The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-05-05

DEADwOoD, April %.
The journey from Cheyenne to this
place at this season of the year is very
far from being an agreeable experience.
From Cheyenne to Custer the road is
in fine condition and the trip is as
pleasant as can be made on any stage
line in the west, but after leaving Gus
ter the route is over the new road and,
as it has been impossible to do the
work necessary to make the road a good
one, il is not so smooth as it might be.
Considering the almost unsurmountable
difficulties which were and are now
being encountered, it may be truthfully
said that the builders of the road have
done well.
My first letter was written at Hat
Creek, which point Il party left at
6 O'Clock Wednesday morning, after
being well cared for by Jack Bowman.
Fifteen miles out we stopped for change
of horses at Harding's ranch, a place
well worthy of mention. 1t Is on In
dian creek, and the bluffs Whereabouts
are mainly composed of pipe-clay. At
the station Harding has eXcavated a
place for his dwelling, which has a
matched roof, with clay wall on one
side and end, and logs on the other side
and end. Therein is a kitchen, bed
room and store. From the latter a
subterranean passage leads to a gen.
uine dug-out fort, with log roof, and
portfolios on every side. Within this
stronghold (which was built when the
noble red man neutrality-suspicious. year,
ahandful OF linen could defendthemselves
against any force which might presume
to attack them. Hard by, and below
the fort, on the side of the bank, the
stage company have excavated a COM
modious aud comfortable stable, in
which their horses are kept.
Leaving Harding's, the road, which,
for the preceding rs miles runs through
a region teeming with indications
of immense coal deposits, the plains
and valleys being covered with a heavy
growth of rich, nutritious grasses,
leads on through the same CHI Letter of
country, frequently passing across
gulches and valleys of great fertility.
The broad plains are green with the
new spring growth, and only await the
coming herds to yield up their wealth
to the stock, men who are now gradu-
ally working northward from the
crowded grazing grounds between the
North and South Platte rivers. This
section was where the pilgrims met and
fought the redskins last year with
varying results, and on either side of
the road for miles and miles are seen
the rude rifle pits thrown up for de-
Tense, while here and there n rough
hewn slab or board tells that beneath
lie the bones of a luckless gold-seeker,
who left home and friends with bright
| visions of future success, only to meet
the raging redskin, be killed and laid
away in Il lonely grave, where only the
winds waifa requiem and the heavens
weep tears of dew.
At the mouth of Red Canon our party
met Maj. Collier and several of his
officers. We were escorted to their
| quarters and treated in a most hos
| pitable manner. The station has been
fitted up in good shape, comfortable
quarters having been erected for the
troops, and the grounds ornamented by
setting out rows of evergreen, etc.
Harlow's eating house is well managed
and the Red Canon station is Il very
popular one. The long canon, shut in
by precipitous rocky walls which fire.
quently rise to the height of 1000 feet,
must have seemed the very valley of
the shadow of death to the gold-seekers
!! who entered it throughout the last
year, during the Indian troubles. In
deed, it is a fact that.men shook hands,
babe each other goodbye and exchanged
messages to distant relatives and friends
when they rode in. Now, however,
all that is changed. The presence of
troops and the feeling of security en-
gendered by this and the closing of the
Indian war, allow travellers to pass
through and enjoy the magnificent
scenery without rel the slightest fear.
A prospect hole here and there along
the canon denotes the approach to a
mining country, and these indications
increase from there on to Custer City,
tho maintains around which are COW
cred with shafts, tunnels, ETC., while
French creek is lined with opened
claims.
At Custer the stage pulled up at the
favorite Occidental hotel, kept by w.
M. Ward, an sold residenter" of Chey-
enne, who feeds and lodges all who
come, and sends them away rejoicing.
The lovely park in which the city nes-
= r-lI q ..1.