The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-09-04
First Whites in the Black Hills.

Ever since the Black Hills became
settled by whites evidences have
been discovered from time to time
showing beyond doubt that white
miners had penetrated that country
previously whether or not they ever
returned. 1t is quite probable they
never did return. Major De Witt
now a resident of Yankton, but who
was one of the first Indian agents on
the upper Missouri, says it is proba-
BILE that one or more of the many
hunting expeditions that were sent
west in the early forties may have
penetrated the hills country but he
was never able to learn that such
was the case from the Indians.
In 1910 French boy IL years of
age went up from st. Louis to old
Fort Pierre and secured employment
with the American Fur company.
This boy was Louis Veto, who after
ward became famous throughout the
northwest as the Frenchman who
never drank liquor. With the en-
ployees of the American Fur COM
pany Veto made annual hunting ex-
petitions to the Black Hills. On one
of these expeditions Veto was accom-
panied only by Indians. 1t was in
the spring, and severe thunder
storm arose and frightened the In
dams so they deserted him with his
stock of furs, valued at So, 900. The
Indians never returned, and it was
three weeks before relief came from
the fur company.
The Indians entertained a super
stition that the Great Spirit in fit
of anger wished to drive them out
of the hills. Veto afterward entered
the employ of Major De Witt and al
ways asserted he never heard of any
white men digging gold in the hills /;
neither had he ever heard of Indians
digging for it.
In 1853 Father De Smet came down
the river from the mouth of the Vel
lowstone having come there from a
trip through the Black Hills and
gave it as his opinion that gold ex-
listed there and said he had seen
Jumps of gold which Indians had
strung upon wire for bracelets.
Father De Smet reached the mouth
of the Yellowstone river at time
when a severe drought prevailed
over the land, and being man of
God the Indians began clamoring for
him to produce rain. Very few of the
Indians had much faith in his ability
to get rain even through prayer.
Father De Smet, in relating the
/ incident shortly after, admitted he
had some doubts about the outcome
himself, but he assured them that
he would beseech the Great Spirit
to send them rain and otherwise do
what he could for them. He made a
short prayer, after which he sought
the seclusion of neighboring thick
ct, where he withdrew from the ca
pacious pocket of his coat barome-
ter which he always carried and
then learned the atmospheric condi-
tions were favorable for rain in a
short time Returning to the camp,
! Father De Smet made q strong APP
peal to Divine Providence to pour
forth copious rain. A short time
later one of the heaviest transforms
the Indians had ever known occur
red. After that there was nothing
too good for him.
In 1852 a party of nine men left
Fort Bridger with the intention of
digging for gold in the Black Hills.
Indians attacked them, and news
was brought back that the mon had
all been killed This story was never
verified, and it is not improbable
these were the men who first invad-
cd the hills, evidences of whose pres
ence have been found.
This would account for the lndi-
ans having gold nuggets in their
possession and would further sub
stantiate the story engraved upon a
fiat stone found near Speartish some
years ago, This tablet conveyed the
intelligence that Indians had attack
ed them, secured their gold and kill
ed all but one man, and would easily
explain the mystery surrounding
the finding of mining implements
far below the surface by early pros
pectors.-Chicago Tribune.