Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-27
The Black Hills Bonanza.

GEN. SHERIDAN ON FATHER DESMET'S
STORY oF"A MOUNTAIN OF GOLD"
Lieut.. General Sheridan has written long
letter concerning the Black Hills country TO
General Sherman. 1t bears date March Goth.
Gen. Sheridan says his first knowledge of the
country was derived from an interview with
the late Father Desmet, noted Catholic
missionary. Father Desmets story was that
while living with the Sioux Indians he was
shown by them nuggets of gold, which they
informed him had been obtained at different
points in the Black Hills, supposed to be from
the beds OF the Big Horn, Rosebud and Pow
der rivers, and from branches of the Tongue
river, and on his representing that such yell
low metal was of great value, they told him
they knew where mountain OF IL was to be
found. Subsequent investigation, however,
proved the Indian mountain OF gold was
nothing more than formation of yellow
mica, such as may be found in number Of
places in the above-described country. had
scarcely given the story thought after this
until about three years ago, when hap
pened 10 be in New York, and il was there
brought to my recollection by some prOmi-
nent gentlemen, who asked me where Father
Desmet was to be found, and insisted that
some person be sent at once 10 get from him
the secrets of the gold mountain which would
pay the national debt, &C. After had in
formed him that IL was an old and exploded
story his ardOr cooled, and the excitement
about the mountain of gold again subsidized.
1t so happened, however, the Black Hills
country was embraced in my military COM
mission, and two years ago il became appa-
rent TO me that military post in the Black
Hills OF the Cheyenne would soon become
necessary for the proper protection of the set
Elements in Nebraska from the raids of Sioux
warriors; who always before they commenced
a safe place for their families aud
villages in the locality mentioned.
Believing that these Indians would never
make war on our settlement as long as we
could threaten their families and villages in
this remote Notwithstanding in game and
all that goes to make Indian life comfort
able-and with this purely military object in
view, an order was given for Gen. Clusters
reconnaissance. The discovery of particles
of gold by alluviaI washing near Harney'S
Peak. on the eastern slope of the Black Hills
OF Cheyenne. followed and brought TO the
surface Father Desmets story for the third
time. The Black Hills of Cheyenne, described
by General Custer. are situated between the
north and south forks OF that river, one OF
which is known as Belle FOurche. and the
other as the South Fork and, although /
have the utmost confidence in the statements
Of Gen. Custer and Gen. Forsythe. of my staff
that gold was found near Harneys Peak, I
may safely say there had not been any fair
test made Of II 10 determine its existence in
large quantities.
of Father Desmet's statement that gold ex-
lists in the Black Hills. but much further
west than the Black Hills of the Cheyenne.
have seen nuggets from the Big Horn and
Tongue rivers, and many specimens from
near Fort Stambaueh, in the upper Wind
river country, where the mining has failed
Tor want of water for alluvial washing and
from the hostility OF the Indians. and have
good reason to believe, and in fact il is quite
certain that gold exists in the Owl creek
mountains or the lower Wind river, and on
the head waters OF the Powder river and the
Rosebud. All the localities are under the
general meaning in the Black Hills aud out
side of the sherman, Augur and Terry treaty
of 1sG9, except so far as the privilege TO hunt
game.
Gen. Sheridan concludes by reiterating the
opinion that the country in the vicinity of
the Black Hills is gold bearing, but he is of
the belief that the mountain of mica has not
changed TO gold He details the arrange
ments he has made TO keep PROJECTING par
ties out OF the country which he thinks he
can accomplish by guarding all the gaps
leading thereby.