Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-01-24
THE BLACK HILLS
As Seen Through o Parsons Ewes.

The following over the signature A. T..
Dill appeared in the Advance, a Con.re-
g~ational paper published in Chicago:
The coach lands you in Deadwood, the
metropolis of the Black Hills, at dusk
A good hotel dinner refreshcs you, and
an after dinner walk down the main
street affords your first impression Of
the city. Electric lights flash from the
hotels, saloons and business houses. Tie
many saloons are gorgeous in the colors
cleaning from the gay cut glasses and
bottles upon the bar and sidcboards.
AS you pass, open doors without screens
reveal TO you the crowds around the
card tables and faro banks. All our
vice is ''above board" Gambling and
prostitution are as Legitimate businesses,
so far as the execution Of territorial or
city ordinances are concerned, rs bank
ing. Both are sanctioned, IL not legal
lied, by open doors directly from the
sidewalks Of the main streets. If you
are shocked. yuu must remember You
are in one Of the most famous mining
camps Of the world; that one company
alone sends out semi-monthly from
$l50.000 to $4,000 . Of gold. | refer to
the Homestake, or Lead City. four miles
up the gulch.
The business establishments, each
with is large tireproof storehouse Just
in the rear Tor Deadwood was once
wiped out by fire., now attract your at
%tention. They keep large stocks of the
best quality ofgoods. Deadwood has no
use for cheap goods. Though prices are
extravagant, a miner will pay them
without a word for the best quality. His
weakness is spendtrift extravaganza.
tie Is generous in certain directions, es.
pecially so to help zone Of the boys
when in need, no matter what guilty
indulgence brought him there. Goddess
Sabb,Sh breakers, they give not much
for tue support Of the church.
Through the centre Of the town. waste
and devastation, half buried houses and
rubbish deposits are eye-sores and bitter
reminders Of a terrible flood Of a year
ago last May. Deadwood is in a natural
amphitheatre-the hub centre Of sew
eral gulches, High up on the hill sides
on either side are charming views. Out
jutting rocks and terraced slopes are
dotted with coy hamlcts and homes.
BY many Il series Of steps or winding
carriage paths, you climb into Il different
atmosphere. Below, on the main street,
the shout Of the gaming table and the
hollow, ringing laughter Of the lost wo-
man salute and pain you. Withal. you
hear the occasional reckless firing of the
hot headed miners. who settle disputes
with their six-shooters, always loaded
with "45's." Ascend the steps, and 90
round by the road up City creek, over
on Ingleside or Forest Hill, and you are
among the homes OF our merchants and
professional men. Their dwellings are
small, but coy and finely furnished.
Deadwood is well supplied with honored
judges and able lawyers. The men and
women in the Black Hills are talented.
Few ~weaklings ever cross the two hun
dred miles Of Indian reservation be.
tween Is and the nearest railroad. But
their talents are in most cases under
little control. These people are like a
herd If wild horses. We admire those
noble animals. How q Rosa Bonheur
could picture them. There is fire in
veins, muscle in their limbs. |
in their bones. in these men
there are strength and endurance.
There is fire intheir eyes; brain in their
passion in their necks. But
alas! unbroken. wild and reckless.
Even the better classes lose control Of
heir tempers. The Christian grace OF
,elf. control is seldom found. Oh, these
,ad wrecks Of character that can be
ound upon these rocky shores OF the !