The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-03-11
The Black Hills Country.

III mas Deen known tOr some Time IuaG
adventurous miners had succeeded in
evading the United States forces ordered
to prevent the entrance OF any explorers
into the Black Hills region, and two expe-
ditions have started after them only to fail
in reaching them, after suffering eXces-
sive]v from the extreme cold weather
Meantime the fate of the daring miners
has been somewhat problematical, for it
was not supposed the Indians would be
very considerate in their treatment, and
even although armed they could hardly
withstand the whole savage forces 1t
now seems, however, as if they had at
least escaped with their lives, and if the
rumors are verified have made important
discoveries of precious minerals A dis
patch of the 9th. from Yankton, Dakota
Territory, says
Eph Witcher, well-known citizen, who
was member OF the expedition to the
Black Hills, arrived in Yankton to-day.
He reports having left his companions at
the stockade of the expedition, within two
miles of Harney's Peak. on Box Elder
creek, on the Sd inst. Witcher says that
the expedition was composed of twenty
seven men and one lady and her son.
There We're six wagons and the party was
well armed, some being mounted. They
are also we'll supplied with provisions and
mining tools The expedition LETT here
October G. They struck Niobrana River
about l20 miles above its mouth, and
after following the stream some distance,
crossed the country to a point east Of the
Black Hills.
On Cheyenne River they met a party OF
200 mounted Indians with whom they held
a peacea BILE parley. After reaching an
apparently passable path at the foot Of
the Hills, they struck into the mountains.
and after picking their way, reached a
point within two miles of Harney's Peak,
in fifteen days from the day OF their entry
into the Hills. They erected a stockade
eighty feet long. and built log cabins
from an abundant supply OF timber which
they found The cold weather greatly
impeded their prospectings. They sank
twenty-five prospect holes, and struck
gold in every instance. From the grass
to the bed of the rock they found numer-
Gus gold and silver bearing quartz lodes
and the specimens Mr.Witcher has brought
back are pronounced very rich. The party
never saw an Indian while in the Hills
Mr.. Witcher describes the parts of the
Hills they saw as having magnificent val
leys, seemingly limitless forests of pine,
and abundance Of elk, deer, and other
game.
The greater portion of the return trip
was made through snow drifts over a
trackless country in most stormy and Sc
we're weather. They discovered in COM
ing out of the Hills what has been named
Witcher's Pass, a good natural wagon
road. This shortens the way out of the
Hills by thirteen days Their animals
lived on the grass they found beneath the
snow. Witcher says that he can take
loaded OK teams into the Hills from Sioux
City in thirty days The members left in
the Hills are in good health and spirits |
Witcher returned for reinforcements He
says there is no evidence of other parties
being in the Hills Gordon, who came !
with him part of the way, was DELAYED by |
his horse giving out. Nothing has been |
heard or seen OF the two disastrous army |
sent out to intercept them
A later dispatch of the I'd, from Sioux |
City, Iowa, says =
John Gordon, who led the Black Hills |
eApeullloH from mere laSt OclODef, return |
ed yesterday and fully confirms the reports
telegraphed. The party remaining in the
hills number twenty-six and are well sat
isfied with their prospects, They are
strongly fortified and anxiously awaiting
Gordon returns about the
middle of April, and is confident that he
can make the trip in twenty days with a
mule. He brings letters to friends of the
party remaining in the hills, and fine spec
linens of gold