The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-02-09
a HILLS
An Actors Experience-Gordon's Stockade-
The GuIch Mines, Etc., Etc.

Mr.. William J. Gross, an actor OF
some note, writing from the Black Hills
says: s'The theatre closed about two
months ago, and we are showed in, in
the mountains out of town, where !
went six weeks ago, and have been min
ing during that time with a pick and
shovel like a good fellow. I have some
good ground, and 1 have found some
nice specimens. If the ground contin-
ues to be as productive as I have found
it, ! need never again assume the sock
and buskin, but sit down and color my
meerschaum and have my box at the
opera. In a few days I shall go over to
the Bear Butte country to prospect for
silver. We have had several escapes
from Indians, but we have got used to
that, and are continually armed. The
country is very rich, and should you
hear the people say that there is no gold
in the Black Hills, you may safely say
that they know nothing whatever about
the matter. There will 1 have no doubt,
be fifty thousand men here by next fall.
The Black Hills, from all 1 have seen,
1 believe to be the richest on Gods foot
stool, and the man who comes here and
is energetic, and keeps his eyes open,
will certainly realize a fortune. This is
my sincere and honest opinion, and 1
givei it to you to make what you please
Of it." q sssElt O. III
Four miles below Custer stands
"aoRDoN's sTocKApE,"
a monument of mans pluck, as well as
of mans love for gold. Here a party
consisting of II men and one woman,
under the leadership of an Iowan named
Gordon, were in 1875, corralled by In
dams, and held at bay for a period of
several weeks. Fortunately thesparty
had anticipated a hostile reception upon
entering the Hills, and had erected a
spacious and impregnable stockade
upon the first plateau that appeared a
favorable site. The fertilization con-
sists of massive pine logs, standing upon
end, and firmly embedded in the ground.
The corners are Fashioned, thus permit
ting of a raking fire from all sides, and
enabling a small garrison to defy any
force that the hostiles could muster.
Six large comfortable log cabins are
within the enclosure, and were so con-
structed as to answer the double pur-
pose of ~habitations and an inner line of
defense in the event of the enemy fore
ing the stockade. The entire work vas
performed with nothing but axes for
tools, and not a nail, bolt, or bar, other
but wood, can be seen. The erection
occupied several weeks of persistent
and severe labor, and was so well per-
formed that unless removed by physical
force it will stand for ages to come.
THE GULCH MINES. "
The "French boys'' at Harvey havean
exceedingly rich dry-gulch, and are
scooping out the dirt by the %cart-load,
preparatory to washing it in the spring,
but they are the only claimants at work.
In Harvey they have yet to establish
their discovery" True, they have
such a claim, as INT was necessary to
number from. 'o fHae
In Last Chance the enterprising firm
of Philips, Norris & Brown are reaping
a great harvest-and they deserve it, for
besides working through rain, sleet,
snow, and intense cold weather, as they
have and are doing, they braved the
danger of being massacred by the Indi-
ans, and when the red devils were max
ing it 20 hot all around last summer,
these three boys, by by-ways and night
marches, made their way into the very
camp, almost, of the enemy, and quietly
dug, watching until the pay-streak APP
peared. tGIF.A5 4 ~ HSS
A mile or so below Hayward is claim
No. 80, owned and worked by John
Streighter. He is washing away in the
ice-cold water and appears satisfied.
He washed out four pans of dirt taken
as it came and realized 40 cents in ten
minutes. This is considered good pay,
being at the rate of about $50 per day.
Iron Creek district extends from Har-
ney's Peak on the west to Battle creek
on the northeast, "a distance of Is miles,
and possesses surface indications of
much gold. The country is wild and
jagged in the extreme, showing volcanic
action, heavy gravel washes, and an
abundance Of rich quartz. AS yet but
little prospecting has been done, owing
to the intensely cold weather but the
few shafts that have been sunk produce
brilliant, large ~s'colors," and many ru-
bies. The quartz leads have every.ap-
pearance of richness, and returns from
the assay Office at Denver are eagerly
waited for. Three colored men have
located here, and have secured several
valuable claims besides unearthing a
lode, the quartz of which appears to be
,,ar,p r;cb Tho mon oro from noo1xvood