The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-08
THE BnACK INNS IN WINTER.
Custer city Under the Wcuthcr-Lodcs with
millions In 'Lm-rhc Rush for Battle Creek
-rhe Arrival OF the First Quartz viii.

Custer City Under the Wcuthcr- i'odcr WIN
millions In Em-Thc Rush for Battle Creek
The Arrival of the First Quartz viii.
CUSTER cry BLACK Hills, ID. IT,, Dec. IL.
All roads lead to Custer, az | discovered on
NV trip to this city. the destined METROPOLIS Of
the Hills; for trying no less than three well
recommended short cuts to DeadwOod, inva-
riably brought up at Buffalo Gap. the grand
gateway to Custer and the gold country beyond.
Custer IL to-day exactly what It was ten months
ago AZ reg lrds form ,tion. One thousand hastily
constructed shanties, and some two hundred
half finished huts, string along the avenues
and streets. Pairt and ornamental work are as
conspicuousy absent now as then French creek
Ia as destitute of water, and tLi' scarcity - as
painfully manifest in the gczzly faces OF the lew
inhauitlDts. The city is here Just the same, but
the deserted huts--a ratio OF three to one with
those occupied-show that most Of the citizens
have left. The old settlers say they have gone
east for the winter, or else are OF In tho stan'
pede to Battle Creek, but that they VIII all be
5ick In the spring.
have been shown two specimens of quartz
taken from the weofoot lode, lead commence
ing two miles from the city and running due
nurih. as far "a prospectcd eight miles The
first specimen was taken from the claim next TO
the discovery, eight feet from the surface, aud
the quartz assays : 5000 to the ton. The O'her
specimen was taken from the eighth claim, and
was said to be al uost solid gold, aud to assay
about $4,000. | was taken over to the De Smitt
lode 81 the east to Lawn, where the quartz as
siys $l,1i7 and some cents ito be urecise). aud
thence to the Centennial lode, to the south Of
the city. and shown big humps OF ore inquired
about the placer di9gings. and was told that
"we don't care to bother ourselves with such
small, nckle, md transient enterDrises. We
nave our lodes; there's millions in 'em, ana
with them We are more than cOuicut.
. But Battle Creek - now the rail- ing cry, an
IL tue region from Deadwood t. this cry Is not
soon depOpula ed. II will be because Hattie
Creek ID not tong enough nor broad nor deep
Is much sou IN their madness, too. for Capt.
Iimbl1n showed me nugget to-day tn ne
picked from he ground, " just as YOU would
gather hickory nuts. you know IL weighed
fifteen dollars and tigain 70 be minute) Tour
cents. while pan OF earth from the sane clam
10 be equally Iich. not more valuable than
the famoJs Deadwood cullen. from which the
spr9ntly little town has Alre dy oudied into ex-
istenee, aud Will So h-som into actfy.
through here t. .. ,ound for Dsidwood. IL
cost $4,000, t5,0o trarsportatOn, and tum-
bled frum The w.gon into the Cheyenne river
while being taken cross. entsiling great LABOR
to recuv r It. lts owners ore tue Pinney Brothers
OF Nebraska Civ. There Is fortune In that
mill II tuere Is money IA anything. for the great
need OF the several INNING districts Is ma
cninery to edu the ore. 49,, a.,
mouth" Her placer claims are nearly all worSed
out, and sue has not SUFFICIENT quariz mining to
enable her to hold her own. IN. luck est fell
lows In That dis rict, next TO the VINE elers have
been three colofed men. VINO bad no moro
knowledge Of prospecting and mining than tney
had Of astronomy. hut they traied into a little
spar. thrust their shOvels into the bank. nj
drew our several "colurs " at the nfst |. Their
pay " Increased as they proceeded. until tney
demonstrated their possession OF the richest
claim III Deadwood. crowds Hooked to Niger
Cullen. as 1t WAS called. 10 see the "shily"
washed out, and when the trio smut down Tort the
season. a few weeks ago. two went hone 90 n
with S,j.0OO In his pockets. The third remains
to watch their still valuable claim.
Prices axe reindrklnl. low now IN Custer, con-
sidering tuat freight from the Union Pacinc At
sidney 20 TINS point Is seven or eight cents per
uound. For instance, beer "a only 81 % pr Y IL
Ion at the Custer brewery, AID board (air to
middlins). e. per week. Flour sells at $40 to sls
per cwt., and corn meal the sane. Poor wins.
kew. "two bits y a drink good wniskey not In
demand-it isnt raspy enough: The moral at
mended. q imblers, and Others VINO prey upon
tneir fellow neines, nave quietly dep lrted. \
liz OF forming cnufch society. Zoe city q "
ernment Is provisional, and IS composed In part
IA follows: superior Judge. inomus ilopp,r;
tity recorder, l.. J. keeler; Ciiy Treasurer. c.
sooner; justices OF the pe.ce 4. J. keefer
l.. }. Ward, President and e.. oficO May :.
Tier l. no Post Onice nOr.n OF the Indian
agencies. Letters for the Hills are TUNED over
To the stage COMPANY AT sidney, ana charge OF
ten cents each Is maze for bringing them up.
stages arrive once week. pIt more lines md
daily rips re promised for the spnn. travel,
winch /, expected to ue immense.
Tue H,rdlL new wcekiy paper published bv
\. X. Kennedy aud j. :. B4rtnol ltnew, late Of
Onaha. N de its FIRST appearance Last week. IL
rs une dress, mucn WIN. and telegraphtc news
Indians are lodging roIud on the sly, but
beyond cutting the wire last night, have com
mitted no hostile act Of la,e; suu everybody Is
on guard ana expecting dcprelatiuns al any
time, luOaiug for high old war whoDp whcn
saIing enable the reds and their ponies 70 SUD
-lst away irOm the agencies.
On ny way THROUGH Rid Cloud Agency /
learned that those noble patriots, hessrs. Dear
anu Yates. lnltan raiders. had again come to
the Teli Il Of tn nnton 10y ulliug "spcct con-
tract for nav az 80 pr ton. lueir PATRIOTISM
~ SHOWN 10y the fttt that the hay cost them, de-
hvcre D, 800 pcr ton.
We arr reminded OF winter only nv an occi-
sionl piercing wind. As general thing the
dANS are ur-ht and warn. ana The tot Al absence
OF snow endule, tue pinsrS to cOa.inu opera
tiOns. In the nOrtnerl districts there i ltttls
snow. but not enough to Impede mining at
all ~ interfere with pros pecting. l.. f. ".