Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-08-15
CUSTER CITY
Ard its Environments Graphically and
LEnthusInstically Pictured by one
of the Bxcursionists.

posed article by Mrs. S. D. Cook, of
Sioux City, descriptive of Custer and the
various points of interest in its vicinity
which were visited by the excursionists
of two weeks ago. We regret that limit
ed space prevents complete reproduc-
ton of the article, for it is interesting
from introduction to close, coming from
an observing and appreciative mind,
and pen that knows no lack OF de-
scriptive power, but of necessity we copy
only those points that relate to Custer
and its immediate surroundings:
Custer is pretty little city of 1000
people nestled in the midst ofmountains.
The Buckhorn range, Lookout noun
tain, Calamity peak and many others
stand guard round about. And vet
Custer is easy VI access from all direc,
tons, as the valleys, canons and frryts
are so situated that all roads lead to
Custer. The early prospectors, who,
lured by the stories of the Indians, set
out for Harney invariably found them
selves at this point Here the intrepid
Custer came in 1874, having entered the
hills at Buffalo Gap and encountering
many difficulties, al one point letting
his wagons down q precip,ce by ropes.
But il was reserved for him and his
men to discover the first gold at point
a mile and half east ofthe place which
now bears his name. The gold excite
ment waxed stronger until 1875, when
Crook, who came TO enforce the order TO
drive out the white men, found 5000 en-
camped near the stockade. In the same
year occurred the stampede TO Dead
| wood gulch, where gold had been dis
covered. Since then the placer mines
| in this vicinity have BEEN worked, and
| Just at this time Custer is assuming inn
portance both as a mining centre and a
summer resort. The first day was Il sort
of free for all. A party of five drove up
the Deadwood road amidst fine scenery.
Another party of a dozen, who found
| it epedient TO return to Hot Springs the
same evening, hurried over to the new
park for cursory view. Another party
of ten were escorted by Judge Feay, who
| first came TO tins place in 1873. Several
the rocketies that adorn the door
Yards were visited, where rare speci-
mems of rose quartz, copper tin silver
and gold ore, agates, garnets, and Black
! Hills diamonds, quantities OF beautiful
! ly colored quartz, mica in various forms,
and many other rare metals and miner
ais are found. The very soil Of the
steets sparkles with mica dust and the
! ladies' were presented with unique visit
! ing cards of thin sheets ofmica, After a
brisk climb the picnic grounds were
visited, where the pioneers met the Sth
Of June half way up the mountain side
and after short rest Mrs. Camp OF Lin
coin, Mrs. Honick, Mrs. Sackett and
Mrs. {. NJ. Swan of Sioux City all climb
ed within very few feet of the flag
staff, which is planted at the summit, a
thousand feet above the city, The rock
upon which the staff rests is particularly
steep and the ladies left it unscaled. bat
in the evning a party o! young people
climbed mp under the guidance % Dir.
King of Deadwood, and one young lady,
with her younger brother, reaciiedf The
very summit and waved the Sioux City
banner TO friends who were watching
from the hotels below. After sending
up fine display OF fireworks in the twi-
light the party returned just at night
fall to sit on the verandas, seemingly
very near the stars, which come part
way to meetthe beholder at this altitude
Meanwhile, sftef dinner at the Kiee-
mann house the tourists were driven
in carriages out TO Four Mile creek
through surprisingly beautiful scenery
Just at the outskirts Of the city cave
was pointed out under vast wall of
sandstone, where Mr. $. X. Standard,
now editor of the Custer CHRONICLE
opened recorders Office in 1875 and
did rushtng business in filing claims.
A mile farther is the stockade, where
the people in this vicinity gathered
during the Indian troubles years ago.
One placer claim after another was pas
sed. alternating with fields in the fertile
valleys. At one point deer starts out
from among the rocks, but is soon lost
in the distant forest. At Four Mile the
stamp mill and shaft of the Gold Star
gold mine was reached and some the re-
fiactory ore picked out of the wall FOR
specimens. All about Custer are i'm
mense ledges of this ore, for the re-
duction of which chemists have lately
discovered new process. This, il is
thought, will revolUtionize mining and
make of Custer great gold mining
center. Silver ore is al5o abundant and
between Custer and Harvey peak are
the famous tin ores that are attracting
tilC dtlCAtioh Va anu
Of the two continents. The immense
stock, from local standpoint, prevent
| the capitalists who own vast areas of tin
lands from showing their hands"
The second day was given over by the
excursionists to picnic, at the newly
| discovered park some six miles from
Custer, and couple of miles from Har-
ney peak. Accompanied by a large
number Of Custer friends they started in
wagons at o'clock, +. I. Evans driving
fine span Of horses and as usual taking
the lead, while Mr.. Cook escorted the
party on horseback. The roads were
Tough, but IN no case dangerous, and
soon all were lost in admiration OF the
grand scenery. Forests of tall pine trees,
OF thick tangled spruce, the music of the
Laughing Water, which is bordered
with ferns and exquisite moss likerushes,
an open space dotted with score of
| Varieties OF delicate flowers. Directly
| in front or on either side cliffs Of solid
rock tower toward the sky. At every
turn the ladies would beg to stop and
pick up few specimens OF the beauti
fully eelored quartz and other rocks by
| the roadside.
The park itself was a surprise as none
were prepared for its grandeur and
| beauty. seven thousand feet above the
sea, with Harvey peak and the Needles
rising in grandeur near at hand, lies q
beautiful expanse OF oyer 800 acres. At
intervals are seen giant masses of granite
worn smooth and into fantastic shapes
! by natures forces during the long inter-
walls of time. Many ofthese are hundreds
| Of feet high and one resembles an ex-
aggerated elephant with trunk touching
the ground. "A slight touch of the imag-
inatiOn would transport one to Old Rome
said lady who spent last winter in Italy.
Tall pines and spruce trees are all about
and q singing mountain brook, border
ed by birch trees, with beautiful flowers
under foot. The wagons are abandoned
and some gather flowers or spruce gunf;
strip the birch bark or scale an immense
rock, but not all can take so lightly the
first impression Of such scene, and
many are simply lost in admiration.
Crossing stream on log, half-mile
walk brings the party through the bed
of Custer Lake" which it Is proposed
to form by dam some forty feet wide
between couple Of tall cliffs. A noted
railroad engineer who visited the spot q
4 "a A..x txa( H.