Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-01-23
A TIMELY LETTER.
Trials and Hardships In the Black
Hills Years Ago.

NV business as surveyor did not nee
essarily take me to the Black Hills, but
was young when the first gold excite
ment swept over the country, and being
somewhat sore over the fact that I had
been defeated for the Office of county
surveyor, resolved to make one of the
many who went toward the land of the
hostile Sioux.
Dice Braker and Ned Chandler kept
me company, good fellows both in their
way, although Dice and 1 had never
been the best of friends. l did not mind
this, however, for in the hunt for gold
believed Dice would prove most eff
cient pard, since he was man of great
determination and had roughed it in the
lumber woods for many seasons. In
fact Dice was fighter from ''way back, :"
just such a comrade as such peaceable
fellows as Ned Chandler and myself
could tie to in an emergency.
The getting to the hills was no pleasant
affair, although certain excitement
about it forbade ones becoming home
sick, as many of the poor fellows did
afterward when the glamor had worn
away and days of hardship and poverty
had come, such days as not one of us
dreamed of when we left our comforta-
BILE homes in the Wolverine State to
try the perils of the new EldOrado.
It was in the spring of the year that
we set out. At Chicago we secured an
outfit, waiting till we reached Cheyenne
before securing the mustangs, which,
we had been informed, were necessary
adjuncts to our equipage. Ned and
were good horsemen, but Dice was un-
used to the saddle, and the long ride
from Cheyenne to the hills wore on him
terribly. He had the misfortune to get
old Of miserable little rat that I'M
Gated him dozen times before we
entered the hills. These little Skin
mishes with the unruly mustang fur
nished amusement for our party, consist
ing of score of fortune-seekers, and
much discomfort to Dice.
'tMy friend, 1 guess you didn't learn
to ride in your YOUTH" said a man who
had often made sport of Dics's poor
horsemanship. At that Braker changed
color. 1 could see the white and red
streaks shoot across his face, and at
once knew what was coming, nor did !
blame him, for the speaker had tan
tailed poor Dice continually during the
journey thus far.
Instantly Dice slipped to the ground
and snatched the rein of the insulter's
horse. Our fellows drew rein at once.
Get off your boss, Jem Slaymore, -
grated Dice. you're a Kentuckian,
and them fellers blow about their grit.
Let's see if you've got the sand to back
up what you've said
In answer Slaymore laughed in the
speakers face. He was jolly fellow,
and even now seemed to think it all a
joke. I knew better, however, as others
did soon enough, when Dice seized the
arm of the Kentuckian and dragged
him from the saddle.
Form a ringr' cried voice, land
let 'em fight it out"
A ring was formed, and they did fight
it out. A tougher struggle never saw.
The Kentuckian, although smaller than
Dice, was hard hitter and as timber as
an eel. Five minutes time sufficed to
settle the little difficulty. Dice caught
his heel and fell. Slaymore stood back
| and regarded his PROSTATE antagonist
with folded arms, scorning to touch him
when down. Dice's head had come in
contact with stone, however, and he
was insensible.
ST am sorry" said Slaymore, turning
to me. 81 am from Kansas, not Ken
lucky. Your friend forced me into this,
although believe it was my fault at
the outset. 1 feel that it will not be
pleasant between us after this. Tell
him so. lay nothing up against him"
Leaping to. the saddle, Slaymore
| dashed away in advance, accompanied
by three companions. l was glad enough
| for this, for knew the trouble had only
| begun if Slaymore and his friends re.
| NAMED.
Dice Braker was soon in the saddle
again, mOrOse from rage at his defeat.
| Once he bent toward me and Kissed:
''rll meet him again, Jim, and then
| I'll kill him.
/ shuddered as the words fell from the
lips OF Dice. He meant them, and he
was bad man when aroused. I could
| only hope that the two would never
meet again. That hope seemed to be
realized. We were six months among
the hills, with no signs of Slaymore OF
| the friends who had left our party to
keep him company.
| 1 shall never forget the first awful
winter among the hills. There was ter.
rible suffering for the necessaries OF
life, since even gold at times failed to
procure food. And such prices as the
food brought! Flour was held at TWEEN
/ ty dollars per barrel. Poor people had
no show there and there were many
poor ones, some of them starving, 1 be-
| lieve.
My friends and had been measure
| ably successful So much so, in fact, as
to have little fear of starvation that
threatened so many Of our less fortunate
neighbors- Money would procure food al
! some price. The stage made occasional
trips, and those who could escaped from
the hills by that outlet
| Not far from our claim we had shell
tered ourselves in q mountain cave,
where we had resolved to pass the
| winter. We were comfortable enough,
and stored provisions for future need
and then had considerable money re-
| naming.
81 don't think the Black Hills are
what they are cracked up to be, JIM
said Ned Chandler one day in mid
winter, grim smile playing over his
/ rugged countenznce.
Not getting honesick. Ned. I hopeT