Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-06
"A Fender Eoot's Tramp.

"A Fender Foot. Tramp
Special Correspondence Press and Dakotalan,
DEADwooD, ID. T., June 81, 1871.
On The evening of the date of my last
letter j left Rapid City for this place, out
as the greater potion of the distance from
Rapid to Crook City was made in the night,
| was deprived of a sight OF the beautiful
scenery and the settlements aud improve
ments between those places. Clusters trail
into the Hills near Box Elder creek was
pointed out to us. and near a small stream
we saw by the glimmering light of the
coach lantern a lone grave which contains
the remains of d mail carrier who about a
year ago fell a prey to the murderous fire of
an Indian war party which lay in ambush
on the banks of the creek. A little further
on another small stream was pointed out as
the scene where Mr.. Belcher, of the upper
Jim river valley, repealed an attack upon
him by three Indians, and succeeded in so
severely wounding one of his assailants
that he was compelled to abandon his gun
which Mr.. B. captured as a trophy of his
victory.
We arrived at Crook City about day.
light, where VIZ met our former townsman.
Capt. y. I. Spaids, who is located here and
has interests which he claims are valuable.
F James A. Hand is building a house here
where he will reside with his family and
ride to and from his office at Deadwood.
ten miles distant, every morning and eve
nlng. Crook City has a telerably good
site, contains ONE good buildings, and
shows evidences of thrift, There are some
good mines and large bodies of timber in
the vicinity, which will materially assist in
building up the town. Or the agricultural
capacities of the surrounding country upon
Which SOME of the people strongly rely, |
have a poor opinion, and this opinion ex-
tends to all portions of the Hills which
have visited. After looking over the town
in company with Capt. Spaids, and doing
complete justice to a good breakfast, we
took up our march for Deadwood and in
using the word march we mean it
literally, as for nearly or quite half the
distance passengers must 'hoof ii" up and
down mountains which it seems to the
tender-toot are impossible for heavily
loaded teams, but they are not, although
the dragging up and sliding down of the
hills is terribly wearing on horse and OK
flesh.
CENTENNIAL PRAIRIE.
About mid way between the two towns
IS a beautiful piece OF land Of several tbou.
sand acres in extent, lying high an the
mountains. 1t is covered with good grass.
and hundreds Of head of horses and cattle
are herded here. 1t is a convenient camn.
ing ground. and vast numbers of freipbt
teams are constantly camped here, while
lhe owners go forward to Deadwood to
dispose of the goods with which their
teams are laden.
1t was a beautiful Sabbath morning and
as we YEARLY trudged along we portrayed
III imagination the scenes which would
greet US on entering the metropolis of the
Hills.
SUNDAY IN pEADwooD,
we imagined, after the excitement and
business strife Of a busy week, would be
characterized by u solemn hush and peace.
iul quiet, The rough and grimy miner
would don his best apparel. and with sober
tread and solemn visage wend his way fol
The unpretentlous house of worship. the
business man would close his store. lie
mechanic his shop, the l4borcr take his
needed rest, the gambler lock up his chips.
The Saloon keeper cork up his bottles. and
all pay tribute to the holy day little chill.
aren would still their hilarious mirtb and
win willing feet follow their elders 10
near the of repeated story Of Him Who
SAD suffer little children to come milo
me- that all would join in honorine HE
oay' ana that a solemn quiet would prevail
throughout the widely known gulch. As
gave expression to these imagininps We
were interrupted by one who had been
here, exclaiming- i
Cheese it, pard yer of wrong {
And we We're but will not undertake to s
'aequateiy describe the reality. AS we |
cached The summit Of the mountain VIII ne il
ioims one OF the wallroeks of the I
reVlce in which Deadwood is wedoed v
ur ears caught the faint aud muffied din of b
mat was gong on below. Anon the deem G.
of a blast in a neighborine mine n
'ould wake up the echoes in the mountain G
orges, and as We neared the bottom of the T
oagh-ilke gorge the full chorus of the h
Discs produced by all kinds of business. At G
vi TIDE became distinctly apparent :"
cavity loaded teams were copsfan,lv fu
lssing TO and fro saw.mills were in ruu W
and a babel of voices and a confusion hi
perfumes, nom of which bore anv of
to the balm of a thousand o.
'wefs or night blooming cerers. smote be
ION our auricular and olfactory nerves b.
II was not until We had passed through all