Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-26
CAMP ON BATTLE CREEK,
January 10th. 1877.

CAMP ON BATTLE CREEK,
January 10th, 1877.
One has hardly time to locate him
self comfortably here until the report
comes that still better " diggings"
have been found, and away we go
with our blankets, grub and cooking
utensils on our back or a pack animal.
The latest excitement is Battle Greek,
and a general stampede followed the
first rumor The diggings are nearly
north of Custer City, about 30 miles
from that place, in the foothills of a
low range of mountains that until re-
Gently the prospector would not idle
his time away examining. Battle
Creek is about twenty miles in length
and reported to be very rich from n
end to the other. The bedrock has
not been reached but in few places
and will lay at an average depth OF
twenty feet. Tie discoveries thus far
are what are known AS placers and
will make a good showing. One mug
get taken cut three weeks ago by Cap
tain Timblin
Weighed Over Fifteen Dollars,
And lots of others have been since
found and many of greater value.
A pan of dirt taken from the same To-
cality washed out $40. When it is un.
derstood that four and five cents per
pan is considered good pay in ordinary
dipgings, the value oftbis claim, which
is owned by a French company, may
be readily estimated. Gardner & Tur-
ner's men washed seven loads of sur
face dirt from their dry gulch claim
one day last week, and realized $35 in
three hours. The firm is now build
ing a ditch 1900 feet long, preparatory
to working the claim on a larger scale
in the spring. There are about sixty
men working on the creek at present,
and as many more upon dry diggings,
while an army of prospectors are
securing the adjacent country.
Mining affairs in this vicinity are be-
coming Interesting, to say the least,
and the present outlook is such as to
reaffirm the assurance given a year
ago, that Custer is destined to be ''the
metropolis of the Hills" Its advan-
tages over all rivals in being rs to 100
miles nearer railroad facilities (no
mean consideration in these days of
high freight tariff and its delightful
and healthful location are important
Points in its Favor.
In addition, there have been quartz
leads discovered, which, if they come
up to assayed samples, eclipse any
thing yet reported in the Hills, and
equaled by few anywhere. The prin.
cipal leads are the centennial, ""De
Smett,'' and "Webfoot." The last
named is the richest-claim No. 2 (sec-
oud from discovery)-assaying 1856, 900
to the ton, the samples being taken at
a depth of eight feet from the surface.
Claim No. s is said to be still more
valuable-the vein producing almost a
solid mass of gold. The lead com.
INC near the city and runs due
north. The principal claims are held
by a company of Eastern capitalists
who will have a stamp mill here in
time to begin work early in the spring. |
Custer Is almost Deserted.
The miners have either gone home
for the winter or else joined in the
stampede to Battle Creek. Vacant
houses outnumber by far those occu-
pied, and but little business is trans
acted. The few who remain, and the
merchants, are, as a class, far o
the average quality of men to be found
in mining camps. There are no dance
houses or gambling institutions in the
place, and the utmost order prevails.
when 70 Come TO h Hills.
One of the army of newspaper o r
respondents that are now here gives
the following advice regarding when
to come to the Hills, which is to the
point.
First-Do not go in the winter season.
1t is perilous. On the sidney and also
the Cheyenne routes there are miles OF
plains where there is no wood. Fuel
has to be transported. Then, in snow
storms these plains are terrific. Moth
ing can withstand the piercing winds
which sweep over,them. Ranches are
thirty miles apart on the Sidney route.
Loaded teams do not usually make
more than fifteen miles per day; will
have to camp; and all l can say in this
weather is, God help them.
Second-Do not go in the early
spring. Then the Indians will be
troublesome, and ifthe agency Indians
are renewed, some at least will shoot
away from the main body and join
| Sitting Bulls forces. / am apprehen-
sive that in the early spring the Indi-
ans will be more villainous than at
any previous time.
When, however, grass comes, so the
army car move, the Indians will re-
cede; so / would advise, don't go until
either the middle of May or the first
of June. Then affairs will be safe.
And remember, whoever goes to the
Hills must expect a hard time, and not
much sunshine after he gets there.
There is room enough and gold enough
for a great many people yet. Nothing
is gained by undue haste. j.
Badly Frozen.