The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-04-16
LETTER FROM SOUTH DAKOTA.
LEAD CRY, SoUrH DAKOTA,
April 3, 1877.

I
| know you will be surprised and |
trust pleased to receive a cOmmunica.
tiOn from me, written from this great
mining camp that ncStles amongst
the snow-cappcd peaks OF the celc-
brated Black Hills Of South Dakota
We left New Orleans on the 7th OF
December and arrived here on the
10th, after very enjoyable trip OF
three days and nights.
Here are located the great Home
stake mines that produce about s., 0OO,-
600 a year Of precious gold. just over
IA range OF mountains is the great city
OF Dcadwood, the scene Of early day
rOmanCcS and tragedies. DeadwOod
in the early days Of rs aud ~ was the
home OF many wild and desperate
characters; notably, Wild Bill, CO.
manche jim, BlOncho Joe and Calam.
ity Jane, the woman scout noted
throughout the Northwest for her
many brave deeds and acts Of kind
ness. The grave OF Wild Bill is in
Mount Moriah cemetery, just above
Deadwood near the White Rocks, and
is visited almost daily through the
summer months by Eastern tourists
Calamity Jane was no myth, but a
real tlcSh-and-blo woman who,
mounted astride a br0ncho with buck
skin brecches, with a bOwie-knif and
brace OF revulyers IN her belt, sent
terror to the hearts OF many OF the
stage robbers who infested the lonely
roads leading into the Black Hills
during the gold excitement Of rs and
H. She visited Deadwood last sum.
mcr, after an absence Of many years,
and was warmly welcomed by many Of
the old.timcrS who still survive.
We were somewhat disappointed in
finding the weather quite mild on our
arrival, walk with wraps being very
pleasant in the middle Of the day. We |
had expected that the change from
our Southern home to this Northern
cline would have been so marked that |
we would be unable to 90 out doors at
all. To-day about two feet Of wet |
snow lies on the ground, one OF the
heaviest falls we have had this winter.
Here in this busy mining camp the
work continues day and night for
seven days in the week, the mine and
mill men being divided into two sets
or shifts Of men, and only know when
Sunday comes by receiving an extra
half hour Of rest. These mines are be.
ing worked to a depth Of seven and
eight hundred feet, and are practically
incXhaustible. 1t is strange sight
to see the great army of men going
and coming from their daily work as
the whistles blow.
We note the absence of the many |
negroes that one would meet on the |
streets of Southern town, although |
there are a great many here, some OF
whom came in the early days Of 1876 |
with the first rush OF gOld-scekeIS.
There is one negro here from Muir
freesboro, Tenn, who is almost one OF
the landmarks OF the town. When
asked how long he has been in the
Black Hills he invariably answers
Il help pack the mud to build these
hills; when | came here these hills
were only holes in the ground A
few years ago Lester, as he is gencr-
ally known, was discoursing loquac.
iously to a Southern lady about the
hills, and among other things men
toned the fact that he sometimes
played cards for money. She said to
him, Lester, who on earth do you
find to play cards with out here, there
are no negroes here, are there?" Les
ter was busy polishing stove, but at
this query looked up in open-eyed as
constituent, and with an air Of amaze
ment answered, "Why, Miss Ora,
plays wild the white folks out here"
Another story is told OF him, that on
one occasion when playing with a
crowd of white men one Of them re-
marked, Lester, il they had caught
me playing cards with you before the
war, they would have put me in Jail"
Quick as flash Lester replied, eyes,
sir, and il my ole marster had caught
me playing cards wild 20 20 white
trash, lie would have tanned my back
wild "a black.snakc.'
This country is still in its infancy,
and new mines are being opened up
every day. The people now are in a
feverish state OF excitement over the
discovery of immense deposits Of rich
gold bearing ore in the limestone
formation OF Ragged Top Mountain.
Already three cities have been laid
out, called Nerve City, Balmoral and
Preston. Town lots have sold at al |
most fabulous prices, and the scene is
one so dear to the hearts Of the old
timers, and brings back to them the
early day excitement Of '16 and II.
We have not had the time and OPP
portunity to visit many OF the scenes
Of interest In this strange land, but
when we do ! will write you further, II
you desire, OF what ! see and hear.
The prevailing idea that the people in
this Western country are all rough
and uncouth, with revolvers and
knives strapped around their waists,
has no foundation; IN fact, we dnd
the people to be kind, courteous aud
refined, and churches land school