The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-01-01
A Day Among tho Pine.

The weather was fine as could be de
sired, and which, although hard to
beat, is nothing unusual for the Black
Hills. There was just enough air
stirring to make it exhilarating and
the sound Of the horses hoofs on
the dry, hard road rang out sharp
and clear as We galloped down Victoria
gulch. We expected that we were
late for Sabbath school, but as we
reigned up in front OF the log house
which answers for church, Sabbath and
day school we found but four persons
there before us. Charles Christiernsson,
OF Rockerville was one OF the number.
We had left his place in the morning
together, Mr.. Christiernsson being &C
companied by a fair passenger, but as
the writer fingered a few minutes at a
ranch by the way they reached our des-
tination first. The people of Victoria
are real sociable and one cannot long be
among them without being made to feel
perfectly at home. Shortly after our
arrival the residents began coming in,
small parties emerging from the different
gulches OF canyons. We had wondered
when here before where all the people
came from. The country is very broken,
being composed mainly Of hills and can
yons. Scattered in among these a per-
son will find little parks, averaging all
the way from ten acres to a half section
each and in these parks are clustered
the dwellings. The parks are sometimes
on high elevations and then again they
are formed by the widening OF some n
yon. The school was called to order by
Superintendent Hotchkiss and after the
opening exercises the lesson, which con-
sisted Of u review Tor the last quarter,
was discussed. After the closing exer-
cises, as it was the last Sabbath of
1890, it was thought best to take some
action as to what helps should be used
for the coming year. There seemed to
be Il division OF opinion as to what they
wanted, Some were satisfied with the
helps the school had used the past year.
Others thought they could be improved
upon, as they were not very full. Some
suggested that they should have a
change OF thought. A young lady made
Il motion that as they would like a
change OF thought it might be well for
each one to get a different series. The
question was soon arranged satisfac
torily and the school being dismissed W,
turned our steps down Dark canyon.
As we passed down the CANYON it be
caine deeper and narrower, 1t would
have seemed to 4 person raised III {
prairie country as if travelling in such g
place with a vehicle OF any description
was out OF the question, but by the co
operation OF brain, muscle and giant
powder Mr.. Beach and his neighbol
have succeeded in making a very good
road. Mr.. Deach's place is situated ir
Dark canyon at a point where a brancl
canyon comes in from the west. His
land lies mostly on u large table on the
east bank OF the canyon, only q corner
of it running ave into the canyon. We
did not look his claim over, but under
stand that he has good many acres o.
good tillabIe land on the park and that
which lies IN the canyon is covered with
a good growth Of fine pine. Those who
have visited Dark canyon say that the
scenery is very fine and we can agree
with them, although we have as yet seer
but a very small portion OF it. Aftel
spending u very pleasant evening we tt
traced our steps, feeling that the day
had been well spent, w