The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-15
LIFE IN TIE BLACK HILLS.
NOW the HONEST MINERS ARE DE-
FRlCDED or THLIR MONEY


Three Favorite swipdlcs-Tbc COMPANY
C,ptsin's strategy Caution TO bmiarants
a " ondcriui shot Indians Troublesome
Asnin-The Latest News from the Mines.
CUSTER CITY, ID. r., Jan. 1.-That Black
Uulers know thing or two about money maxi
Ing. outside OF tho mining business, Is apparent
90 even the most casual observer. The latest
xr,nkle-perhaps | should say an old wrinkle re-
,,yed and mproyed-is the recording DODGE"
which IN one or two Instances Battle Creek
Tor one) amounts almost y aswindle. The how
o,utssimule The sol dis1nt prospector hunts
~, isol, ,ted uninh cd part of the country,
establishes "a" districts" opens dug-out, paints
ar corder's once" upDn shnge at the en-
trance raises biz hue and CRY OF valuable dis
coyeries (which Is ceit In to create stampede
here, gold or no gudl, and then rakes In tho
dollar fee for recording claims. The stampede
well under way. city Is laid out with numerous
ttreets avenues and alleys The lots arc thrown
upon the market, nd are quickly bought up
by those desirn. ground for cabins, or 10y specu-
la,ors who are willing TO risk the dollar and
half fee on the possibility that the disgings may
amount to something, or That the place may In
time be ntersected by some stage road. and
come In for its shlro Of travelling patronage.
TO show how such schemes are carried, may
cite the latest excitt ment-Ba Creek.
In August last two honest old miners. Messrs.
C. C. Drown and G.. l.. Norris, prospected the
eastern slope. finding rich deposits OF gold
Owing to the Indian troubles, they were forced
to temporarily abandon their claims. 4 few
weeks ago the two centeven quietly Informed
few friends of their discovery enJ ,iued secrecy,
ana tho party left cl lndesiinely for Bittie
Creek. One OF the impossuities Of a mining
region Ia to keep new and valuable discovery
secret. The Battle Creek dicgin-s soon became
well advertised and from all parts OF the HIS
stampede set In. that even now seems unatated.
The brown and y rIis district was speedily
taken no, and has developed great richness as
have also one or two adj iiuins districts. The ex-
citement became almost unparalleled; record
ing specuators saw their opportunity, and
focked into Battle by the score. Districts
were est iblished on every side, upon every
Rulch and stream. even on the great dry noun
tains In which there Is not the slightest trace Of
gold or OF metal OF any description. Enthusi-
astic and willing dupes nibbled at and swal-
lowed the gilded IT. As a result. the land for
Gfty miles about has been bought up by miners
at the rate OF 81 per claim OF 100 feet and no
less than zen towns. each having from 100 to
30 town lots are held by persons who secured
titles ty the pavmeut OF similar fee. Inc
proceeds OF these sales run into the pockets OF
tue few recoriers-and they VIII remain there.
Not one cent will reach the Ire slry o. the Ter
claims already numter 1876. ana the list Is daily
swelling. u he recorders expenses amount to
the pro, OF a very small book, bottle II ink,
and a pen with holder.
Another mode Of raising the wind Is for a
Hitler TO visit the East aud raise comp ny,
guaran eeing for certain sum ~ money. paid
10 advance, to land the emigrant IN the HIS.
This Is. OF course. lee' innate business, II the de-
tails OF tue trip are cl afy stated AZ the outset
which Is generally not the case. The " captain
Is usually very retlcent. He does not think II
necessary to explain that the company viii he
trAuSDUrtet
extends In freight or cattle cars. OF that the en-
ierant could travel Just Us cneapiy FIRST class.
He does not expisin that from the railro d ter
minus the company must foot II from two To
three hundred miles over the barren prairie,
doing Its own camp guarding aud us own
pilotage; nor does tie mention that he will
desert the company a few miles out from the
obiainable. horse or two. and perhaps rihe
anu ammuDition, as 80 many CAPTAINS have
done bcf lre him. these captains receive large
commi sion from the iroad companies. aud
make a very NICE thing Of IT.
Young man, IL YOU intend coming West, come
alone or ia COMPANY VII few friends; pay as
you go; and Keep aloof from "com panies."
After YOU I've reacued the Hills, do not locate
rive a. a knowledge II It's value.
recently met cntracter Of these parts.
"Judee" NEARLY every other man here is u
9utge) Lew W. Gitchen halls from the
mined all over the American continent.
lie l. a nne-luoking. agreeable man Of 80 yea : /;
played the h1dle win the utmos, dexterity (;
and. 70 natural shrewdness, has added a hand
st-"' '.'tn ". - - ., "a ~. -
range mot WIN th- rine, anu uelshts III teIine
vl the uerI re ufouRu. uoWh at ~ SdIus. lie
nus "eH-tileu en"Ip :, huhes us Owl
.aiti = = ac uih'sy "tlsnln1g uut ihe powder
~ an 80 par %, s,lu .rhl's' me ohi sol q Ger
twn qAhltS ~ lehu, OF UNIFORM weisnt ana pre-
Csc 81 pc WIN th' eA,ie'se OF suh..enl care
he ,nri7,, up u nls ,',iIti 70 uNnnV.uIe a si.Ner
.ai uoHaI al ulsI"uee Vi AVyV SaIus every
hue' ,., . 49,, ,,
hNs lhna, ""le Crosslne tue rams, ne
epru ne uefr III question: seehlh Sutllef pc
.'uu rtuup w Naits "u, ne Ehugel tue us
lauoe, hufeutcIHR lhe quahtlN 81 rOWuef III a
oatlll9te !" NE estimated necessary amount,
pleeu II III tue chimuet'' hulu'let the slght'
mmeu iut toAus'voi up,h lue t"D 81 'he STUMP
NM hiel' Inc nalI speu on us way lnaAing
M II, V'e ',i,- 'ne to,u9to,i IA .W9, ana
eescei ul slaty lhr bt ~ OF Tue ue'r' alllns lt
ue iue !Iule Is ttei. SpInuall.'' ana WIZ
ns.en 70 10 III linen n-Must nus pet
u,eetlnr' ne .,a.''' I, u -'s 'es' v ihe powers
~ eNnrS 'ns1l.h ~ rep ~ "eiYu'Ns Saue,
nansn iu' We i'""> - hI ha,v hlN-' ahv mas
S,I I.,Hoa ~ III 'e NY 9' ~ os - 90
fstat -, a - ~, f ~, - So ~. 80 '''' ~ le-
iny t.,'',,. .ysr 80 & 80 "a ,-'', ~
Jd,'' ,.iii ,. 80, ,l, - y, go. I'm ne
- ,,t.,,'.t - ~ 49,, ~ 49, ~" 49, Se'4 AZ
-. y 49, ." ~ 80 .. .., t. -, ,.
&c.. a, - ha, , v, ", o. ",.1.e ~ Gu ~ "a nRlt ~
ieen rd , ~. 81 IN, H., .na' .s ~ -l',is hAu
t1fn,',, ,',t tis cIf '1 "'"- Nus-' -'S"' "4a' III
d,'N.d 10, ~. ~ ~ I,,y' MN .,t ,,s,., ,...-,
al =