The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-08
LIFE IN THE WEST
Experiences Of a Division Chief in the
Indian Bureau.
GEN. CLUSTERS EXPEDITION
Gold Mining In the Black Hills
Country-Means Taken to Pro-
tect the Precious Metals In
Transit From the Camp.

Washington Corr. Philadelphia Times.
There is a chief OF division in the In
dian office who has had extensive ex-
perience with Indian life In the West.
During the earlier years of his life ne
resided in the Northwest and spent a
large part OF his time in the Dakotas
and in Montana and Minnesota. He
was there in 1876 and for several years
after the Custer massacre. He was
not in the government services then,
but he was employed in various ca
pacItiers at st. Paul, which brought
him in contact with the United states
troops of the Northwest. and he had
many dealings with them. lie mas afso
had such a wide range of experience
with the Indians. and especially with
the Sioux. that his "reminiscences OF
those days are very interesting.
Modesty on his part foroids the use
of his name. He was In st. Paul when
General Custer and his men were sent
into the Dakotas to make an investlga-
ton of the country and report TO the
officials at Washington. The special
object OF the expedition. he says, was
to find out the nature OF the Black
Hills country. in South Dakota, and
learn whether or not Il was necessary
for the Indians to have It, whether or
not Il would be of use to the govern
ment and also to find out the prospects
for gold mining in that section. lie
assisted materially in sending Clusters
party out from st. Paul and aided Gus
ter in the transportation or his troops
to Bismarck, North Dakota. From
there II was necessary for the troops
TO start out and find a trail of their
own. He says:
II was very anxious TO get over into
the Black Hills country at that time.
l was young then and perfectly free
F.N .ala aFtssa tn
rough IL for myself in hopes of being
fortunate to get in with the miners
there, for / had heard that there were
fortunes In gold In the mountains OF
South Dakota, and l could hardly re-
strain myself from starting out at
once. But II was impossible for me TO
get out there then and l was not able
to go until year later. General Gus
ter had Colonel Fred Grant with him
then. That young man, however. did
not stay with the party long. for after
they had gotten out OF Bismarck a
short distance and had taken up the
trail for themselves he lost all interest
I'm the expedition, and with Custer $
consent left his party and went back 10
ST. Paul. lie stopped at one OF the no.
tells there and Immediately had himself
interviewed on the Black Hills ques-
ton, and in the course OF his remarks
said that the rumors about gold being
found in that country were without
foundation, as he did not think there
was any ore there at all. As a matter
of fact he had not been near the Black
Hills country, and was not competent
TO speak authoritatively of Its posSebll-
tiles / never heard OF any report be-
ing made on the trip by Custer, and II
there was one made to the authorities
never saw II. l have been very much
I interested In the question and would
like TO see the report II there was one
After the expedition returned
talked with a number OF the officers
and soldiers, and they brought very
encouraging reports OF the prospects
for gold mining there. Some OF them
said that they saw conclusive proofs
OF the existence OF the precious metal
+ and they thought there were fortunes
) hidden I'm the hills OF Dakota. Some OF
them said that in the absence OF
proper appliances for digging they
used their cooking utensils. such as
I. cups and pans. and even with thess
crude Implements they turned uI
small specks OF the shining ore. which
/, after 1t was washed out proved 90 b'
the finest kind OF gold. Such report;
; gave me a fresh impulse. and befor'
long l was located I'm the Black Hill
, country. 1 spent a number OF year,
: there, and although l had many in
, teresting and eventful experiences ant
saw lots of fortunes made and los
and much gold around l never strucl
! a mine myself. and was only better of
by the experiences which | gained.
r For a long while l was located
. ! right in the midst OF the Black Hill
: country, and lust where most OF tn
: mining was being done. l was 70
y several years the proprietor OF a larg
store situated on the principal roa'
{ from the mines down TO the neares
Z town. and over this road most OF tn
v hauling of the bullion was done. Gu
e store dealt in general. merchandls
o and our principal trade was with IN
e drivers Of the express wagons VIII
n bought large supplies and carries
$ them along TO sell TO the ranchers an
cowboys they passed on the way.
was intimately acquainted with
number OF the drivers. and in fac
z held them as my friends. OF cours
n In those days they were always try1n
Z to provide some means Of protectin
: the gold In the wagons when the
: hauled Il down for shipment 10 In
: East Covered wagons. bullet-prOo
k tops. iron safes with combinatio
! locks, and various other devices wer
II invented to defy the bandits. but the
Il were without success. for the roa
h agents invariably found some way I
d penetrate them.
L AT last a wagon was provided whic
was constructed OF iron and protecte
and held together by heavy bands {
n iron on each side. Besides this a ne
= kind OF safe was devised IL was bui
r In a circular or oval shape. much hk
an egg. 50 that u would rest firml
i on the bed OF the wagon. or cours
~ such a contrivance was considered IN
,, vulnerable. and the owners were bOas
80 ing that gold in IL was practically sal
n from robbery. Indeed. they went $
far as 10 have Il published in one {
a the local papers. They gave a full a.
scrlptlon OF the safe and the wagoi
how d was operated. and how niue
gold 70 would carry. IL was also sta
n "a that only five messengers were r
,e qulred TO accompany 81. and that Il w
- proof against all tools and applianc,
~ then known 10 the highwaymen.