The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-02
SCENERY OF THE HILLS.
Miners on the Tramp In tho Regions
Of the Hills.
DISCOURAGED AND DISAPPOINTED.
Stories About the Land Of
Precious Pebbles.
EXPERIENCES OF MINERS.

CLEARwArER SPRINGS, July Is, 1875.
The constant inflow OF miners has brought to
Camp Harvey during the past three weeks,
tumors Without number OF an alarming character.
FIRST BY one OF the mail parties returning from
Fort Laramie, 1t was learned that the oommissary
building, constructed OF logs. at Camp No. IL, had
been burned and that the stores which had been
left there In consequence Of lack or transporta-
ton when the troops moved forward mad be
deliberately destroyed or stolen. There were
various opinions Of this event. The first impress
sion in the mind was that it was the work of a
hostile band of Indians. But such a theory was
nissipated by subsequent reports, which lett no
doubt that party OF miners mad robbed and then
Attempted to burn the building. Probably
they. were somewhat actuated by enmiy
toward the government, engendered by Captain
Walkers outrage upon men OF their Xix near Cor
don City. Some OF the property which was left at
Camp No. IL was aterward recognized by an I'M
interested person at one OF the miners haunts in
this valley. Thereafter stories OF hostile Indians
Bwarming in tho outskirts OF the BILLS were every
nay invented by the miners and put into circula-
ZION. The southeastern portion OF the Black Hills
was said to be full OF Sioux and Cney ennes and
the South Fork Of the Cheyenne was, according to
rumor simply lined With the dark masses OF war
riors. Trails were said TO be thick along the val
legs south OF French Greek and also the remnants
OF recent camp fires. Finally. Lieutenant Foster,
who was conducting a survey OF stream, crossed
by the road to Camp No. IL, westward Of Camp
Harvey about twenty-five miles, sent q despatch
to Colonel Dodge on July 10, stating that he had
found Indian signs to be very numerous, and,
having reached the South Cheyenne River, had
behed in the west great masses Of SMOKE which
ne attributed to prairie fires.
THE MAIL PARTY
which departed hence on June "a for Fort Lara
ME, was confidently expected 10 reacn this camp
on Its return on July or s. Its failure TO arrive
when associated with the frequent rumors OF an
omlnous kind, which were constantly brought to
the ears OF the commander, caused him to feel ex-
ceedlngly anxious about the safety OF she escort,
which was composed OF only eighty men OF Com
pany /, Second cavalry, in charge OF non-com-
missloned officer. on the 10th Colonel Dodge de-
termined to send force in search Of them. Cap
tain Gerald Russel's company OF the Third cav
airy was selected for the service. Provided with
rations and forage the night before sufficient to
supply the men and animals for ten days, the de-
tachment began it's march on Sunday morning at
I'VE O'Clock in the direction OF Camp No. IL. the
orders given to Captain Russell were to find the
mail at all hazards even II he should
be compelled TO go to Fort Laramie,
and thereafter to examine the banks OF the South
rork OF the Cheyenne In search OF traces OF the In
dians and Tor the cause OF the huge smoke seen
by Lieutenant Foster. IL the company had
marched southwark for more than SIX days 1t
would have been compelled TO 60 to Fort Laramie
for supplies. 1t was fully anticipated that Cap
tain Russell would encounter hostile party
holding the mail escort in check, or else that the
latter had been deprived OF their horses by the
Indians and were finishing their journey on loot
other explanations OF the delay OF the mail were
easily Imaginable. but the mind, with a strange
Eest, prefers to give credit to possibilities which
I'LL IL with excitement. SO, when we left
Camp Harvey at dawn IL was with
new experience oil this outre life OF the West;
Of seeing the Indian at mis- own system OF war
accompanied tnls feeling would be extremely
hypUcriticaL lnasmuch as the danger was TO me
an unfamiliar apparlllon, IL seemed possessed,
confess OF larger spectre-l1ke dimensions.
INDIAN COUNTRY SCENERY.
The scenery between Camp Harney ana camp
to me and very charming. IL is varied hill
country marked by canyons with steep sides.
pleasant LITTLE dells and rolling plateauX. From
the latter, looking southwark and westward, the
eye can rest on mighty expanse OF plain. In the
midst OF which the Black Hills Is a rugged island.
SO simllc render viva in the readers eye the
granu aspect OF the great sea oi iand, viewed
rom an elevation lar ABOVE H. as that
lends vagueness to the outlines OF the land, blends
Its hues and the shadows OF the clouds until you
rolling waves ceaselesslv moving under tAe sun
and the vapory shade which covers 1t with
thousand tlnts ard varying aspects. On the
plains the Cloud and the qufverinR OF the heated
atmosphere give an appearance to the surface OF
Iitinn 70 the traveIIer eleysti1e low his. when
are many miles away, above the horizon so that
they seem quite uear and distinct the sheen or
the air often causes glistenng sheets or water TO
appear as they DO In the Desert OF sahara TO the
thirsty vision, only to vanish ON closer APP
Inc Black Hills, about 5000 feet above the
sea, the charms OF distance and the deceptive
atmosphere, moving clouds ana blazing sunlight
blend their effects into a magnificent panorama.
may add that the caravans OF miners, stretch
Ing across the plains norsaward' eompIets tne
contain ali their earthly goods, moving to the
patient pace OF mule ana OK have wen been
named the ''schoonersn OF the prairie.
DESERTED CAMP.
We bivouacked on sunday night in canyon
where heads the Red Earth Greek, SO named by
Lieutenant Foster on account OF the color OF the
soil composing It's banks. Dianas influence must
light The next day we rested on the East Fork
Of the Beaver, mile below Camp No. H. The APP
pearance OF the lttle park Just without The Hills,
on the sd oil June Is now very desolatc. believe
that deserted camps usually appear so. The grass
the heat. the plains are utterly dried into dust
vegetation anu all, and the Hills glover down
Sombrely the very pines dropping In faint dejec-
IIon. on the ne xt morning the rain fell steadily
until after noon. The heat then became intense,
and we were glad to rest Tor Two 1ours re-
after crossing three fords OF the south Cheyenne,
which was very much swollen, the command I'M
der captain Vessels was met on the north side OF
sunset Ford, returning from Fort Laramie. ac-
companed by the mail party lor whom such
an xlety had been felt. The explanation OF their
delay was very simple. captain Wesslls, leaving
Camp Harvey on the 10Th OF June, with train or
empty wagons and discharged soldiers, mad ar
rived at Fort Laramie a few days later than tney.
They were ordered by General Bradley TO walt
Captain Wessils' return and then TO accompany
him back.
AN UYFRU1rFUL MISSION.
The mission OF the scout terminating thus IN
glorlously, Captain Russell Immediately turned,
and our return was by rapid marching, Captain
Vessels following slowly. The mail was sent into
camp on Thursday night with picked escort OF
ten men. Tomorrow morning we Will reach
Camp Harley ab0ut eight O'Clock.
MINERS ON TRAMP.
on the march from Camp Harvey TO the South
Cheyenne we encountered no less than ESQ miners
vending their way TO the gold fields. The iii
party, numbering thirty men, with about a
dozen wagons and seven laden pack mules, was
accompanied by the notorious "Coonep car
penter, VINO, If his victims speak truly In their