Connecticut western news., 1875-06-18
General Character of. the Black Hills.

General Character of the Black Hills.
 Of the general character Of the Black Hills, MT. sHinman says in report The Black Hills we found to be a bleak and, except for its abundant growth of hard pine, 8 forbidding and sterile mountain. Green from it's springs and trees, it is a cool and pleasant retreat from the burning sun and baked soil of the desert plains around it, and only 8 garden spot when compared to and con- trasted with the bad land and utter deso- lation that surround it. There may, in deed, be mineral wealth there, but, if so, we believe it to be yet undiscovered, and there are no evidences, either from location, or character of rock or soil or sand, to warrant any expectation that more diligent search would be rewarded with success. As an agricultural or grazing country it is worthless. It is high, bleak, and cold, traversed by fear summertime almost truly said by the
 od dans s7te se be 7a6td b tss esos hqasP %s6 sanctuary and mountain home. The !" summers very, short, and affording only time for a month or. two of grazing in the parks and for the ripening of the smaller berries in the ravines. When civilization comes nearer and some rail road traverses these plains, the pine may be useful for rough lumber and for fuel; but now, and for a long time to come, it's only use and value seem to pe that known to the Indians-for poles to up hold their " "teepees" on the prairie, or to make tr0Uois for their ponies when they journey. rgG EG@W G Grs's.
 MT. ~Hinman knew Father De Smet intimately, and made frequent summer trips with him up the Missouri river. Father De Smet was missionary to the Flathead Indians, among whom he la bored for many years. He did not speak the Sioux dialect, and was never in the Black Hills country. .l He once made 8 trip to Powder river, descending from the Missouri and Yellowstone, and reached point about one hundred and fifty miles distant from the Black Hills, which was the nearest approach he ever made to them. The Flatheads informed him of the existence of a mountain of gold, but, from their description, he supposed it to be cinnabar. They never informed him of it's locality. Cinnabar is red sulphuret of mercury, or quick silver, occurring native in brilliant red crystals, and also in irregular masses of different shades of red and brown. Father De eSmet was 8 pleasant old French gentleman, and, in @ spirit of fun, would relate the story of the mys- terious mountain to the numerous in quirers who applied to him. MT. Hin man has heard him relate the story many times, but mover heard him describe the locality of the mountain. He told Hin man that the Indians said they would some time lead him to the mountain, he promising to give them one hal fef what he might fealize from it. G1t.is needless to say that Father De Smet did not be- ieve in the existence of mountain of gold, and related the story with provok- ing mysteriousness for his own amuse- ment. Once, while ascending the Mis- sollri from St. Louis, he told the story with his usual naivete to a Western ad- venturer, who became intensely excited over it, and begged the father to name the locality of the mountain, promising that he. would organize g company for its development, and give: one half the J4OAA uO GAO lAuA6sL6s UO UAO church, and be satisfied with the remain ing quarter for his share of the profits. Of course Father De Smet could not give the desired information. But this ad- venturer obtained some specimens of gold, went back to Indiana, issued 8 flaming prospectus, exhibited his speci- mems, organized company, from which he realized $2OO,O0O, and then fled to St. Paul, Minn., where he established a hotel on the proceeds of the swindle. He died in Paul a short time ago. This is the history of Father De Smet's fabulous mountain, which the Black Hills excitement has now converted into a'mountain of solid gold. Itis highly probable that the latter glowing reports have, in the same manner, converted the base pyrities of the Black Hills into golden nuggets. Until these conflicting stories about the wealth of the Black I Hills are reconciled by the geographical survey ordered by the government, those affected with the gold fever had better nurse their malady at home. If Hinman's report be correct, those who go there will not find gold in the hills, nor. substance in the valleys, and! some of them will be fortunate if they escape with their lives from the Indian guarded hills. < EIIFEf4 E1D i' 5,1-