The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-09-02
OUR BLACK HILLS LETTER.
The Mines and die ou1L0sk-Ausders by
Red Devils.

Re Devils.
lspeeaa cornespondsncs q rHE LxApxs.
DEADwooD, d. T., Aug. Fl, rs.
After having spent two weeks in the
Hills, visiting the mines, seeing the
sights, and gaping at the great crowds
who throng the streets Of Deadwood,
your correspondent again takes up his
pen to give the news from this locality.
was agreeably surprised on my arri-
val to find 3 town Of such Immense pro-
portions as Deadwood now assumes, To-
Gated in this Wild country, built in so
short q time and containing such re-
spectacle looking buildings; for be it
understood that the main street of Dead
wood will compare f~avorably in appear
ance with the business streets Of anna
jority of western towns. New fronts
have recently been put in all the old
buildings, and many new frame bust
ness houses just erected and completed
give the place quite a city-iike appear
ance. On Sunday, when the thousands
Of miners from the adjacent gulches
c~ongregate in the streets to spin long
yarns about their weeks labor and dis
coveries, and to race horses, etc., one
can almost imagine himself in the busy
streets Of some older and greater city.
The mines which have paid so well
during the summer continue to yield
handsomely and new ones are being
opened each week which promise well,
yet up to this date only a small proper
ton of the claims have been prospected
and opened, and many will not be oper-
ated until next season. 1t Is generally
believed here that next year mining
will begin in earnest and that a far
greater amount of gold will be taken
out, consequently times will be better
than at present. Some claims can be
purchased at reasonable figures while
many are held at enormous prices.
John w. Allen & Co., have just opened
claim No. 2, above discovery on Dead
wood, which think will prove a big
thing for the boys, as the adjoining
claims are paying largely, and have
wide pay streaks. John is as happy as
a big sunflower and no doubt will soon
be a millionaire. Surely no one in the
Hills is more deserving.
The excitement In quartz mines is
still raging. New and rich discoveries
are reported almost daily, and I notice
quite a number Of Cheyenne citizens
who are largely Interested in quartz
leads. Among them is ]. w, French,
who, it is said, has struck a frst-class
bonanza. As for myself l am not on
the hunt for q bonanza of that charac-
ter, for l once had an interest in one
1.-THE Metcalf mines) the remembrance
Of which haunts me still.
Business Of every description is over
done here. The merchants r eiookinQ
to the future, anticipating better times.
But few of them are making money
now, while many no doubt are losing.
Provisions are very low ard the market
overstocked with every kind Of mer-
chandise. A great many men are idle;
I suppose some are waiting for some
thing to turn up" while others are
afraid to go out and prospect. Tbs
truth is there are men enough to do all
the work that will be done this fall.
Next spring there will be room enough
and work enough no doubt for all who
come, but at present l think the Hills
ovesstocked with men, as with mer-
chandise. .99Z E1raIIEs
Yesterday Sunday morning the In
dians made an attack upon the Monta-
ma herdets, near Crook City, and stara-
peded their herd. Word was sent to
town and a company of twenty-five men
fallowed in pursuit. Shortly after an
other party came in and reported the
killing Of two white men and one Indi-
an on the road to Crook City, about
four miles from Deadwood. Armed
men were sent out to bring in the dead,
who proved to be Ray. H. W. Smith, OF
Kentucky, and m LOUIS Mason, Of
Michigan. Mr.. Smith was on his way
to Crook City to preach, with his Bible
under his arm, and without any arms,
when the red devils pounced upon him
and shot him through the heart, leaving
him on the roadside, another victim Of
good" agency Indians. MI. Smith
was a good man and one whom all the
miners respected. He had been preach
ing here on the streets since the town
started, and had made many friends.
He leaves a dependent family some
where in Kentucky to mourn his sad
death. Young Hfnpon, with two com
panions, was hunting near where Smith
was killed about that hour. They had
killed a deer and were preparing to take
on bis hide whenIthey saw alone Indi-
an approaching them, evidently una
ware Of their presence. One of the
party discharged donble-barreled shot
gun into his carcass, killing hislpony
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