The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-02-22
Correspondence.
BEAR GULcH, BLACK HILLS,

February 3d, 1877.
LAKE County STAR:-W are hav-
ing rather tough Winter here in
the Hills. Snow about 1 feet deep,
and likely to be deeper. No getting
about outside of u beaten path
without snow shoes. There is but
little snow at the foot of the Hills
vet, and some parts arc entirely
clear of snow with the grass green.
There arc small parties of Indians
prowling around the foot hills run
ming off all the stock they can.
They ran off sixty head of horses
from Spear Fish, a settlement about
II miles west of Dcadwood, about
ten days ago; and last Monday stole
90 head u camp near Grow Peak
about Is miles north east from
here. This was rather an amusing
affair. l will give the details in my
next. But little mining doing here
now, except in deep diggings where
it requires drifting. 1t is believed
there will be big rush here in the
spring. The Hills are not very
rich in placer diggings but rich in
quartz lodes.
1t is rather hard times to get
provisions in here now. Those who
did not lay in supply and have
no money will see tight times be-
fore the snow leaves, so they can
90 to work. Some are living on
short allowance now.
If the Indians arc subdued big
thing can be made here this season,
opening farms at the foot of the
hills. Good water, good soil and
timber close at hand; only one
drawback, and that is the grass
hoppcrs. A good market for all
that can be raised close at home,
for it will take years to dig out all
the gold in the Black Hills. A
good opening here for mill men too.
Lumber, common stuff $50 per
NJ, shingles 81 per NJ, and no Gull
ing or sapping. The timber cost
ing nothing. Let some of the Lake
county single makers pull up
stakes and come here. Let some
of the professional men come along
with them. Let those who arc
doing well there, stay there.
CRAZY HORSE,
Henry Vorcc came to the Hills
from Monona, Clayton county, Iowa.
lie was about twenty years old,
and partially insane. The miners
nicknamcd him Crazy Horse, after
an Indian Chief. lilo was among
the first that came into the Gulch
last Spring, and got a claim that
paid about five dollars a day. lie
lived and worked alone by himself.
Twas at his cabin one day, and will
give description of it and its
furniture. -Four posts driven into
the ground two poles spiked on to
these posts, and these covered with
brush and bark made the house.
An old horse blanket, and two un-
tanned deer skins spread upon the
ground made his bed. "A camp
kettle, frying pan, n spoon and
a fruit can for n coffee pot, made
the cooking utensils.
lie seemed to be sane i'm every
matter but ono, and that was rel
alive to his wife. She had not lived
an unblamable life before their
marriage, and had deserted him the
first year. 1t was from no fault of
his for he had used her well, and
loved her dearly, and her dcscrtion
made him crazy. The idea was in
his mind, that she had left him be-
cause he was poor, and could not
dress her as costly as she desired.
Alice had gone home to her father,
he said, but she would come back to
live with him when he got rich. lie
had heard of the gold in the Black
Hills, and hal walked all the way
there to dig out riches so that
Alice might love him again. As
long rs the water lasted he had
worked every day carefully hoard
ing his gold, spending nothing for
clothing, and only enough for pro-
Visions to keep soul aud body in
company. lie wrote to Alice often,
and was always expecting some
word from her. lie had heard that
I was from Iowa, and over he came
to sec il | had brought any letter
from Alice. lie was so disappoint-
cd when he found i was from
another State and had no word for
him. A tear started from his eye
rs he said, I know she has not
forgotten me, and will 90 back to
her some day, and she shall have
everything she wants. lie was
dressed in thin Gotten pants. no