The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-05-07
A Platiuum Mine In tho Black Hills

A R10tts1um 0t0o In the Black HtlI0
The annexed item and correspondence
is clipped rom four column article, il
ustratsd by detailed and valuable map
in tho New York Herald of Friday. the
23d inst. and will be read with interest
in this locality. OF the actual
existence Of the great mine Of platinum
there can, We think, be little doubt; for
we are informed on the most unquestion.
ed authority that there is in this city to-
day = gentleman who has, in the years
past, gained an honorable distinction rs
pioneer in the Northwest, and who, thir-
teen years ago this season, WAS within
the region named and, in company with a
.comrade (now dead), while hunting for
ksame some little distance off from the
Pine OF march made tho nndoubted dis
fssvery Of q cast mine Of platinum. The
determined hostility of tba Indians net
only prevented occupancy or extended re.
search at the time, but has ever since
bendered the return Of white men or the
development Of said mine too perilous to
oe encountered without strong military
escort and guard.
Bat this grand object Of interest has
not been forgotten or lost sight Of by our
iellow.c::::zen. nor will he fail to avail
himself Of the earliest opportunity pre-
sentsd which will enable him to return to
his discovery and occupy the land. y
The Herald correspondence to which we
have referred is as follows:
PLATINUM NINE IN THE BLACK Hr1Ls-INTERlsr-
INC INCIDENT OF THE GREAT INDIAN N1ssIoN-
AIRY, FATHER DE sMET.
The following correspondence has been re-
ccived for publication and will be read with
interest:
~ -. pa;.o, =. N; MY y YORK, April ~, 1876.
inolose herewith letter inst reoei i7ed from
General Van Vliet, = highly intellignt officer o.
the United States Army, formerly for many
years stationed in this city, which furnishes
additional information upon q subject which i
attracting public attention: Truly yours.
HEApo' o'Rr'Rs DEPAETxENT OF THE Missouri, }
OFF.c3 OF rHE CHEF QUAErERSAsTER,
FORT LsAvE,'woHrH, Kan., April II, 1876. J
Thurlow Weed, Esq:
Nr DEAR SIR: 1recl with great pleasure
your remarks on our old trierd Father De
Smet Over twenty years ago my home was on
the pralnes ! passed severs! years between
the Missouri River and lie Rocky Mountains,
and it was while leading that lie became &C.
quainted with Father De Smet only refer
| to this connection with the precious metals in
the Black Hills. One day, in 1851, at tAe din
ner table Of our friend, Colonel Robert Camp.
bell, of st. Louis, the conversation turned on
GUT -anderinss in the mountains, when Father
De Smet related
THE Fos.oWIN0 INCIDENT,
which occurred in the Black Hills, beyond the
Cheyenne: One day while among the In.
dams ciicf came to him and ehowed hin
some pieces ofmetal which lie had in his bulle
pouch. As soon as the Father saw it he recog.
nized it rs platinum. In company with t6s
chief he visited the place and discovered ,
large mine Of this metal. He said it was o.
great extent and Of untold value. He mad.
the Indian promise never to divulge the &c.
cret, for if he did the white people woulc
clear the Indians out of the country. He ais.
promised to keep the secret He told Us tha
he had carefully described the location of thi
mine, and that when he died the secret woult
be with lis church.
Father De Smet conld not have been de
oeived, and firmly believe that there is
valuable platinum mine between the Yellow
stone and the Cheyenne. Az this metal /
worth el16 per pound avotrdupois, and silve
only @l8, you can we'll understand tho forum
that awaits some lucky man. Yours truly,
STEWART VAN VIIRT. q. s. L.
l y & 81