Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1877-07-09
The First Gold sssher- IN tho Black

Ira Hegmun writes to the Chicago
Times, from Deadwood, June 10Th, as fol-
lows: I think have succeeded in soly-
ing another problem in regard to the first
discovery Of gold in the Black Hills. That
the deposits had been discovered here
and worked before Custer entered the
country at the head of an army is now an
established fact. Unmistakable evidence
of this has been found. Old sluice-boxes
in an advanced state Of decay, were found
last year, and q grindstone was exhumed
only few days ago in claim within the
limits Of Deadwood. An old chain was
also found nearly eaten by rust. Who
were these first discoverers? When did
they enter the Black Hills7 What are
their family connections? These are
questions Of interest, and If have not OBJ
tained enough information onithe subject
to base positive answer on, Il1ave at least
got hold Of good clue by which think
the whole mystery can be unrayeled.
In the spring Of 1852 Bentley B. Bene-
dict, then "a years Of age, was a resident
Of Morrow county, Ohio, and then it was
that he joined an expedition bound for
California, overland composed Of three
hundred men. Even at that early time
lI was ISpOUIOO Ii1aI 01SAS WSAS I'LL &Ss0
mines in the Black Hills. At Fort Lara
mic a party Of thirty detached themselves
from the expedition to prospect this re-
gion, it being arranged that they should
come on and overtake the main party at
the Humboldt river. When the expedi-
ton arrived at the Humboldt eight Of the
party Of thirty came into camp reporting
that the other twenty-five had remained
behind in the Black Hills, and that they
had found rich gold mines there. Their
reports in regard to the richness Of the
discoveries were very exciting, and
number wanted to return with them. But
the Indians were very dangerous at that
time, and sense Of security forced them
all to go'on through to California together.
None Of the twenty-five who remained
behind were ever heard of afterward.
Mr.. Benedict remembers but few COM
posing the expedition, with their former
places of residence; but a sufficient num-
Der have been retained in his memory to
enable the investigator to get further im-
portant facts, and hope the local press
of the points designated will add to the
facts I am enabled 70 give. A man by
the name of Douglas, of st. Joe valley,
Michigan, was elected leader, of the ex-
pedition he having before made the trip
across the plains; and among them were
Josephus McLeade, Of Delaware county,
Ohio; Thos. Turner, Mt Gilead, Of
Brown, st. Joseph County, Mich; Jona-
than ingalls,, same place, and Leonard
Cross and stDock' Cross. some part OF
Michigan. There are good reasons for
believing the party Of twenty-five were
all butchered near where Deadwood now
stands, for here were found the grind
stone, cd slnce boxes, etc; and when
Jerry was prospecting on Rapid creek an
indian told him. to go further north to
find gold-pointing in the direction OF
Deadwood gulch.
I believe the whole truth Of the bloody
history will yet be unraveled. Let the
facts have obtained be taken IN con-
nection with what may be coaxed out Of
some of the old agency Indians, and l
think the mystery will be solved.