The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-03-11
BLACK HILLS
Letters From Newton Warren and
Charlie Corceiros
Statement OF John Gordon. Just
Returned. etc.

We preface the letters sent us with
the statement, taken from the Sioux
CITY journal. Of John Gordon, who
led the expedition from Sioux City,
October 9th, among whom were our
Wichita boys. Mr.. Gordon has got
back to Sioux City for supplies and re-
Inducements, and will return TO the
Black Hills in sixty days. lie says af-
ter leaving Sioux City they crossed the
Kca Paha near it's source, and, bearing
in nortiwestcrly course to the south |
fork of White River, crossed from
thence direct to the north of this stream
aud followed up the valley thirty miles, |
thence across to Bad river and across
that stream TO the South Fork of the
Cheyenne, crossing this stream at the
mouth of Elk Greek. They followed
the divide between Elk Greek and Bear
Creek 20 the base of tie Black Hills,
where they struck General Custar's
trail at the point where he left tie
hills. Following this trail through the
hills. they reached the place named
Cus.ar's Park, where the expedition
did their prospecting. This is about
eight miles from Harney's Peak. AT
this point the expedition halted on the
Esd day Of December, and commenced
prospecting in the same holes made by
Custar's men. They found gold just
as Custar had reported from the sur
face 10 he'd rock. New holes were al
so dug at different points in this yicin-
iiy with the same or even better re-
suits. Good specimens OF silver ore
were also found, but being anxious to
complete their quarters they had not
time to Investigate them before cold
weather set in.
They also prospec:ed pretty thor
oughly the valley in which they were
located, and found rs high as Is cents
TO the pan. The miners estimate that
with slniccs, from $40 to ss25 per man
per day could easily be made here. In
this valley alone there is enough room
for claims for two thousand miners.
Water is abundant to supply all
claims.
Snow fell to the depth Of Fix inches
in all. They found splendid springs Of
water and streams with fish in ,hem
bodies of excellent pine timber, and
any amount of game. The grazing is
good all the year, their stock keeping
in good order without feeding. The
soil in the valleys inside the hills, and
also in the valleys Oh the route to the
hills, is of excellent quality.
The numerous specimens of gold in
Mr.. Gordon's possession are very fine
and said by experienced miners to in
dictate rich diggiugs. Mr.. Gordon left
the camp IN accordance with an agree
mcnt made before leaving Sioux City,
in case Of success, OH February ST., and
came out of the hills at the southeast
portion, where, by pass previously
heard of through old mountaineers, a
good wagon road was found, shorten
ing the distance by several days travel.
Mr.. Gordon says that parties of fifty
men, well armed, could go to the hills
with perfect safety. and the trip be
made from Sioux City with mule teams
in twenty days, or with oxen in thirty
days.
When he left, the party were salts
fed with what they had fouud,- and
that they would be amp repaid as
soon as spring opens, so that they could
work advantage. They look anx.
ljOusly for rcinforcements to help them
Ydeve!op W hat they have found, and This
is Gordop's object in coming out. lie
will return about the middle of April.
JANUARY Goth, 1875.
Mr.. EDITOR:-l AM now safely eli
econccd in the Black Hills. Twenty
five men, one lady, Mrs. Talcnt) and a
boy nine years old, left Sioux City on
the 9th of October, aud arrived here
oil the esd day of December. Morris
Aaron. of Chicago, died on the 2Sth
day of November, and was buried al
the head of Bad river, i'll Dakota. W.
started from Sioux City with six wag
ons drawn by thirty oxen. We ca,nt
through without the loss of an OK, OF
any accidents. in the dead of winter, 8
distance of 700 miles. Wood, water
and grass plenty, on the route we came
We came into the hills in defiance 81
the United States army and all III,
Sioux nation. We have built stock
adc eighty feet square. our cabins with
in. We are on Custar's old camp, eigh,
miles from Harney's Peak. Custar die
not exaggeratc when he said gold wa:
in paving quantities from the gras.
roots down. Two days ago saw Ben
Logan, an old California and Montans
miner, pan out of one pan of dirt. tei
cents worth of fine gold. We can fine
the "colOr" where ever we have pros
pcctcd in the valley. Four of the mel
will leave for Cheyenne on the first day
of February. We only saw five Indi
ans on our way.
X. ii. Bishop and N. II. Cordeiro. o.
Wichita, are here, aud well. They are
digging gold with good prospect.
We have not heard from the state:
since we left civilization. Such beau
tiful scenery, and such pleasant eli
mate, have never before seen. The
hills are covered with heavy growth
of Norway pine timber. In The valleys
the grass is very luxuriant, aud wsttei
is plenty on the hills. There was nc
snow here till the sth of January
when it fell 10 the depth of eight inch
es. | have worked out il INV shirt
sleeves nearly every day since came
10 the bills. When the breeze is from
the west it is warm and pleasant, and
there is current of air that flows from
off China and Japan, strikes the shores
of Oregon and Washington Territory
passes through the Rocky Mountains
and strikes into the Black Hills which
makes this u mild climate.
We want miners, farmers, stock.
raisers and mechanics Of all kinds here
a portable saw mill will do well here
| Iexpect to go TO Cheyenne soon 70,
supplies. | will leave Cheyenne abou,
the first Of March. When ! write YOU
again, | will give YOU all the particu
lars. j. NEWTON WARREN.
BLACK HILLS, NEAR FT. DEFIAxcE, !
January Sd. 1873. !
Mr.. EDITOR On leaving Wichita
promised TO write, and inform you up
on our arrival here, of this famed re.
Lgion, il it was ever reached by our party
We arc here, all OF us. We left Sioux
City on the 6ta of October, with six
OK teams, I've run in skies apparently
none of us knew the road, but We
luuged out like ship ruddericss, and
dritted that way until we struck All
old i.afilr trail about tire hnndrad end