Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-07-30

DEADwooD, July %, %

to leave the boat, but a lady friend
offered to escort me safely through
the crowd. and ! accepted.
Pete McNlanus came in from his
first trip to the bills on the evening
of July 3rd, III order to pass the Atii
with Mrs. Nc. and Georgia. Nc. is
on his way in again. Sherwood OF
Ponca has bought out Bross' inter
est in the hotel at Pierre. Another
hotel would pay well.
On the eve of the fourth times
were lively. Some of the boys"
threw whole punches of fire-crackcrs
at the rear door of a Jew store; he
appeared at the front door, and in
formed the crowd that he should
shoot the man he caught in the act.
Not being in the shooting business
and a disinterested party, we quietly
withdrew across the street. | had
scarcely taken a new position when
| heard a big niger remark some
what emphatically hat the man
that put another stub of a cigar
down the back of his neck, he would
climb on his shoulder and kick the
starch out of his shirt collar. Again
| withdrew in good order to Evans
office where the evening was passed
very pleasantly.
Bull-whacking is a terrible life, SO
admitted by all. But men of all
nationalities follow the business
Americans, Irish, French, Italians,
Spanish, Negroes and democrats,
that is, they All talk like democrats,
especially when they get stuck in
the mud. We passed 3O1 teams on
the way to Rapid City, all loaded,
and met about 40 men coming out
in empty wagons. But we were
bound to see this country, Saw about
20 antelope, and got zone. George
Herring has two wagons and four
yoke of oxen, and is on his way in
heavily loaded. Geo. is doing well.
At Rapid City | called on Frank
Moulton and family: found them
nicely situated. Frank has II pris-
oners in jail, road agents whiskey
crooks and burglars, and q day and
a night guard. The jail is a rude
affair, but they are to have a new
one with two iron cages. Capt. Le-
Gro has the contract for fencing the
court house square. | visited the
Jail with Mr.. NJ, and saw eight Of
the men come out for their beds and
blankets. Six Of them wore mana
cles and two without. -Four who
made a break are chained to the
floor, and as court sets in August it's
no use to take any chances. Most
of them are fine young men, and
their fond mothers know not oftleir
sad condition. Met Steve Kcsslcr.
who resides "a miles west Of Rapid
where he has Il shinglc mill. He
has just got a contract for 100000
shingles at 81 per thousand. Steve
has made all the shingles used in
Rapid-over one million. His son
who lost a finger in the mill, is far
ming some, and likes the country.
| saw Shcrman-tormeyly with Cole
Bros d Hart-who lives at pactold.
- miles southeast. He is a county
commissioner of Pennington, and a
good one. lie is mining and farm
ing and is highly pleased with his
new location. Met two daughters Of
Capt. LcGro at Sunday school, but
did not see the Captain. They like
the country. Rapid Creek is settled
for fifteen miles and grain is big,
wheat 40, oats 80 to 100 bushels per
acre. There is n fortune for the man
who crects a mill at Rapid. 1t is
believed $4,000 bushels of wheat will
be raised, which milled would yield
a profit of fifty cents per bushel.
Who is the lucky man?
visited Camp Meade and Bear
Butte, a magnificent place for loca-
ton and scenery. Met McGinnis
of Ncrmillion, capenter at the post.
Also met Schnell of Yankton, who
has a fine ranch near by at sturgis
City. Saw John Kunkle, formerly
of Nermillion, who is in hotel. Eve
ry body knows Johnny's worst fail
ing. Frank Witcher was lying here
at the hotel with a broken arm. The
job vas performed by a Texas steer.
Jno l.. Taylor has recently located
here, and is doing well.
Stopped over night at Crook City,
and found it terrible dead. Thirty
buildings are vacant on main street.
a citizen told me there were not one
sixth the people in the town that
that there were M year ago. The
cause of this is the failure ofthe pla-
Ger mines on Wildwood creek,
which runs along the gulch on one
side of the town, and on up the can
yon. Not more than one hundred
men are at work on the creek now.
Arriving at Deadwood | found a
rafting town. Everything activity:
tearing out wooden stores, and bull
ding fireproofs, raising buildings,
building residences, etc. Met Elan
agan and Wilson; they are chopping
at Galena, 10 miles from here, fol-
the new smelling works and silver
mill, and arc doing tip top. Father
Guthrie looks as handsome and
pleasant rs ever, and has a nice Job
Hanrahan is in the bank, has been
somewhat indisposed for a few days
but is feeling better. At Central
City, in company with Elder vii
liams, l visited the great so STAMP
quartz mill on the Desmet mine, and
was shown the mill from bottom tc
top by the superintendent. | never
saw such a ponderous affair. The