIDE down
into green vale where rises a small creek that after
awhile joins the Rapid the trail was illumined by the
first rays Of the risen SUM- As ! was crossing the
brook beautiful slyor deer sprang from the cover Of
the wood and after running toward me a short dis
tanco turned about suddenly and entered the shade
again.
ARRESTED MINERS
Twenty miles brought me to the charming valley
which cradles the Rapid Creek long way from the point
where II begins ts Wild through canyons and over
rapids IL here purls through the grcenest meadows,
and inc water is OF very low temperature stopping