The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-04


the AFFAIR mere freely than civilians, and
In general severely condemn act OF
such empirical lawlessness. IL cannot but be
confessed, however, that It has one happy result,
IN impresslng upon the adventurers who iniest
the plains and naturally TEND toward the north
ern Gold fields the folly and madness OF attempt
ing TO resist the military authority Of the ma
tiOnal government.
THE soJoURNNG PLACES OF THE MINKRs
who have recently entered the hills are very
cbangeable on their first arrival many OF them
would encamp in French valley several days; but
they would then suddenly disappear, having. by
rumors OF richer dggings on other streams IN
the north, been induced TO go in that erection
The number OF mining camps now counted along
French creek is eleven. They stretch away west
ward over a distance Of fourteen miles, being
about equal spaces apart Probably they are In
hablted Dy ABOUT l20 miners. To person riding
through the valley, however for the nrst time THESE
camps would be invisible; 1t is only by previous
kn0wiedQe Of tneir situation that they can be
readily found. Most OF them are merely bivOuacs
Ia hooks hidden among the rocks or the woods
One party has erected rude nut OF logs, anu q
lonely miner inhabits low novel constructed OF
pine 0oughsi opposite ahu across Tue creek.
These are the only abodes which are visible rom
the wagon tran along the stream. Behind them
lie dark, natural businesses, 10 winch the occu-
pants would ms sntly retreat In case OF alarm.
OF the comparatively numerous population o. the
upper part OF the valley most OF them remain out
OF slgnt when their Vlcln2ge is VISITED by persons
unknown to them. rhe constant necessity OF
watching imposed upon them by tHe conscious
ness OF beng IN unrecogniZeu occupation oil the
land has prevented them from working at mining
with much assiduity. They say that they
dread Overhanging them that all that
they may 90 WI prove futile enaeavor, 70 oe
IRON the country. The bottom land presents evil
oences OF considerable industry IN the digging OF
slulces ana sinking OF shafts; but only few or
the men are emplOyed at once, their comrades
mean while occupying high points near at hand as
sentiues. The distant approach OF an individual
IN military uniform not known 70 then as belong
ing to tnls expedition is published by concerted
signals, and the valley suddenly Is deserted. Not
only nave moment the miners disappeared,
but also their horses, watch are usually grazing
by the creek.
AN EXTRAORDINARY VIGILANCE
has been maintained by them lately, caused by
their having received Information oil the purFort
or letter from General Bradley, commanding
the Black HIS district to Lieutenant Colonel
Dodge, in which the former inumated that TWO
companies OF cavalry would be soon sent mere,
the one from tne Red Cloud Agency and tue other
from Fort Laramie, TO compel the miners TO leave
the Indian territory. week mas elapsed since
this news reached Camp Harvey, and the com.
panes have not yet made their appearance.
MORE ARRIVALS.
The arrival OF fresh parties OF miners seems IN
RENTING. The perseverance and sacrifices of
some OF them are almost incredible, the only Cd
Ject being golo, gold. on the 30 OF July, near the
hour OF dusk, very skeleton dragged himself
into camp, accompanied by not less attenuated
Both Of them had guns, one Of which had been
broken and was tied together Win string. me
foremost SPOKEN OF gave his udAC DIS OtSele
said ne first lieutenant IN regiment OF
Hines volunteers during the rebellion. lie eX-
htolted case oil surgical instruments to Indicate
his occupation when at home. Both men pre-
scented pitaoIe spectacle. They partook of food,
without which they had travelled LOT TWO days,
aud PAID Tor IL with readiness.
A MINERS STORY.
DR.. Steele said that they had started from Sioux
City about month ago, with company OF thirty
four persons, equipped with wagons, furnished by
a transportation company newly organized, and
loaded WITH provisions. As they advanced the
q fOn ore v
numbered 200 pei sons the ANTIQUITIES OF the
route chosen also augmented, and gradually many
OF the adVeuturerS became discouraged, and,
turning aDeut, reJraceo their steps. Only sixteen
wagons were brought 10 the mouth OF French
Creek. where an encampment was made. Fear
OF the troops. after hearing OF the treatment OF
Gordon, near Gordon City. restrained the ma
orlty from entering the fills. Two, however,
proceeded on their journey. The march nad
proven an arduOus one aud their small supply OF
rarcns had soon been exhausted. what had been
their sunerings could only pc real IN the CON
tracted lines Of their liv.d and canaverous faces
Their feet were bare, and tney succeeded in pur-
chasing rom soldiers two pairs OF beos. They
/ then proceeded up the valley.
PACING STARVATION.
None OF the parties o. miners WHO nave been in
the Black, HIS any length OF time has escaped the
silent menacIng OF starvation. On our first ar
| rival here those encamped Jour miles above tae
stockade had been su6sis.ing on venison alone
for several weeks and had become too weak to
( perform any labor DINER parties were Ia the
same situation. Within TWO weeks their supply
train arrived, accompanied by thlrtyfour recruits
New Corners since then have poured steadily in.
are peOpled with taWny miners, Wno at first
/ WELD the pick and shovel with great enthusiasm
ana vaunt their hopes OF speedy fortune in cneer
f1l tones. IL IS ratner amusing TO note the SAN
guine confidence winch bubbles from their breasts
When they nLsI enter ths lanu Vi promise:
! They rfdlcue the methods OF prospecting adopted
/ by those Who have been here longer than they.
/ But every day depetes their hope. There Is a
! certain pride about them which prevents them
/ acknowledging disappointment until the last
/ moment ~ IS long before they Will admit that
4 mining will not prove profitable here with the
\ InaL is new DuDlc OplllOu IN this embryo
community beyond dispute. Next IL has been
! demOnstrated that the Chinese rocker Will not
evolve a sufficient reward for the labor required
cause 1t TO osciilate to and ro The miners have
not yet yielded this pont but necessity viii force
mining are the only remaining processes to be
tested In the digglngs OF thls valley The former
! Will soon nave been essayed, as sluce In the
midst OF the camp will soon be completed and in
/ A NATURAL FORTRESS.
Four miles aD0ve the camp party of six men
inhaDlt a natural fortress, formed oil huge rocks,
On the verge OF the canyon. AS you approach TINS
/ spot you see nothing to denote human habitation
except wagon tracks and an uncompeted slulce
ditc6. Upright rocks 100 ieet hign form the limit
OF the valley on the north, and out OF the perpen-
dicuar wall opens DARK cavern. The entrance
Is nearly hidden by RANK sArubDery, put under the
solid arch overhead hundreds of swallows nave
built their mud cells and forth with neIsy ac-
CARNATIONS On the approach OF a visitor. The cave
Is but rev hundred feet In DEPTH An unlucky
! remlnlscence has prevented It's occupation by tue
miners this summer. Lieutenant Rogers took
several prisoners IN 1t lssG spring. MEMBER OF
o. the cave. TWO large bears were killed at IT'S
mouth in May IL is thencelorward known as the
Bears Cave.n But the
BEARS HOLE
Is another and not less I'm natural feature.
Turning abruptly around tue rock pierced by the
cave a loOtpaJh leads into the canyon and up
steep bank on the right between two tall crags.
Beyond them Is an open space shielded by great
mass OF overnsnglng rock and commanding the
path 81 approach by perfect natural redOubt.
Here several rough visaged men Will be found,
their guns leaning against the wall OF rock while
they are employed IN menalnk their clothes In
some other domestic occupation. A low 1re
shoulders under an overnanging ledge, and sew.
eral lines Of elk meat are drying aud smoking,
stretched on string from tree TO tree. In the
background bedding is spread upon accumula-
\ lions OF pine TUFTS, the only canopy OF
| the Immense sleeping chamber being the blue
/ OF heaven The names OF the little community
resident here gave In former letter. They were
/ posted on the nrst stake marking placer claim
! which saw on entering TINS valley. A recent
visit to the Bear Hole Initiated into the prep
arations which have bean quietly made Dy the
more veteran miners Tor the rece ption oil the
troops Supposed 10 be detailed to remove them
! Docs