The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-20
GOLD HUNTERS.
A Strong Expedition Going Into the
Big Horn Mountains.
NOT AFRAID OF SITTING BULL
Turning the Tables on a Band
Of Savages.
CAMP BIG HORN EXPEDITION,

peou current ueol OF tue richness oil
the Big Horn and Yellowstone countries in the precious
metals As carly as that date expeditions
to penetrate that region for the purpose prospecting
From their entry the mountains no positive trace
OF them exists, ike tho early settlers OF tho Black
Hills, Of whom interesting traces recently oeen
found. Tho dense mountain shadows hid them COM
pstey from our sight as though In the grave For many
years past Indians have possessed less nugget
gold This they exchanged at the trading posts but
the localities from whence It have always
remained a tribal secret. Only in the moments Of
their drunken generosity did they disclose the Black
Hills OF tho Cheyenne (Deadwood districp and the
Big Horn country Us its Alter numbe-css fu
tito attempts the Black Hills populated. The
richness OF their mines has asopishod all and turned
into that narrow country population far exceeding
her present demands 1t liz well known that the geo
oglcal formation OF much OF the Big Horn country is
the same as the Hills This ana The many wild re-
ports afoat regarding discoveries there of gold and
silver have turned the tide OF this class Of travel
toward that region. II Is safe to say that there arc
now 1000 prospectors in the Big Horn mountains
ROADS TO THE MOUNTAINS.
But IL must DO remcmb erod that this section Is sew
eral times larger than the Black HIS country There
are number OF routes over each OF which travel will
dow In. From the Union Pacific by the way of
Cheyenne Forts Laramie, Fctterman and Canlonment
Reno, also by Green RIVER Rawlins', via Camp Brown
or Stambaugh; and the river route up the Missouri
and its tributaries, also tho travcrsed by this
expedition from Deadwood City, Black Hills via eau
Torment Reno, to whatever point IL desired in the
mountains. This last route traversed by your corrc-
spondent follows the trail made by party Of Mon
tana miners, who the fall OF 1876 came across the
country to Deadwood The dstancc from Dcadwood
to Reno estimated daily, Is 225 miles, the expedition
being ten days the way.
EXPEDITION ExrsRIgycED PROJECTORS
Tho party consists Of hity-two men with Upward of
one hundred animals ana carries ninety aays' rations
There Is IN the party not one single "pilgrim" Every
man has had experience on tho frontier, anu is
equipped with rae revolver and al least i've hundred
rounds Of fixed ammunition. Among them are many
experienced prospeclors. some OF whom have mado
lying visits 10 portions OF the Big Horn country and
each has iu faith that rich digglngs will be found If
permitted by the Indians to prospect This country rs
the great gamsparK OF the and-is the tavore hunt
ing ground OF the powerful Sioux nation when facts
will explain why they have tenaclousiy fought tor
II, and generally on the frontier wherever game is
found In abundance there too are found Indians SO
abundant have they heretofore been found in
tho Big Horn country that all prospectors
who have heretofore vsited tho country either
been Killed or driven out without beng aUe TO do sui
hoent work TO determine the value vi couhtry as
u mineral REGION but every miner and military officer
OencV0, Wlto any knowledge on Tue subject reports
gold in many OF the guichcs aud streams TINS expe-
dition being so large and OF the best material, IT
thought Will settle the vexed qdestion, gold or
gold, as we'll as tho other equally important one,
What It's value Tor purposes agriculture and stock
growingf Tho route from Deadwood 10 THIS place was
regarded infested by small bands Of agency Indians
all OF whom don tho paint out OF sight
OF the sodiery, but the trip was made without tho loss
Indians wore seen at distance, but not III sufficient
numbers TO cause alarm.
TURNING THE rADLEs ON INDIANS
ltui.o
long drawn out tram was slowly dragging Its through
ravne, the cry suddenly sprang fom rear to front,
indians J" Your correspondent, who was OF the ad
vance guard spurred back along The line, while ue
leader OF the pack animals quickly doubled them back
upon The train In the rear the rear hurried Tor
ward und the whole quickly cOrraled and tho horse
men formed in circular form about the
corral At this moment there appeared arouni
u knoll, perhaps half milo distant, u band
OF mounted Indians, and loose stock from parties
being mixed II was impossible 10 tell their number,
they bore straight down upon the corral Meanwhile
'sinches' were tigntened, ridos and revolveIs
examined airesh, additional ammunition distributed
and every possible preparation made TOR The expected
attack, when suddenly leading Indian
played IRON the elevated end Of his rule dirty WHITE
rag. Seeing this and deGiring medicine talk with
When low rods distant he was greeted with series
OF How" "Hows," which were responded TO IN tue
same comprehensive speech.
"sISGING BEAR" AND AMERICAN HoRsB.o
They each, AZ they rode past shook h,nds while
the leader presented letter Tor my nspecton which
found TO DO u statement signed by Lieutenant Ii. T.
Clarke, commandment OF scouts at Camp Rouinson,
stating that the bearer, "snging Bear was "good"
Indian and had been on scout TO the Yellow stone
country, and asking that he BIZ moested singing
Bear Is about nifty years old, straight as an arrow,
and was mounted on a magnificent American
and proved TO be American Horsc,''
chief of In the tribe. From
these letters aud tbe sign talk had gath
cred that they had been 70 the Yellowstone country
tha effort 10 induce nostcs TO IN, aud Dad
ceeded In inducing the three accompanying then. TO
do 50. As they approached lhc train they were
surrounded by several exCted
and angry discussion WAS had 10 what disposition
should made OF them. Many were IN favor OF kill
Ing them outright; Others oil disarniug tnem aud
taking their stock. lhe scene at th,s moment was
ragciiy interesting In the centre, at uay stood the
i've savuges; about them was solid line oil angry,
excited men, The appearance OF these children
Of the pam was study; tho same unmpassoned,
stolid cOuDtenance through II all Ot they DID
not understand what was being said Dut the ries
cock The open pistol holsters and angry gcs-
lures OF those barring thor progress told ALL Even
one, becoming excited rose IN his srrups and vche-
menty recited the suiIerlngs oil himself ana the
slaughter oil his family, the Indians ala
their heads. Their eyes CLEANED and rolled strangely
In tner sockets This was all that Indicated they we're
IN a different frame OF mind than they we're when sit
ting IN their own wigwans
DEMANDED "BLooD."
There was that IN the surroundings that make men
eloquent, and think the demonstrations OF the
temau mentioned above were tao most effective nave
ever listened to, and as no closed with demaud Tor
blood The elect was thrilling There ovement
forward OF the captors, Tor the purpose OF putting IN
effect his demand, while tho cooler heads restrained
them and surrounded the captves to protect then In
the end their better judgment prevailed. ana they
were liberated.
CENTENNIAL PRAIRIE
Leaving Deadwood Guy our route lay nine miles
through semi mountain region, when We emerged
10 Centennial Prairie, beautiful and well I'd
plain. This valley extends TO Red Water distance
oil about twenty-five miles. Mucu oil the land is To-
Gated Tor rsncbng purposes and Tor the rst ten miles
there Is growing and looking we'll considerable vcgc
tables and gram. IL Is the region winch Will supply
the his district with hay, large quantities. oil winch
are beug harvested outstanding the Tact that every
few days ranchman Is killed aud scaped ny ndians.
From Centennial Praire TO the Belle Fourche River
the soil is good loan and reasonably well watercd,
very good Tor The purposes OF both agriculture ana
stock growing, the distance being about sIXty-nve
mites. Leaving the Belle Fourchc our route lay Tor
TOUR Gays directly up this stream and along It's bed,
our trail crossing and recrossng It's dscores OF times.
The country IRON the Bcie Fourcnc, all tue way TO
Canionmcnt Reno, IS generally akali and semi bad
lands. utterly uhut or the purpoes OF cultivation and
nsuiclently supplied with water Tor stock, the soil
much OF the way beng utterly barren or covered with
prckly pear and sage brush,
Our party suffered greatly the last ninety miles OF