The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-05-18
TIE BLACK HILLS.
A Trustworthy Report From One Who is
There.

A Trustworthy Report From One Who is
There.
The following is q copy Of a private let
ter received by VIM. Booth, Eco, of this
city, from friend who is in the Black
Hills country, and lis statements can be
accepted as accurate and reliable. The
writer Is an old miner, having been engaged
in mining ever since the California dis
coveries Of 40, and is therefore perfectly
familiar with his subject, and his judg-
ment Of the Black Hills mines can be relied
upon:
CHEYENNE, May 10, 1876.
DEAR SIR: You will see by the above.
that have changed my place of board
from Gustav City TO Cheyenne. began to
think Custar City was getting Il little too
hot, for me, and there are many more of
the same opinion.
A email drove Of us came out together,
about forty-fve persons, among them three
women. We left Custar with ten wagons,
on the 9th of April; arrived in Cheyenne
on Nav S, in the evening, and had no trou-
Ulc, saw ohA AhuAohr, VIM WSiC
running around a point. so as to keep out
of sight OF us.
think we were lucky, as on the next
day party OF about sixty was attacked,
and soon after, two more parties came up,
one behind them, and the other, the OppO
site way, from Custar, making in all over
one hundred men. The red skin devils still
shooting at them from three different points,
we're about to close in upon the rear. But
as they made an effort to do 50, the men
about ffty-cut them off, and finally the
Indians made hasty retreat, but only
mile or so distant.
This attack was on Indian Greek, or at
least, on The divide between Indian Creek
and the Cheyenne River. The whole party
camped there that night, and the next
morning each party went its way, some to
Custar and some to Cheyenne. Fourteen
animals were wounded and some killed,
and one man wounded.
presume you have heard of the former
troubles, and the past is only beginning.
l expect something more serious will take
place soon, although people still are going,
and almost daily, from this place, and
Cheyenne people are Sticking" them on,
and telling them what a good place
the Black Hills is, and so-and-so comes out
with 80 and so much dust. All very true,
but how many are doing this? Not one
man, but many Many reports are false,
and some true, of course, a. there is gold in
the Black Hills, and in some places it will
pay we'll, and in many il is Of but little
value Custar Gulch Or French Creek new
er will pay, only few bars. Some parts
of Dead Wood will pay we'll. Gold Run.
Bobtail, Sand Creek and some others--ome
five or six small streams-all tributary to
Dead Wood and White Wood-will pay,
that is On bars. Bobtail, l suppose, is the
best. Ihave seen about 80 ounces of gold
that came from those places, although
some claim much more, and some clam
thirty thousand dollars, but that is not so.
/ have seen some very good quartz that
came from the above named places, and
have one piece with me- l will break off
small piece and enclose it in this letter, so
that you can see about the value OF it. of
course it is a good specimen, although l
have seen better from the same place On
Bobtail. My belief is that the Black Hills
will be good country some time, if peo-
pie can remain. there in safety and prospect,
although most Of it is to be told As yet.
l was elected assessor of Custer City, but
did not commence my duty, as there will
not be anything in that way, unless things
take great change, and soon, at that at
the same time, many refuse to pay taxes or
license. Undoubtedly, there will be some
trouble about it,
think about four hundred would num-
Der all in Custer City, and, l think, about
double the same number of buildings.