The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-06
GOLD In THE BLACK HILLS.
the FiTORdBLE REPORT MADE BY
PROSPECTING PIRTY.
Miners Making from Four to Twenty Dot
lars Each n Dnv with Rude Appliance
1ndinns PeHceable Under the Robbery.

Miners Making from -Four to Twenty Dot
lars Each Dav with Rude Appliances
Indians Peacenble Under the Robbery.
BISMARCK, Dakota, Jan. IA party OF
miners have returned to this place from the
Black HIS, but not to stay. They will 20 bacl,
to the gold regions after obtaining necessary
tools and supplies. They say that Gen. Casters
report of the plenty and richness Of gold ore In
that country WAS correct, except that II foil far
short Of the truth. These men are well known
here, several being county officers, and their
statements are given crcdence. They left here
on Dec. 20, and followed the trail OF Clusters
expedition most Of the way. The arrival at the
foot VI the Black Hills was ten DAYS after the
start Wood and water we're found in sufficient
quantity on the route. The fret gold was found.
according to the narrative Of Edward Donohue,
one Of the party, on Jan. ., on Rapid Geek, at a
point where its existence has been denied by
some explorers. Capt. IL. N. Ross had been at
WORK on claim near 10y, aud be expected to
make $4,000 10y his cntcruri-c. In mother spot
IN the neiRhborhOod n miner was making as a
tne rudest kind. Already there is a Golden
"we we're told" Mr.. Donohue says. "ihat a
party were working clalm half a mile up the
creek from Golden civ. from which more gold
h d been taken than from any other point. We
went ny to their camp ana saw them clean up
which weighed $311j"
luz Bl- 'udItk Eulu hunters also located claims
IN other promising places. They saw at Spring
Creek four men get $l3i worth of dust IN six
hours also $500 worth Of ore taken IN six DAYS
from a. : ace thirty feet long. twelve feet wide,
and six feet deep. The streams furnished
enough water for sluice boxes. The gold was
c1al-e' Ranging from dust to nuggets worth
We met California joe" says the narrator.
" the we'll known scout, who was emulYvtl a. "A
guide bN Zen. Dodge last season, for several
years bv Gen. Custer In Colorado, and who Is
frequently spoken Of by him in NV Life on the
VA IA
Hsmart b. Joe in.isted that he could take us
out of the hills In hnlf a dav from Golden civ
instead Of by the tedious route by which we
came, and land rs at bismarck If the route was
a. good A. we represented-nside of six days;
to the Black Hills. the Cheyenne people lind
that 1t takes from nfteen to twenty DAYS 10 reach
Custer city With light teams and from twenty
eight 10 thirty with loaded teams in winter, and
IN summer, by reason OF the sand, the route
Is much worse; besides, they are obliged to
carry wood and water much OF the distance.
Forage for our horses PLAYED out as well as grub
for the men, and the long drives noted Of were
longer for that reas on, as any hOr-cman will un-
derstand. The cams were also quito heavily
loaded Wafer was struck AZ points ranging
from two to eighteen miles apart. with plenty of
wood at every point except In two instances.
Il was the best natural road. California Joe de-
no bad lands, no bad hills mo- tmpI-sabe sire ms.
clafed, that he has ever seen during his twenty
nv"
California Joe ia here in Bismarck. waiting to
60 back with tue party. He says; - The Hills
mining claim. Out am IN no hurry to WORK.
The liills are not generally pro-uectcd. There
are hundreds OF gulchcs in which the miners'
are sunic ient to employ twenty thousand miners,
and VIII Ger ainly pay from four to twenty dol
lars day. l saw $3.50 taken from one pan Of
dirt To- the Bear Lodge mines. THIS "a on
Hear Butte Creek. region more eXuosed In
winter, ana there are too many fresh Indian
trails le ding from the lower agencies to the
hostile CAMPS Oh the Yellowstone To- make It
pleasant. but there Will re stampede to that
region IN the spring. Indeed, have heard Of
one very rich pr succt taken out at point
within thirty miles Ct the present located line
OF the Northern Pacific Railroad but the ooys
were afraid Of their stalps ana brought them in
lest the Indians should take them from them
Tue experienced miners only ask to be let alone
hN the Government and they win take care ot
themselves. WesAwno traces ofIndians when we
me- in; uuly une-A good une-aud he had been
planted In trec-top Tor some years. Ihe In
uiuuS W not disturb my one on the east side
buthercd the minors So much that they scarcely
know what 10 do. There are miners now in he
lills who have been taken ont three times by
have been there since early last spring. But
frw care to develop their "a inns. test something
should turn W to interfere with their occ va
tiOn. HauN. however. are wugh,ug lew hours "a
q , tahli oNt sfuo stakes and a f. are pre-
airing iHr work iu earnest. Ola miners are a.t-
is.ed with tue PROSPECTS,. \ lot Of fellows came
IN here Inst summer Wno knew not ing OF MIN
iug Ao eNpe 'tei tpgatheI gold from The black
l1 .m IN IL. Yarh>--airt tnat would work ca-,-
AID u'in- di aupolu 81 the! left seuer 49, cNrs-
~ the country. Bnt this alwats Iccui-, ald
ul iai,l IN tie liilcK iiilis gptd r.pprt-. iie
lrI.ou ori. on tre start, against 30. eXI. cuce
90 tuli, iut tne uilnrf- fINcad ht.u lci.iLe ui,
ne. iil uc was mighty 90 a to gct all tiic ln-
formation ho could uu' 81 them. and they dld
htlp uiiu 4.rcat dc !. One day on Slliu- Creek
h. came rtsuius $50 uic with hs hat uG, al'lI st
Wild vita tA'lt. tuCnf. aud declared u the Ilch-
est country M the wurl gold in tNc gr4.- rult-
and. 49, .lactcdi4, more from the gri-s roots
up th.n Nn rue grass roots down. iuiudlug to
the agra iitural wealth OF tine nm. WI. g he
commented the place mines in the strongest
terms. he dWittsd that the quar,z prospect
were much m ore uruul. ing
\ letter brought IN by this party from a miner.
james y. sutherland. giN-~ the following ia
count OF his experience. " our party at tweuty-
s,X reached the III .CN liilS without trouble from
Ind us. This ls thr finest climate | have seen
IN the nm, There l. no SNOW Ou the ground,
ana We Had splendid feed-lots II green grass
from two 10 SIX IA ne- lur-. lie bills arc Gov
cred vi pines. There are many creeks. SIN u
valleys. and dry raviucs. The country cannot
he eNcelled for stock growing. Ktuid Creek Inns
SIX ur seven hundred inches OF water. The bed
OF II has never been pr 1lccted, tut u h. 81 lked
for several miles. Ihc digelnge ia the HIS VIII
pay from - to so per day. and shall stay rgnt
here even II Ouhgei to live on meat straight.
. here are probably lttN miners n the liill-, and
men re coming m al the rate OF MY a daN. or
course MANY are discouraged, and some are
leaving tao llilis already, but The an iiorty are
advising tneir friends To come aud the e1 e.
rad mi ara a4t fla "A