The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-08-30
MEDICINE Bow MOUNTAINS, WYoNIE0 TER. !
August, 2lst, 1877.
Editor Democrat ;

Aukuhki Gl1ti Aeffs
Editor Democrat
There has come to us In this out'ofthe way
place the DEMOCRAT Of July 9th, containing the
chronicle OF little episode Of :his experience In
the Black Hills given to you by our friend Tom
Mccormick, which miseads AZ TO the fate Of three
of the party Of Ave" therein mentioned,
All faGtsindIcatlVeo OF the true status ofaairs as
they exist In the Hills which Tom, In his dissua'
sions among friends who contemplate trip To
that country may seek TO emphasize and illustrate
In the fe lcltOus and graphic Of Jack Down
ming, we heartily endorse and commend. But as
we were the companions Of Nc, In his journey to
the Black Hills, we select ourselves from the
twelve passengers who made up our particular
stage load as the party that in fuldllment OF the
prophetic augury Of our whilom and Grant friend
by the roadside-of whom, by the way, none OF US
have the slightest recollection, though doubtless
we met him jnst as related, as we have no heslta'
tlon In believing that every day OF this summer
might furnish It's quotldan parallel TO such an
Instance Of reverse Of fortune among the army OF
disappointed Black Hillers-'footed II for home,'
which assertion, involving more implied privaton
than dlsgrace,dOes not cOmport very well with the
several detailed accounts we have furnished
friends of our journey from the Hills 70 Cheyenne
and will tend therefore, 10 fasten upon us repu'
tatIon for romancing rather more specific than
envable or reishable,
We took passage with the "Streater Line for
Cheyenne, and though our Journey was slow
compared with the hardshlps suffered on tho Sid
ney Stage Coach, was as mode OF travel as much
superior to the coach as Pullman Is better than
Height car We did walk much Of the way
into the Hills however, and were often exposed
to the violent storms of rain, sleet and snow, that
upon The elevated plains In April follow each
other in most bewildering and unpleasant confu'
sion, and in utter disregard Of the equinocLial
SUGGESTIONS by which Old Prob Is guided In his
control and administration Of the meteorological
affairs Of Il civilized country.
1t was bright pleasant Monday morning that
we took seats in and upon the coach at Sidney.
We we're certainly in possession Of tair share OF
"life," although our glee was kept within the
bounds of decorOus submission by the timely re-
hearsal Of the dangers from Indians besetting our
route with which some crcumspect and consider
ate individual was kind enough to shock our ten
der susceptlbIlitles Just as, with a flourish and
crack of his whip, our jehu started into visible
animation then slow locOmotion the gothic frames
OF three superannuated specimens OF the equine
family, the fourth animal OF our -four In hand
being too lame to work enough to reduce his hesA'
kept In fair order. With spurt Of energy and
dash Of speed that we're plainly felt for the re-
mainder Of their STAGE our horses climbed the hill
Just beyond the town and soon we were lost to
sight Of friends who had gathered to see us of
l. Out on the plains with the horizon bounding
their interminable stretch on ansides we felt thal
our ride of three hundred miles was fairly com
meuced, and at once became interested In and
forming the acquaintance Of our fellow travellers
O matter speedily accomplished as our oVerture1
were promptly met and returned and bounded by
a mutual interest In the affairs of the hour, and
surrounded with and sharing common danger
we were moved by q manifest solidarity TO put
away the ceremony and reserve which the didac'
tic rules Of Etiquette under other circumstances
might have imposed to meet and companionate
| on the informal ground of hail fellowship thai
escaped whatever may have been the little differ
ences of tastes and dispositions our rather hele
rogenous company.
There were rumors Of this Stage company hav
ing imposed on former passengers, but we were 9
unit against such imposition as to the possession
a very American and nice understanding of oul
| A4S'
trammelipg, and made us a common enemy ript
for revolt against whoever or whatever might at
tempt the slightest infraCtiOn of our well paid to
privileges
But alas for shortsighted, pompous rebellion
against the dictates of an over-ruling Fate! Ou
motive power soon developed suspected weak
ness: storms burst upon us the road becam
heavy, and we we're compelled to walk just Whe
it was most desir ,be to ride. What redress hat
we on storm swept plain miles from any humal
habitatlon? What alternative but to sit still ant
starve, or face the storm and walk 1t is needles
to say we preferred the latter horn of the dilemm
and walked or rather most of us did,
Each one OF us soon possessed sobrlque
chargeable to some distinguishing trait or acciden
which suggested 1t. There was the dashing ben
netth Quartz Operator" victim of an acciden
early in the journey by which he was crippled TO
weeks. "Old" aud Young" Kansas who wert
"pards.n "Howton," formerly Of Connecticut
latterly from Kearney, Neb., which he pronounc
ed "Curney" who, true 10 the trading proclivltie
of his Puritan ancestors turned up on this occa
SIGN as q speculator in potatoes, large cargo o
which he then had on the road to the Hills
Colonel from Washington" alias Mark Twain,
genial, facedous, of much practical philOsoph!
and good nature that served him well for as mucl
as half the trip. But our Teutonic friend "Bis
marok" was the character Of the party, Imperi
GUS of manners, peremptory in dlctum, versatile
emphatlcally opinionated and possessed Of a fun(
Of information as varied and comprehensive II
range as were our conversations, he was as ou
wonder grew into admiration, made the compee
of Goldsmlth's school Master" But like man,
good minds "Bsmark" had his weaknesses, tn
most noticeable of which was his constant adora
ton of "a stock of goods without competition thi
side of Broadway" that he was taking to Dead
wood.
How truly weak this weakness was more appa
rent when, on a subsequent visit to his store, "
were shown his outfit of coarse boots and roug
clothing for miners wear "Bismark' was N
walker he had no ambition to attain to disLinC
ton in the Weston direction, and even demurre
against making all required exhibits of his pos
lively utter failure as pedestrian. In his bulk
unctuous body, there dwelt not the well lubrica
ed DISPOSITION one might be led to credit him will
and when after trial, every expedient which ne
cessity could suggest, would fail to extricate ou
coach from the mire, and the cry from the drive
"all hands out meant as last resort to his rt
moyal It was only after a few appropriate an
evangelical remarks delivered with unctlo
against Stage company that would exact frs
class fare for fourth accommodations, that "Bi'
mark" would be safely landed, and after muc
fuss and floundering, the stage proceed.
From Monday morning till Friday evening
with but one nights halt and rest at Red Clou
Agency, did we thus toll along, much of the tim
walking being the rule and riding the exception
and impreCations and bitter invectives withou
number were, when human nature could no Ions
er bear the stress, constantly hurled at the Stag
company.
Each man Of the party was determined on II
venge, and to CRAFTY to the fullest his enmity b
writing up and exposing the fraud.
Perhaps no more weary and disguised body
men entered Deadwood last spring than we. Al
rived ip the suburbs of Deadwood City, we wer
startled and surprised by request from the driV
er to "sll get in" What could 1t mean? 1t wa
only after proceeding little further, and notiC
ing the streets filled with people watching ou
progress, as, with the akimbograce Of Floss,an
more of gesture. curve and flourish than is affec
faeS =