New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-15
MINNEKAHTA.
A SEMLTROPICAL RESORT IN THE HEART
OF THE BLACK HILLS.

OF THE BLACK HILLS.
Hot Springs s. D., Oct ct is unfortunate that
this delightful the very heart Of the Black
Hills should have dropped the euphonious name or
Mnnekahta. by which it was so " known, ana
contened itself with the prosaic translation. Hot
Springs, n perhaps better adapted for COM
mercial purposes AS might have been expected.
noghborng junction has appropriated the name
after the prevailing Western habit Of Jumping
claims whenever an opportunity offers
The most fast.dious and exacting person in the
world ought be satisfied here. The hotels are
modern in every of the word and are built
with lavish expenditure. There are many cottages
also that jut from the high bluffs fanking the
main streets with quaint Tyrolese erect Inc
health-seekers not the only people AT the
Springs by any means. Pleasure hunters and those
who have forsaken the seashore for few weeks
trip to the mountains drift here. attracted partly by
the beauty the hills and partly by curiosity about
the far-famed plunge. In one respect at least HOT
Springs Is certainly unique. There are more men
than women. and every girl who dons trim,
jaunty and becoming mountain suit may have from
two to five escorts, II she wishes. for her walks,
climbs and long burro rides. This is condition OF
affairs that last long the place is In dam
ger Of becoming altogether too popular for the sum-
mer oilers and the feminine element will be sure to
predominant In season or two.
The girl who expects to languish In hammocks or
protect her complexion by the becoming shade OF
A dainty parasol will find herself out OF place In
Hot Springs She must adapt an entirely different
course or go to a DREAMER balmier place, where
the air Is conducive to languor and repose. ana
where thin muslins are in order. The air itself. 10
say nothing OF the plunge, has an exhilaratins
effect keeping wide awake and alert and in
excellent trim take the long rides and walks
that are sufficiently fatigung to induce the deici-
Gus sleep for which this country Is famous The
dresses worn at the ordinary resort would be out
of place here. One must wear mountain suits dur
ing the day II one expects to enjoy any degree or
comfort when out sightseeing. But in the evening
one has only to go TO the large hotels to see mum.
hers of fashonably dressed women from San Fran.
CISCO Denver, Chicago and New-York, the wives
and daughters of mne-owners or OF western
syndicate landowners who make an annual trip
10 the hills in the interests of business.
Hot Springs is favorite place TO spend Sum
day All tourists in this locality make 1t tho
objective point because of the superior attractions
and comforts offered: and people from the neighbour
ing towns and forts literally pour into the town
Saturday night. All the shops do a good business
| on sunday and the streets are crowded by prom
enaders in best attire. On Saturday night II there
Is large dance going on at one or the hotel
piazzas the streets are fairly blockaded by the
| on lockers conspicuous among whom are cowboys
| and miners. who ride into town to see the rum
As for the young men one sees about the place.
they are generally civil or mining engineers who
have drifted from the East after finishing college,
| There are a number Of graduates of Harvard Yale
| and Columbia. most of whom mining ex.
perts' when they first came to the Hills and located
: in Deadwood Lead City, but after a month or
two would dwinde down into plain mining
| gineers
| Every stranger makes straight for the plunge-a
| magnificent arrangement unlike anything else In
| this country The water bubblng up from the
| ground at "A temperature Of Sc degrees changes
constantly and the presence of suphates and car
Donates makes 1t soft and delightful 1t is as clear
| as crystal and full of beautiful turquoise tnts.
! There are any number of bathers all day long, and
plenty of spectators in the walks and galleries on
| the sides of the tank. In early days the springs
| were famous among the Indians and cowboys for
their wonderful medicinal properties. Frequent
| baths were pronounced sure cures for rheumatism
| and preyentives Of mountain fever. The Indians
had moccasin- shaped tub hewn out Of stone. which
| was kept long after the tepee settlement became
| favorte health resort. A few years ago the mag
nifcent stone hotel and sanitarum replaced the
claim cabin which succeeded the tepees. and to-day
| health-seekers who have tried the hot springs OF
| Arkansas or Carlsbad and other European springs
| 1t is said that the rheumatics get pretty well lin.
| bered up in few weeks and are ready to join in
| four In number-unite with eight ten small ones
and form Fall River which flows along gently for
| ten miles or more. losing little OF It's heat.
The, town itself is pretty Its buildings; which
s When ss r s Layers:
the HIS one is ;h ro foT ro m
H.
passes through the most picturesque and fantastic
| portions OF the country. Although In the mining
belt the town Is In no sense OF the word a mining
town. The prospecting has been altogether for new
springs in the Vicinity with more or less Of the ex-
| element which characterizes Western boom. A
| group of springs about twelve miles distant. the
town and rival resort. owned at present by syndi-
cate. which has hopes OF making Cascade Springs
After one has Isl gone into the plunge half dozen
| times. taken many rides burro and
climbed the steep bluffs. 1t Is absolutely imperative
| 10 make a pilgrimage to Wind Cave Visitors to
| the Worlds Fair who have gone into the impro-
| vised in the Horticultural Building have seen
| some Of the specimens that were taken from the
structure after all. gives but poor idea of this
| natural wonder Already more than 100 miles OF
| underground passages have been explored and
| over 100 rooms have been thrown open. Every
traveller Is supplied at the entrance OF the cave
| with garments that have unpleasant resem-
| blance to overalls one IA compelled to travel q
| narrow passages and assures which have been
| eaten by the action of the strongly chemical
| ing before he gets outside again RI the light OF
| candles IL IL seen that many of the passages are
! broad crevices whose walls are Of white lime
stone formation. with delicate icy traceres re
sembling bits of forest after heavy and
slect In February. There like small
cathedrals filed with intricate mazes. interviewer
with lace-like designs, with marvellous per-
There are several different routes for pilgrim-
ages to choose from. A round trip. which includes
the services Of guide: may be made to the Gar.
den OF Eden for one dollar. through the '.Peariy
Gates for two dollars. while three dollars IL the
price In advance for a visit to Paradise" From
these plgrmages and 1t would take a good many
days to explore the whole cave The place GER
or ohio hobsobiins II Mr. Rider Hasgard had visited
the cave before he wrote his fantastic adventure,
"she" 1t Is safe to say that he would have added
another chapter to his spectacular creation.