Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-07
Custer Life In TT.

Rapid and Hill City were comparatively
deserted by reason Of the wonderful
hegira from the Southern Hills the year
previous, and road agents, horse thieves,
and crooks of every character were
plying their nefarious avocations along
the different thoroughfares leading to
the Hills, these places were peculiarly
suited to their purposes as supply points,
where they would frequently ride in
at night and procure such supplies as
were required. The meager population
and absence Of peace officers in these
places made them comparatively safe
retreats for these outlaws, and many Of
them would visit these places in the day
time and indulge in their orgies with
the least possible concern as to the
chances they might be taking Of arrest,
which must be admitted were exceed
ingly obscure, as the few remaining
citizens were only too glad to let them
severely alone, and even at times made
slight concessions to warrant their per-
soral safety. During our experience on
the western frontier, dating back to '57,
we cannot recall a period of correspond
ing duration involving more extreme
peril and dreadful terror than the
period referred to.
The number of inhabitants in Custer
at the time referred to did not exceed
twenty five, all Of whom were constantly
on the lookout for an attack by the
knights of the road. During this time
the writer was in charge of a general
store in Custer, where these slippery
characters were wont to congregate, and
with degree of freedom rarely equaled
would help themselves to such articles
kept in stock as their necessities might
require, and to be candid, We must ad-
NIT that we never interposed an objec-
ton as the very sight of six-shooter,
even though it were pointing in an
opposite direction from us, was always
impressive, and served to keep down
any demonstration Of dissatisfaction
which we may have felt at the time
Everybody was armed; the half score
of miners who were working the dry
diggings near the graveyard, half mile
east of town, invariably took their guns
with them, and kept them where they
could lay hands on them at a moments
warning. The store we occupied was
veritable arsenal, and we never allowed
distance to accumulate between us and
a gun Of some kind. During this reign
of terror many were held up and robbed
in broad daylight, among whom was
the proprietor Of the store which we
had in charge, who had started for
Cheyenne with two teams for goods.
This party, who is still resident of
Custer, proceeded as far as Red Canon,
the scene of many outrages by Indians
and road agents, where he was held up,
bound hand and foot, and robbed by
band Of outlaws, who, with others Of
their ilk infested our town at that time,
and the result was the merchant failed
to reach his destination, but after the
trials and hardships incident to such ex-
perience, finally put in an appearance
at the store minus money, team, watch,
hat and boots, apparently sadder but far
better informed as to the modus
operandi employed by the road agents
in relieving the unweary traveller of his
personal effects On the same day a
party of telegraph repairers were held
up and robbed by the same party Of
their limited supply of cash, their guns,
and all of their surplus provisions. The
repairers made good time to Custer,
bringing the news of these robberies,
and one of them, whose name we can
not now recall, being frightened well
nigh out of his wits, seing man on the
street who closely resembled one Of the
robbers, hurriedly came into the store
and asked for gun, stating that he had
been robbed, and that one of the rob-
bers was at that moment coming up the
street, and that he knew he was follow
ing him with the intention of killing
him. The man was very much excited,
and being total stranger to us, we
hesitated, thinking that he might be a
robber himself but he was SO persistent
in his demand, and SO seemingly sincere
that we finally handed him the first gun
we came across, which happened to be
Spencer repeating rife. As soon as
he got possession of the gun he ran back
to the rear of the store saying, there he
comes, lookout for him. We proceeded
to the door and looked up the street,
and there being but one man in sight,
and him a well disposed citizen, our
suspicious concerning the man to whom
we had given the gun were confirmed,
and just at that moment, the fellow who
had been trying to get the gun in per-
| feet readiness for immediate service,
accidentally discharged it, the ball en-
tering the ceiling. We collected our
scattered senses as soon as practicable
for the purpose Of determining the ex-
tent Of our injuries, and realizing in an
instant that we were intact, rushed
behind the counter, with that celebrity
1 r. r. ~ A,I