Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1899-01-27
/ HOT SPRINGS CORRESPOND
ENCE.

Away back in February, 1876, party
Of ak gold hunters left Canton for the
Black Hills These adventurous youths
were George Kellar Tom Wheeler,
Oscar Rea. Washington Percival, Geo.
Emery and George Belcher. The writ
er remembers we'll the day the hoys
started for the famous Black Hills
going first to Yankton, where
they Joined a big party, their number
making a total Of 185 The expedition
crossed the Missouri river at the Ponca
Agency, and from thence they kept on
the north side of the Niobrara river,
crossing tributary of White river near
where the Red Clond Agency is now
located. They had no trouble with
Indians and reached Buffalo Gap in
April. and thence into the upper Hills.
George Kellar is now member of the
Soldiers Home, Tom Wheeler is at
Custer, Oscar Rea is on the Pacific
coast. and the whereabouts Of the
other three is unknown The arrival
OF George Kellar at the Home the other
day is the occasion for this little bit of
history.
Another old timer and a man famors
in the early history Of the territory,
has recently Joined the Soldiers Home,
coming from Spearish. BE is well
known to Col. Cuppett Of Canton. who
served with him during the famons
Indian campaigns under Gen. Snlly.
and his name is John Pattee, captain
in the II b, and Major of the +1st Iowa
Infantry, and later Lieutenant Colonel
If the 7th Iowa Cavalry. He was also
breveted Colonel and Brigadier Cen
eral. He is now 78 years old, some
what feebled but with vigorous
memory. He was in command of near
~ every post on the Missouri river at
some period Of his service in the terri
tory. and being vigorously honest had
many row with thieves and wrong
doers along the muddy highway His
brother was killed with man named
Bill Tennis Ut the mouth of Pattee
creek. made famous by the blue clouds
of profanity which used to float away
from The vicinity Of the freighters who
were compelled to cross that botto,nlass
slough in early days. The writer knew
the Tennis family in Iowa in 1878,
and learned that the oldest son, Bill,
had gone west to trap in the Big
Sionx. and was never heard of again.
NV at the end of thirty years. the
writer has learned why Bill Tennis
never came back. His family consid.
cred him dead in 1868, bnt a mothers
love lived in hope An interesting
story by General Pattee of how his
brother and Tennis were killed by
Indians, c enrs mp the fate of a Lost son
and originates the name Of famous
slough, where, Col. Dan Hawn says he
and Capt. Buck Wheelnck, now Of
Sioux Falls, Col. Farley and Commo.
dore Gilman. of Hudson, used to go in
the winter and dig ont the frozen exen
lost duri"g the summer. Dan saws
this was done to prevent disease and
recover log chains
Tho actual number at the Soldiers
Home this month is 2O1. with 45 on
furlough. and 81 applications on file.
Hot Springs is already preparing for
tho Grand Army encampment to b.
held here June Z, 8 and 9. Indications
at this early day are snch as to war
rant the beliaf that the encampmsnt
for 1899 will be by far the biggest and
grandest in the history of the organiz-
alton in this state Over Thousand
viaitors and veterans will be here from
the Black Hills alone, and more than
that number will come from the east
81 le Of the river. The writer has had
two letters from Col. J. R. Buchanan,
G. n. Pass. Agent Of the Elkhorn, con-
ceruing rates, and from his assurance
the lowest rates ever given may be ex-
pected. A visit to the famous Wind
Cave, a climb to the top of Battle
Mountain, and swim in the great
Evans plunge bath, are great attrac-
tions. The cave and plunge both have
no equals in the known world. and this
is no guess work. It is historically
correct.
The Northwestern or Elkhorn system
will undoubtedly run special trains
from Sioux City to Hot Springs. HIM
dreds of visitors fr m the east side of
the stlte are coming just for the pleas
ure or the trip, hundreds are coming to
see the Black Hills, hundreds are COM
ing for health trip, and hundreds of
veterans are coming to see the Soldiers
Home and visit friends there, and
many will come because of the extra
ordinary low rate. Hot Springs can
take care of all who may come. There
are eight hotels, and several private
boarding houses, and the boys up at the
Soldiers Home talk of getting fifty
tents to help entertain the visiting
veterans, and they also talk of pork and
beans and black coffee. 1t will be
great event and no one should miss it