Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-23
UP IN THE BIG HORN "a
An VI" Lurekan Tells What He
Anows About Mining, Game
and Indians.


May %, 1877.
EDITOR SENTINEL: Thinking that
some OF the old boys in Eureka might
TO hear from this comparatively
unknown country, l lake the chances
OF writing you in hopes that the letter
may reach Eureka eventually. We
left Deadwood City the last of April, a
partly Of hugely disguised men with
that section of the Black Hills. There
were 81 OF us and we concluded we
would strike ont before the general
stampede commenced, for about every
other man in the Territory was talk.
ing about starting as soon as the
weather was good and the snow melt
a.. we had q pretty tough trip OF it,
as there was a great deal of snow on
all the mountain ranges and the
streams we're very much swollen, but
we managed to make it without any
accident excep: the loss of three mules
and their deck load of provisions.
drowned while crossing q rapid stream,
we had no chance to do any prospect
ing on the route, as the streams were
high and the gulches filled with snow.
Whenever we did get a chance to wash
a pan OF dirt we generally found the
color, but nothing that you could call
a decent prospect. We had supposed
that we would be the first party that
reached the country, but we found or
heard Of about a hundred that had
come in from Montana Territory and
were scattered through the range in
small parties. There has been consid-
cradle talk about the Sioux, and our
party has kept a bright lookout for
Sitting Bull, but we have seen no
signs of Indians since we left Dead
wood nor heard of any one being mo.
Tested as yet.
THE COUNTRY.
l started in to tell you what l
thought OF the Big Horn, but l have
hardly heen here long enough to
form much of a judgment. We have
been in this camp five days and pros
pected numerous creeks and gulches
With not very encouraging results.
Three OF our party found a bar in a
creek that contains some gold, and we
have been prospecting it for the past
" days. Ten of us took out about
two ounces the first day and
three to-day. The gold is very fine,
but we have hopes that as we get it
opened 1t will pay better. A portion
OF our party will work the claim, and
the balance Of US prospect the sur
rounding country. We have heard of
a strike over OH Owl Creek, about so
miles from our camp, but cannot
Nnt1ah for Ia frnt1 al IL an IaI
season to do much exploring, as the
streams are all 10 high that we cannot
get into their beds, and have to con-
fine u operations to the gulches.
The country in this vicinity has all
the looks of a mineral bearing region,
there being plenty of gravel and wash,
and the streams are filled with quartz
pebbles, but we have not seen the first
indication Of a ledge since We arrived.
GAME.
This place is the hunters paradise,
although there is very little small
game. Black-tailed deer, antelope and
bear abound, and we luxuriate on ven.
ison in every shape, with an OCCASION
al slice off of the rump of a fat bear.
Small game is not so plenty, with the
exception OF rabbits. A few ducks
and geese are found on the water
and fish whenever one feels
like catching a mess. We shall put in
the summer season in this part OF the
country, and il there is anything to he
found, we hope to get our share of it;
still, at the present writing, l do not
have any great faith in the future OF
this part of the territory. We have
been here long enough for me to
give "A very minute description, but in
my next / hope 10 post you thorough
ly. In the meantime / would moi adj.
wise any n to come here, unless they
are willing to take their chances on an
uncertainty.
Yours, Respectfully,
ROBERT =. BROwN.