National Republican., 1875-07-08
THE BLACK HILLS.
The Wonders Of this wild and Mysterious
Region.

A correspondent, writing to the st. Louis Globe
Democrat, gives graphic and interesting descrip-
tion Of the Black Kills IS seen by amember Of an
exploring expedition which Is supposed to have
been the first that ever entered the heart Of the
Black Hills:
After getting permission 70 60 and take With Us
Moll, company A, and Private 0,Ferrell, COM
pany H, Third cayslry, and provided ourselves
with good quantity Of ammunition, an extra
visions. Securing "Oslifornia joe" we went
quietly out Of camp and soon struck game trail,
rs
and overlooking the camp. This was accomplished
with no little labor, as the trail could not be seen
At spd the I'd was % TSuFn and
drag our horses behind rs
We estimated the distance We had travelled be-
the scientific party has since then made Il 500
feet above the level Of the camp. In going up
this tran "Jos" exhibited his talent IS hrst-
on the trip he told Us . yarn that these 6rst f1s
miles fully demonstrated. ION applying once, .
said Joe, ITO post commander for smpioyment
me m very rye closely On what knew about trailing.
told him could trail anything; that nothing
could walk Without leaving tracks behind. But
have to leave dung behind them.n
From the top Of little pins-olsd eminsnee, near
the Red Butte, that we ascended, could be seen
away to the south and west, an apparently level
plain; even beyond the Big Cheyenns river, some
thirty or forty miles away, beyond which could oe
hide Butte, which is at least ninety or hundred
miles away. From this point northWard We could
see ss
eastward, and, finally, south 10 point nearly due
east Of us, the direction We expected to ind or
see. .s.-s
HARHxx,s PEAK.
Within this semf-circle could be seen nothing
but 9 black mantle Of pitch.pine forest, % thick
that 4 seemed almost futile TO attempt to pene-
ca susi % remark, 1--WE must cross on that divide, .
pointing toward the dark arc, "through them ID
nothing but breakers" Joe seemed 70 dive INTO
the camp, with its mounted vidsttes and grim re.
doubts, We followed him into the dark silence Of
death. This monotony was soon broken by run
prepared and were lying sessoning for the use Of
Although 1t was terribly lonesome we moved
rieties Of woodland birds. and now andrhen the
startling OF fog tail deer and progress, restored
sondense 70 ourselves ana .sn1sd n.saode
at good lively walk-now and then coming into
an opening covered with buffalo grass and iva,
berry bloom formed no small quantity. Here and
there on the grass lay the skull or bones OF o
long g.depsrted bison or buffalo.
STRONG INDICATIONS or GOLD.
We turned due west Of the road, and kept this
course for over an hour, and finally stopped upon
the top Of high peak TO rest and look at the sur
rounding country. Such sight is hardly ever
presented TO man; 1t ts beyond description.
The country trsversed by rs since . N. Was
undoubtedly what is known as Custer's Park, but
having no mark Of that officers explorations we
were not positive, but before us was what ono
could only compare with some immense park Of
the most magnificent grsndeur-one filled with
high conical green pine. crowned hills thrown In
utter confusion with clear, sparkling riyulets Of
ice cold water winding through dense foliage be-
plains, and surrounded with much higher, rock
crowned peaks, among which old Harney stands
Far away 70 the southwest, some ninety or hum
dred miles, like o cameis lump, could be seen the
dim outline and darkness OF RaWhids peak.
The rock Of the country passed through during
the day Was Limestone, slate, granite, mica and
quarry. The latter two occurred IN large quantt-
ties In ledges or veins, having constant Width
and we'll defined direction, some places miles In
raj country, but one that bears strong and unmis-
taxable signs Of gold, and the whole party was
fully convinced Of its exstencs IN the eastern and
Southeastern parts Of the hills. In what quauti-
ties 10 yet to be determined. They very much re-
gretted that they did not have one more 1sy 20
delay near Harney's Peak and prospect As to
the Black Hills, they are fully convinced that In
diana made no use Of them, that mons have been
there recently or for years, and that they 90 no
water ct their base for the game and their lodge
pSi Their ponies would Be Of no srsil q tn dsnss
timber, and there is no game IN them but can Be
found IN equally large Quantities On theopcn foot
blll flf heif ysYiRsS; that Fqih gaze y pqt