Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-12-28
Letter from Dakota,

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
DEADwooD, D. T., Dec. 10, 1sS0.-Americans
IS q rule are both indignant and astonished at
the estimation in which they are held By Eu.
ropesns At the crude ideas the enlightened Eng.
lshman ADD educated Frerchman entertain OF
our bowie knife and revolver ciViliz alton. But
how much ignorance ofourse!vss exists among
ourselves. The popular idea Eastern, seems to
be tba. everything and every body west Of the
Mississippi are either savage or semi sewage. aud
oil smack off the Indian and buffalo. Our
courts, to the mislnforme1 Esstern mind con-
sist of pistols aud knives society is ht ID together
by means of vigilance committees; We wear long
hair and dress in buckskin. Such state OF So
ciety does often exist in newly discovered mir.
ing camps and four years ago was IN active e1.
etence in Desdwood, but the flush days of'77
have passed away; flush they we're in blood as
woll ss gold. Placer mining the bait that al
lures the wild and adventurous from Mexico to
Canada has given way to the more expensive
quartz mill, and instesd of the buckskln esoS Of
gold. we now have the $1,000 brick. The
tsnderfoot and pilgrim no longer gszss with
opened eyed sm:Zsment at the shining dust.
poured out 60 plcn!fully upon the saloon counter
and the gresn bsze Of the faro table. He sees
once or twice month mysterious wagon drive
into town, stop It the Sidney express office and
four men jump TO the ground holding in their
h.nds shot guns two feet long with muZzles
large enough to measure an ordinary nat. That
worth OF bullion. The great companies own 1t
and The people generally catch glimpse and
only glimpse OF all this wealth. The curious
arc allowed to lif: brick of yellow gold,
if they feel disposed to strain their backs. but
that's sll-the gold goes East-from thence over
the world. This stale of things drives the miner
10 new Camps. he has no capital 10 erect q $780,.
COO mill, therefore, BIO cells his claim" for
song and seeks that will o. the wisp called for.
tune some where else. Gradually the wealthy
corporations tighten their grip and piece by
piece the community or camp comes under their
control. They elect their men TO local cffce,
they establish their own stores and shops until
a. last, they own and control everything. Then
an Eastern quiet steals over the town and law and
order prevail are arr ested An tried by jury
for stealing and numbering; Jucgs Lynch has
meat Tor gam oilers and thugs; The day laborer
has taken tbs place of the FOSTERING, rollicking
open hearted miner; the man who spends his
money with the sir of q prince, and with the
pro:usion of millionaire. These miners IS
class are superior men. college bred, many OF
them. who have spent IN usto q. thousands and
Brick buildings, immense stores: water works.
luxury and wealth have superseded the Dead.
wood of'77. Luxury and wealth for the few.
To com pens.te tor the loss of prodigal times law
and order has been given. and yet eVers body
signs for the old times they had rather have the
vigilance committees, road agents and bloody
tragedies than 10 longer see the CLINT OF the yell
low gold. Desdwood to. day is Jus! as quiet, aud
presents The appearance of Pennsylvania miI-
ing town.
Pierre, Cd the Missouri river, is now passing
through the lhroes tbst Deadwood felt few
years back. Tn new town ia literally pande.
monium, or was until within the last month, tor
now the deadly vigilants have organized, and
they have already sent twenty unerring bullets
into the body of the famous Arkansas Joe. the
terror of the Missouri country. Joe armed him
self with half dcz IN rsvolvers and crossed the
fro z IN river to run the town." as he expressed
il. In few minutes he was q mass OF culver.
ing, mangle6 flesh, ard the vikilantss hold the
fort and will continue to do SO. Arkansas WAS
. good man naturally. but he sspired to be .
great fighter, and met his death bravely with
his boots on" URADWo0p.