Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-02
Letter From the Black Hills,

W HIS Sio'eiS IN thls city, written from
Rapid Greek, under date of April 18th, he
gives the following summary of his journey
from Canton, Dacotah, to Rapid City il the
Black Hills, which will doubtless prove in
teresting to his many friends in Wa:ertowr
and vicinity:
We arrived at Rapid City March Both
left Canton Feb. Goth; got to Yankten 28tf
of February We only staid in Yankton
one day, March lst. Wentoutt to see Mccall
the murderer Of Wild Bill, hanged he was
| hung miles out o. town. After dinner we
bought an outfit, groceries, etc. and cot
ready TO start. Our train was composed OF
). l., Johnson, Rob Laning, Paul Laning,
Dave Horseman, George and Frank Keller
and myself. Had good mule team; left
lankton March I'd. 1t commenced sno wing
ABOUT o,clok; at 5 it blew pretty hard !;
was hard walking for US Struck camp
about shutdown at "Stars Ranch" Blew
hard all night 80. Broke camp early :;
quite cold, but going good Took dinner
at Bon Homme. Paul.and wen, ahead and
got ride IN to Springfield with a ia rmer,
which helped us out a good deal We got
in about o'clock boys did not get iu
until $50 p. NJ. Weather was pretty cold
Springfield is lively little iowa, on the
Missouri river, % miles from Yankton. 4lh
broke camp at o'clock, travelled till 3
o'clock, came to to Choteau Creek and
canped for the night. Boys all very tired
This creek is As miles from Yanklon.
Weather splendid. Tomorrow we enter
the 1ankton Indian Agency. 9TH, we
crossed Choteau creek; met plenty of Indi-
ans. They live in log hutS and tepes.
After dinner Paul and | went up on a high
bluff to see some Indian graves that were
stuck upon high poles the coffi rs were
tied on the top OF the poles with some kind
of tanned hide. They looked from distance
Ike stools with four legs to them We
found where they had hung one in tree.
Struck camp in an Indian village In the
evening we went and called on some of the
Indians. Their tepes are made of heavy
canvas they are the shape OF q cornucopia
with hole in the top to let the smoke out
they build the fire in the center; they
seemed as happy as white men that lived
In good frame houses. The government
issue them rations once a mouth. They
come In on the Agencies in the winter to
be led. and IN the summer the young In
dams all go out on the war path and leave
some of the squaws and old COTE coolers at
the Agencies 6tb broke camp early met
plenty of Indians. About 10 o'clock an old
Indian overlook our train with a light
spring wagon; got in and rode with him
to White Swan. At first he did not like
the idea of my riding with him, for his
ponies were very thin, but be soon got
better humored He could not talk a word
of English. Our train finally go, along.
Took dinner along side of big bluff.
After dinner travelled six miles to a creek
and camped for the night. It'll, camped on
Pratt creek. Weather very cold 8th, it
WAS SO cold and stormy we did not move.
9th, broke camp at s O'Clock Very cold
bYewing at fearful rate all night; had to
face the wind all day. Got to Bigons Hills
at o'clock; camped for the night; it was
the coolest day we felt. At this ranch is
where two men were hung to telegraph
pole for stealing horses about year ago
The man that keeps the ranch has squaw
for wife. All the ranch men on this river
(Mo.) have squaws for their wives 10th,
Lett Bigons Hills early took dinner on
American creek. We travelled till nearly
dark without finding wood Or water bad
to camp on the prairie. We melted snow
for wafer. Had to cut the bark off the Tel
egraph poles to burn. Weather cold and
plenty OF snow. 18th, broke camp early;
went through an Indian village E; arrived at
FIT. Thompson at clock; it showed nearly
all day. Here is a hotel, one store stockade
and blockhouse. Indians live all around
here. Went to Episcopal church in the
evening. Have mission school at all the
Indian Agencies along the river. 18th, d id
not move to-day, snow was so deep: weath-
er cold. 18th, broke camp early; first
miles found plenty of snow; took dinner on
Dead Mans creek. 1t commenced blowing
and showing; very cold the worst blow
we had; could not see two feet ahead of
us hard work to keep the road Made
Change Rush" creek; was glad to get to
the ranch; snow deep l4th made Chep-
pel creek about o'clock Plenty of snow
18th, left Cheppell creek early. Plenty of
snow; weather stormy. At noon came to
Medicine creek; water had raised the ice
so that we had to run the wagons over by
baud on the ice; hitched horses on the
end of the tongue to pull the wagon on the
bank. Here we overhauled a train of two
teams and % men for the Hills. Made
Wilson's ranch alter dinner and camped for
the night. We were all pretty tired, as
usual. 1t commenced showing shortly after
we got into camp. 10th, broke camp early.
Plenty OF snow. Got to the Mo. river cross
ing about noon; found the crossing not
very safe. Had to take off the teams and
run the wagons over by hand. Tied long
rope to the end of the tongue; men strung
ont with about so feet of rope. The ice
cracked good deal; crossed all safe.
Camped on the Big Muddy at Fort Pierre.
One store here and plenty OF Indians. 18th
did not move. Weather bright and soft.
18th, broke camp early This is our jump
ing off place. We are in hostile Indian
country. Left the old Muddy and went
west. About six miles out it commenced
showing and blowing like fun not auch
fun about it, either.) 1t blew the snow so
hard we could not see half the time. 1t was
the worst storm we had on the trip. We
made Willow creek before dark az miles
from Fit. Pierre.) Camped for the night.
10th, broke camp early. Plenty of snow.
Took dinner on Frozen Mans creek. goth,
1t showed some during the night. 2lst, We
did not move to-day, snow so deep. I'D,
Laid still all day. Thawed some, made it
quite muddy. We were camped on the
prairie. Took wood enough to last us over