Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1876-01-12
CUSTER INTERVIEWED.

| Black H:lls-Localities Similar to
the Richest Mines in Colorado
| Placer that Yield Two Dollars t
the Pan-f inc A. :ricultnra1 Region
| Best Route co Reaoh them.
On the return of the Custer expedi
ton to the Black Hills, in 1874. the ed.
tor of the Bismarck TRIBUNE interviewed
Gen. Custer in relation to the Black
Hills. with the result shown below. As
to the character Of the Hills the inter
| view speaks for itself. As to the route
spoken Of oy Gen. Custer, i: has since
been travelled by several parties. Of
miners, and one who is familiar witt it,
Capt. Al. Fisher. in the TRIBUNE Of
Jan. 18th tellsh all about it from per-
sonal observation. The route will also be
found correctly located on Rice's Pock.
ct Map Of Dakota, for sale by R. VIII.
son. Bismarck, D. r., or the St. Paul
Lithograph Co., St. Paul, Mimi. price,
$l.25. -s->a ="
Custer speaks Of the distance to the
French Greek mines, Custer Gulch,
which we're the first mines discovered,
and are located in the extreme southern
portion of the Hills; Capt. Fisher
speaks Of, the Rapid Greek mines, which
are the richest mines reported by Prof.
Jenney. They are much nearer BIS.
marck than the first discoveries. The
Bear Lodge mines, which are reported
by miners still richer, are s,ill north o,
the Rapid Greek mines. being located on
the Belle Fouche, where Clusters expedi.
ton also found gold, and much more
accessible to Bismarck than any other
mines, and much more accessible to Bis:
narck than to any other locality. The
Big Horn and Powder river mining
region Of which Gen. Sheridan speaks,
are also within easy reach of Bismarck
but to the interview
Reporter-Allow me to congratulate
YOU, General, on your safe return. !
presume, however, you were disappoint
ed in not having a brush with tn,
Custer-Yes; was somewhat disap>
pointed, Tor, though had sent pacific
messages and had taken every precau.
ton to avoid hostilities, | had reason
to antic:pa'e trouble. | was d'sap,
pointed. and am heartily glad Of it.
Some thought l courted an engagement;
such was not the case, and cotseratu
late myself and the country on .the r..
turn Of the expedition without blond
shed. An engagement, no matter now
itf,hiDE, would have been mign'fieG asft
misrppre~en,ed. and the good effects 81
the expedition. would have been to =.
great extent destroyed. I'd s.% 45~# r.
Reporter-I see you endorse fully the
reports, Of the explorers and newspaper
correspondents concerning the gold dis
.coveries, and therefore presume there
can be no doubt as to the richness OF the
discoveries. .s. --..:. ....4:. .r .@t ~.
Custer--The reports are not exaggels
a,ed in the least; the prospects areeven-
better than represented. am ian'llar
with, and to some extent Interested Ia j
Colorado mines, and | saw localities in
the Black Hills similar, as to formation,
TO the richest reg :ons in Colorado, where
he geologists insisted the precious
metals must be found, that were not ex !;
plored by the miners at all. These 10
calities were mes with in my ramb!es
among tho valleys when the explorers
were no: within reach.
Rsporter-What was the best pros
pect reported to your
Custer-rhe product OF one pan OF
earth was laid on my table which was
wcrth not less than two dollars. Il;
contained some fifty particles Of gold,
ranging from culor to the size OF a
kernel Of wheat, averaging about the
size Of q pin head.
Reporter-Was gold foun'! in other
localities than Custer Park
Custer-Yes at various points,
though the explorers report the richest
prospects there; but, rs said before,
the scientific gentleman are satisfied
that far richer discoveries will be made
on further exploration. The minor.
also agree with this view Of the case.
Representatives. did you first strike
the gold countryi