Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1877-06-15
BLACK HILLS,


ed from the Black Hills, and thinking
some items from his experience may be
of interest to the public, furnishes the
following: :. ~ %.
Ilsft ST. Paul on Nay 1, BY way Of
Bismarck and tho Custer route, aud I
can say for this route that the accom-.
modations are first class in every par
ticular; the coaches are easy and COM
Portable; good meals are to be had ct oil
the eating houses ct reasonable rates,
and the horses and general outfit are
Is good;as I ever saw on any stage line,
while the freight outfit is the same,
they having the best lot ofmulss Lev.
er saw together We were six days
from st. Paul to Deadwood, . far short
or time than is or can be made BY any
Of the routes new running int the
Hills. ae alGaai aG.s g.
There 10 no doubt in my mind but
that there is = large amount Of geld in
the Black Hills, and the question Of its
bei1g . permanent thing is settled.
Deadwood Is now and probably viii ,be
for some time the principal town Of the
Hills, the vast psying mines being in
that immediate vicinity. .:T,,
I took the Fort Pierre route coming
back, it being partly the Object Of my
trip TO sec for myself as we'll g others
what advantages were offered BY the
different routes, and right here let me
ssy to oil who are going to the Hills, to
av0id thiR routa above al others and
It's agents Is we'll.
Many men whom I saw in the Hills
and on their wsY in were loud in their
denunciations of this route and its
agents.
To bs brief there are no accommods-
tions ct al On the Fort Pierre rosie, in
the way Of eating stations, &c. Com
ing out of the Hills We had coach for
about thirty miles and then lumber
wagons and mules. The stock was 80
badly worn that they could scarcely be
urged of . Wslh, and the driver often
using stones which he would throw st
them from the wagon.
On our arrival ct Pierre ws found the
boat hsd just left and nobody knew when
We might expect another. Being in
something Of hurry IS had business
calling home which could not wait, my
self and four others bought . skiff and
started to make the trip on our own
hook. We were out about thirty hours
when We were picked up BY the steam.
or Black Hills on her way up to Pierre.
We went back to this place and took .
fresh start under more favorable cir.
eumstsnces. This steamer is . fine one
for this trade, owned BY Dr.. Burleigh,
Tim Burleigh being Captain. I cannot
say too much in prSise of this boat and
her crew; we were splendidly treated
by all hands and highly satisfied with
the river part Of the trip, as we had .
very good stage of water. i should not
care to make the trip during low
stage of water, even if the stage line
was . good enc. aEas1r 22i.s fz a-.s!.
At Fort Pierre there is freight piled
on the leveeto the amount Of eight
hundred tons, or SO estimated by others
on the ground, and most Of that with
out other cover than poor tarpaulins.
The freight house, such as it is, is piled
full up to the roof. s n. a
Merchants in the Hills who have ship
ped by this line have no idea when
they are going to get their freight, as
it will take as long as the middle of
August to get through what is now ly-
ing at Pierre.
Before closing would caution all who
happen to miss the boat against trying
to make the trip By skif as they will
not save any time, and it is probable
they will never reach the desired place
alive. We saw several. bodies floating
on our way down, and no doubt most OF
them were victims of this mistake.
Hoping my experience may be OF
some advantage to those for whom it
is intended, l am, yours most obedient-
ly, A. Z. SHAw,
Sedsr Falls, Wis.