Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-19
FROM s.snAacx 10 TIVE BLACK NUS.
A Few OF the Remarkable Things Which
IN Observer Observes a. he Fursaes b
Editorial Correspondence

Editorial C~orrespondcnce.]
Sturgis City. Dakota, Thursday, Aug. z.
187o.-Over the plains to the Black Hills.
This section Of our proposed journey had
been anticipated with disaereeablc appre-
tensions. Asdus,y. sleepless. tedious jolt
for 4SE hours. Indians. road agents, mos.
quitqes, rattle snakes, and slkali water
mingled p~lentifully with the tints as our
minds eye contemplated the Kaleidoscope
wherein the trips incidents were premedi-
tated. But there was no avoiding the ride.
Though not . pleasure trip of itself. 1t was
an indispensable connecting link. uniting
pleasures. I was favorably impressed with
Bismarck, butt had no just appreciation
of its many Christian virtues and sumptu.
Gus comforts till cramped and aching ma
ture brought them wildly to the front as
We nodded and mapped, yswned and growl.
ed, twisted. squirmed aud nodded again,
within the narrow limits of our corner In
the stage coach.
We got away from Bismarck at mid
night. A change in the place where the
ferry landed, made necessary by tile Gu
c%roachment Of a sandoar, delayed US three
or four hours. and took the stage by q new
road to the river landing. Going down
the incline our vehicle ran off an embark.
ment and tipred over on It's side. There
were five Of US within occupying two seats
-one an old lady from Helena, Montana,
70 years old, born in Kentucky in 1901.
Il ascertained this later.) Tue driver held
manfully to his rcins. and with commend.
able agility we scrambled up through the
open door and jumped out on the solid
earth, where after careful examination we
concluded no bones were broken. Master
Warren Raymond received a slight bruise
over the left eye-,he most serious injury
of the upset. This episode which was af-
terward q theme Of occasional remark, in
our small community, was the occasion for
drawing US nearer to each other; it opened
the door to familiar conversation, and Gre
ated among us q bond of warm sympathy.
The old lady discovered the following day
that her arm was slightly bruised, and dur
ing the remainder of the trip I had frequent
opportunities to see the %discolored spot and
listen to her f1uctuating surmises as to
whether che received 1t on the fly, gong
down, or during the subsequent and some
what hasty exodus through the open door.
When We shook hands in parting at Stur.
gis City this was still an open question
but there was no question that we all felt
abundantly thankful for our narrow escape
from serious hurts.
Across this greet plain is not a pleasure
trip, but 1t might be more disagfeeable
than 1t is but for this perfectly appointed
stage line and the earnest efforts of its
managers to insure the safety. as well as all
obtainable comforts, tn passengers. To
this great enterprise, the Northwestern
stage company, a grateful acknowledge.
ment is due. Across this great waste, with
little to render 1t attractive, the coach
bowls along at the average speed of seven
miles an hour. The changes a: the sever
al stations are made with the regularity OF
clock work, while the speed which is uni
formly maintained keeps the weary and
wearying traveller encouraged to feel that
the end is drawing rapidly nearer and there
will be no Stacking till the goal is reached.
The character Of the country passed
through was much better than l had expect
ed to see. 1t was covered with a good growth
of grass, and I looked in vain, though hope
fully, for a glimpse of those famous bad
lands, which General Sully described as
appearing "like hell with the fires put out"
Prickly pear cactus and an occasional patch
of sage brush greeted the inquisitive eye, but
almost the entire stretch to the Belle Four
che seemed good enough for grazing pur-
poses and the valleys Of the streams indi.
Gated great fertility.
The stage road is in excellent condition,
The Cannon Ball and Cedar rivers are
crossed BY substantial trestle bridges, while
at Grand river, south Moreau and Belle
Fourche, good rope ferry boats are provided.
Va ~ ASA0 are kept IN eX
cellent condition and wholesome food is
furnished at the several eating places. Can't.
Z. Blakely, of st. Paul, Is the president Of
this company, VIM. j. Gidley, superinten.
dent and Peter Slime, general manager. Mr.
N. w. Gould went across with our party az
messenger, snd spared no effort to make us
comfortable.
From Bismarck to the Belle Fourche o,
north fork Of the Cheyenne, the road pssse.
through the Sioux country, which is unin.
habited save by the stage company's men
The distance is 211 miles divided into II
stations. At the Belle Fourche three whit,
families have already settled, and a million
more are undoubtedly coming.
At Elm creek, II miles north of the Bell,
Fourche, we had our first glimpse of tn,
Black Hills, about 40 miles away, and blacl
as Egyptian darkness. In their ~irrepuls,
outline. Harney's peak and Old Baldy wer'
pointed out, while nearer to us and very