Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-05-02
The Reception at Edgemont.

PIE vi Huc WcctcIu STcctiHB ~ cACeHeu
any ything that the president has expert
enced during his western itinerancy.
The trains containing the Pioneer as
sociation, with the people from Dead
wood, Lead City, Terraville, Central City,
Hill City, Keystone and Custer were
made up OF eight crowded coaches which
arrived at Edgemont about 1890. There
was another special train from Hot
Springs carrying about 400 people which
arrived little later and all had assem-
bled by O'Clock and were ready to re-
ceive the President, who arrived at
quarter past one with train of six SUI
perbly equipped coaches. There were
assembled people from all over the coun-
try for fifty miles around, who came in
carriages, farm wagons, horse back and
on foot; in all it was estimated that
there were about three thousand ad-
mirers Of the President present to bid
him welcome to the Black Hills. Tie
town of Edgemont was profusely decor.
ated with flags and bunting, and there
was no lack Of emblems to prove the
patriotism Of its people. AS the Presi-
dents train drew slowly in to the sta
tion there was ringing cheer from
every throat, while the COW boy yell could
be heard above all the rest. There was
a brief reception in the Presidents car
of the mayors and prominent men ofthe
cities and towns of the Hills and then
the President appeared on the platform
of the coach which was the signal for
long, loud and renewed cheering. The
President with many of his party then
stepped from the train into the tally-ho
coach and parade was formed in regu-
lar order as follows: First the *. p.
band of Lead City led by a troop of 100
cowboys. Next the President with Sec.
retary Leob, Congressman Z. w. Martin,
James Conzett, Capt. Seth Bullock, and
the secret service attendants in the tally
no coach. These were followed by the
mayors and prominent citizens of the
Hills in carriages. Next came the Col
den Star band, followed by the Pioneers,
old soldiers and citizens of the Hills.
The cowboys led the way to the Park
where they opened ranks allowing the
party to pass between to the speakers
stand. When all were seated Congress
man Martin introduced Mr.. James Con-
zett, president of the Pioneer association
who made short and appropriate speech
of welcome and then introduced the
President amid vociferous CheeriDgs by
the cowboys which led the President to
remark, "They are the real thing" Fhe
President spoke for abont 20 minutes in
which he gave due praise to the Pioneers
and the people of the Hills who in spite
of hardships and danger had carved for
themselves homes out of the wilderness,
making way for others who settling had
FORMED themselves into orderly and
prosperous communities. He spoke Of
the system OF irrigation which the gov
eminent was inaugurating to redeem the
arid plains Of the west and make them
fit to become the homes of millions of
homeless people,. Mr.. Roosevelt also
gave an account of his first round up,
which brought more cheers. At the
close of the speech Mr.. Conzett pinned
the badge of the Pioneer association up
on the coat Of the President and declared
him one of the association.
Mr.. Roosevelt was then invited to tax e
dinner with the cowboys which he &C.
cepted and they walked over to the round
up wagon, where the President with evil
dent relish partook of the plain but
wholesome fare OF the cowboys, which
must have put him in the mind Of the
days when he himself was identified
with the cattlemen of the west, and
ranged his herds on the broad prairies of
the little Miszoo.
The next thing on the program was an
exhibition Of bucking broncho riding,
which was performed by several Of the
expert riders of the Hills and the sur
rounding plains, among which our own
Sam Bunker of Custer appeared on the
scene. Then came the play of the In.
dians making an attack on the stage
coach in imitation of the occurrences of
early days which was performed by the
cowboys accompanied with all the yell
ing and shooting, which was enough to
make the scene appear realistic and
true. The party then fastened to their
tally-ho and were driven to the depot
when another short reception followed
when the party again boarded their train
which amid the cheering of the multi
tude, pulled out and pursued its way to
ward the south and east.
The day was most enjoyable one and
there was no accident or mishap to mar
the pleasure of the occasion, which will
long be remembered by all those who
participated in the reception which help
ed to break the monotony of an other
wise tiresome journey across the sage
brush plains which intervene between
the Rocky Mountains and the waving
forests of our own Black Hills.
A statue carved in the likeness of
William Hickox, alias "Wild Bill" will
take the place of the old one which
adorns his grave in the cemetery of
Deadwood. OF all the characters which
figure in the early history of the Black
Hills, there is none which for cool cour-