The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-07-02
California Joe.

a letter dated Camp on Cheyenne
river, May 3O," has the following:
We are now in sight of a faint blue
outline of uplands, which, under the
glasses, become peaks, and hills covered
with timber which gives that appearance
whence is derived the name Of Black
Hills. From the NiobrsEa river TO this
point we have made three marches,
amounting to 81 miles, over the worst
road yet met with.
Our course was north. by little east
Across a high divide, six miles in width,
between the Niobrara River and the
head of Old Woman's Fork, the road
is good, leading over a grassy prairie.
Down from this divide, at Crystal Hill,
we descended into the valley Of the lat
ter stream. Then came a series Of wear.
isOme marches over stretches of heavy
sand, long corduroys. deep bitches, and
PERCEPTIONS breaks; certainly this must
be the worst wheeling" our wagons are
likely TO have. The campo, including
this one, afford good water, wood and
grass-the three important items Of q
march. Il must be remembered that on
the Niobrara River there is not stick
of timber. The Indiars say that there
is always water in the Fork. This IL
rather questionable, il one may Judge
from the looks Of the stream. There
may be water always at its source. but
not toward the mouth. We passed by n
high, ragged butte goirg down this
stream; "Old Woman's Butte" It's name.
Of course there is legend. The ghost
of an old squaw, the Indians SAP,
hauntS the butte, and at stated intervals
she appears and dances the scalp dance,
singing with unearthly voice tale Of
horror. The Indians firmly believe the
legend. They say at times a dog is
seen with the hag. and that the animal
howls a. she sings. Woe to the warrior
who sees the dogl 1t is "bad medicine"
and bodies disaster.
A man has been following the COM
mand since il left the Platte River He
has been seen several times by the rear
guard, and to-day, May 29, instead Of
camping out he has Joined ua. He
proves to be an old miner sick with the
Black Hills fever. The several Indian
trails seen lately compelled him 10 quit
his lonely way Of travelling and seek
the protection Of the expedition. His
plan was bold one, and he deserves
perhaps a better fate than TO be turned
hack with the first detachment return.
ing for supplies. He will not be alons
in his homeward journey, for since th'
the start seveIAl unauthorized persons
have been discovered with the train.
CALIFORNIA JOE.
Gen. Clusters celebrated "Califoruil
Joe" is another interloper. He was q
have been employed a. packer and scout
but debauch interferred with this ar
rangement. He is stealing his wa
along on the TANKS of the column dur
ing the day, keeping out Of sight. Som
old comrade among the employees, j
is supposed, feeds and shelters him q
nights. To-day. while hunting, ! saV
him out on the prairie, and to my In
quiry, "WhAt are you doing here, Jos7
he replied: "Going to the Black Hill
! OF bust. Tia the last chance for minsI
; in this here country, and, and II
bound 10 make il. I'm never comm
D back again. No, no. I'm gettin' ol
a and down 10 bed rock-nary cent in m
] clothes, and its clear case Of groun
4 hog. I'm dead broke, and no friends ei
!. cept that ere dog. He's good fFien'
z that dog-dont make no difference
;. I'm broke-he don't know it-he don
g care IL I am" AZ an evidence Of n
k depths Of poverty TO which Joe ha
u sunk, il is only necessary 10 state that
o walking. An old plainsman afoot meal
money, clothes, and food all gone. The
n Is only one thing held on % longer, nH
l. that is his weapons. ] asked Joe 81
ot had seen any game? "Not wolf. New
Il seed such country. The Indians hH
ID hunted IL all out. They have been star
he ing this winter, and it's KEEP 'sm hard
10 work to feed the women aud ehildr'
j. They hunt small game anyhow more
aT they used to when first come into Z
De country thirty years ago. You I
m they've got seeeh good guns 10 WI
Ist they used 10 have. and lots sf ammul
tiOn. LOrdl I've trapped all thrOu