The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-12

Narrative of an Expedition TO the Gold
Mines and The Results Thereof.
OPPOSITION OF GENERAL SHERIDAN
Gold Found Easily from Grass
Roots to Bedrock

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Your readers during the last few months have
heard more or less concerning the Black Hills gold
held bot probably nothing reliable has yet
reached you. On Saturday last, being in Sioux
City, Iowa, interviewed two men, Messrs. Gordon
and wItcher, who have Just arrived from the
famous region, ana the interview resulted IN the
following information which may prove Of interest
60 your readers:-
TIE history OF the late expedition TO The Black
Hills is briefly this I'm February. 1872, MIR. Charles
Collins, editor OF the Sioux Cty TINES, with three
associates, organized what is known as the "Bllck
Hills Mining and Exploring Expeditlon.n Previous
TO tnis Indians and haf breeds had brought into
the settlements numerous statements concerning
the hnGlug OF gold, silver and other metals in
abundanc' IN the Black Hills country, but nothing
definite was known OF It, General Clusters visit
and report last summer gave the first definite in
formation, and was confirmed by trustworthy In
dians TO sucn an extent as TO at once fire public
enthusiasm. Mr. Collins has always had great
faith In the agricultural and mineral productive
the Black Hills country. and
early 1872 loboled q bill through the house
OF Representatives authorizing the Secretary OF
the Interior to treat for himself and associates with
the Ind! ans, and afterwards induced Mr.. Delano
to publicly pledge himself tnat as soon 1T was
satisfactorily demonstrated TO him that the Black
Hills were not essential to the prosperity and
welfare OF the Indians, and that they were rich
In agricultural and mineral resources. ne would
lend his aid to having them opened TO white SET
tlement.
During the months OF May, June and July Mr.
Collins and his associates put themselves into
communication with about 5000 men of different
States who expressed desire to go to the Black
Hills, and last August Mr.. Collins went to Chi
cago and issued thousands Of circulars
and let tiers answering the numerous inquiries
about the scheme. By the middle or that
month he had enrolled the names OF 1000
who wanted TO go the new Ell
Dorado. These were appointed TO rendezvous
In Chicago on August IT. to take teams for Sioux
City, and 10 be ready to leave the latter place on
the 25th. Just then came the military order
or General Sheridan ordering all subordinate
commanders to STOP by all the military power at
their disposal, all expeditions starting for the
Black Hills, and to pursue all other
parties that might 60 out defiance
OF this order, burn their wagons and
drive them back. Mr.. Collins Immediately
changed his tactics and, returning to Sioux City
commenced organizing a secret expedition. He
gave out publicly that the scheme mad iated but
to a few determined spirits, wrote that q secret
expedition was peing organized that would go
through at all HAZARDS. After much delay the
expedition was completely organized and broke
October, started for the Black Hills with the omi-
nous wcrds "O'Neil Colony painted on the wagon
covers Your readers are probably aware that
General OMEN, OF Fenlan fame, organizing
colonies In Northern Nebraska, and the gallant
little band thus threw suspicion away from their
real object. The expedition numbered twenty
nine persons, including one lady, Mrs. A. d. Tai
lent OF Sioux City, and her son. aged ten years.
These swo merely intended 10 60 far as the
Niobrara settlements, where they had friends;
but upon arriving there. falling find the friends,
determined TO 20 through. We may remark here
that both lady and boy stood the wonderful jour
ney bravely, and more robust and in better
health tnan when they started. All the above
number mace the journey with tile exception OF
one who look SICK before getting ut oil tue settle
ments and another VINO died OF dysentry. Tue
company was composed Of persons from seven diff
erent states. John Goroon. o. sioux City, was
On the 27th of last month Mr.. Gordon and NJ
Edward WItcner, OF Sioux Cay, returned. and
from tn N, ana rom letters wnicn they brought
from other members OF the expedition,
enabled to give the readers OF the HERALD the
following Information AFTER breaking camp,
above stated the company proceeded 10 NorIolk,
IN the klkhorn Valley, following up that river
seventy-hve miles, where they diverged 10 the
northwest, following the United states surveyors
tran to the Niobrara. The weather being unfayor-
able they encamped on the banks oil that stream.
ue two ;a ~ pary o orGssa he 1 stream Ta'a
Iorded tue stream With great didicuity aaa NV
eled IN northwesterly course, crossing Colon ell
Savers lord, near the head OF the Keyapana
They continued The route in the same direction,
crossing Ooth forks OF White Earth River, Whence
travelled many weary miles on the siey of Bad
River. There, IN the latter part November,
Morris Aarons, Jew from san Francisco. died
and was buried.
the DIVIDE between Bad River and the south FORK
OF the Cheyenne, the long promised lauc, the New
Eldorado, ths Black bilis, was discovered. they
could stretched out IKE long line OF olue
clouds, and. 10 the northwest, Bear Butte stood
out In bold relief against the SKY More to the
southwark could oe seen what the company sup
posed TO be Harney's Peak. The spirits OF tue
party rose high at this discovery, and on the sth
tney struck tue tran on when custer made MS
exit from the hills. They lolIo led thus tran In
all It's meanderings for about seventy i've miles in
a soutnerly direction and on the 28th December
reached tneir destination In Custer's Park.
The company Immediately commenced erecting
q stockade. eighty feet square, inside OF which
they built number OF log cabins, and were tnus
protected alike from the weather and the Indians.
Mr.. Gordon says that after erecting quarters they
commenced to prospect though necessarily on
small scale. They iouno gold, Just as custer mad
stated, grass rooLs 10 bedrock Pre-
vlous TO sre:tIng their quarters the irost
was but lew inches below the sur
early IN January, the frost was rom one 10 three
feet deep. God was found az hlgn az fifteen cents
10 the pan ana oil q miners confidently state tnat
with sulces rom $40 10 SIS cOulu easily De made.
In that valley alone there were claims enough ior
1000 men. 10 say nothing OF the immense country
specimens OF gold brought home by Messrs. Cor
den aud Wrcuer are very rich. silver, piumba2o
say tnere IL every indication OF rich uiggngs
there. Mr.. Witcher says that wnen tney mrs.
reached Custer's PARK they found u hole which
some OF clusters men had dug. 10 was three feet
woe, eight feet long aud eigot feet deep. TWO
men Jumped INTO II and shOveed ouJ some DIRT
and found 0lteen cents worth OF gold the first
painful washed. fne men tnen surrounded the
hoe, yOok OF tnelr mats and gave three rouslng
cheers Tor Custer. About twenty-five prospec
NOES were sunk, and N every lnsIange
70 Oed-fock. The distance tney mad 10
carry frozen earth 70 ihaw II ont before
washing necessarily mads prospecting very slow,
nut Ia the short time intervening between the
1nshing OF tne stocsades ana the denartnre OF
Eessrs Gordon ana Nitcher they Dad obtain "a
ABOUT So worth OF noat and shot GOO, vnicn We
saw oD exhibition Ia sioux CITY. TBey have Ike
wise discovered some rich gold ana silver pearng
quartz lodes, which old miners believe 70 be as
Ticn rs any IN the country
MT. Witcher says that his companions feel that
they nave struck heir fortunes. rue return oil
the Two Gentlemen was for the purpose or Obtain
fnu y