The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-18
DEATH IN THE MACK HILLS.
Adventures of n GeoloRist and his Party In
their Search Tor Gold.

From the 81 Lous Globe Democrat
Mr.. Charles Rombauer. n geologist and
scientific miner, left his native land ABOUT eight
months ago, and came to America with the ex-
pectntlon 9i making an everlasting fortune In
the Black HIS. He brought with hIm the model
OF machine Tor excayating and crushing ores,
and ON arriving In this country caused a ma
chine TO be made; which he took with him 10
Omaha. on the 81 Of March last he left Omaha
for the glorious Black Hills, accompanied by
eighteen Germans, two Swcdes, six Italians. ana
four Americans. lie carried his provisions,
tools, etc, ON pHck IA ules aud horses, anu In due
time reached a place called stevens. where he
put his prospecting machine TO work but did
Halieck, ana thence TO Blue Noun
tam, and a. the latter place found
both gold and silver In abundance. Provisions
be anne scarce, and but little could be obtained
within reasonable distance, ana the party had
To sunsist principally upon roots and such game
a. theS eouIl hud' coming ana ammunition
were elso hard to get, aud tue men suffered
many hardships. But the worst enemy they had
To encounter was the mobile red man." who
dogged their stems wherever they went, and at
tackled their camp nearly every night. he willy
sioux always commenced their attacks about
three O'Clock In tue morning. at which hour a
white man sleeps sounder than at any other
Inc red devils would crawl on their bellies Into
the camp and shoot the sleeping goid seeker Mt
short range, AMI then retire IN the same snaky
fashion, without stopping to NOW tho mir crot,
Eight weeks ago Mr. kOmDauer WAS wounded
the first time. and three weeks ago, at Blue
Mountain; he was shot IN the leg while sIeeptnv
In camp early In the morning. lie had FOR a
bedfellow a large spotted coach dog, which
proved TO be very cur, indeed. The painted
Hombhuer who, on being awakened, half arose
ana threw himself backward on the ground
Tue Indian fired his rifle holding " In front II
MN, without taking sight. The bali struck the
white man on tho thigh below the hip, but the
wound was not severe. The big spotted dog, in
stead OF rushing upon the foe and tearing him
To pieces, tucked his tail between his legs and
scamperod away.
Searching for gold under such circumstances
proved to be an uphill business. 1t was mecca
sary to put twenty mon on guard 10 keep tho
u dams from murdefing the working party Of
eight. Nearly every day one or more OF the
miners would be Killed. OF the party Of thirty
VINO went out with SIR. Humbauer seventeen
were killed They were threatened with ex-
termination, aud being out OF provisions, were
compelled 10 abandon their enterprise and turn
their backs upon the BLACK Hills. Mr. h. re-
CARDS bis escape from death as almost "A miracle
Death stared MIN in the face constantly tor
weeks, and he had the Modification Of soeing
ms men tul beneath the murdcrous rifle OF the
red raschls, VINO seemed bent on killing every
white nan they could nnd. lilo did NOT blame
them, however showing thor nature. and hay-
ing heard that the first party OF whites-a we'll
armed band of Nv mon-commencsd the war,
aud made II u rule To slaughter every Indian,
man, woman, or child, they met with. On the
part Of the Indians the war ~ for exteTpina.
ton; with the whites the object ~ To arrive tho
saNages from the gold nclds no mater how
many OF them are killed IN the operation.
Dir, kombauer saws the soldiers out thore are OF
very little use IN protecting the miners. Their
orders are to allow no one To pass into the reser-
VatiOn but they are not at all Jealous in uDeying
nor IN saving the lives Of those who got across
the line.
The country at Blue Mountain is represented
as exceedingly rich for agricultural purposes.
Inc southeast portion Is never molested Nv the
INDIANS; As 10 tue mines. Nr. Rom bauer snys II
miners had the same facilities as IN California
they would get out more gold and silver. lie
round masses OF granite containing veins OF
gold hail an inch thick He predicts that Blue
Mountain will prove as rich "a any mines ON the
continent, but the luuians must lrst bs re-
moved. MIR. komhauer VIII return IN a short
tlme, and Will ~ better prepared than he was