The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-12-10
DIETRICH'S GOOD LUCK
Thrilling Incidents In the Ne
braska Senator's Life.
OFTEN A TARGET FOR BULLETS,

! Early Career In the Black Hills Was
CheclSered by Numerous Strenuous
Experiences - His Escapes From
Death-An Instance Where He Had
| His Nerve With Him.
Friends of Senator Charles III. Die
trich of Nebraska are wondering if the
remarkably good fortune which has fol-
lowed him through his entire life will
desert him in bis present trouble with
the federal grand jury, says a Hastings
| (NebD dispatch to the New York World.
With the good fortune that was to
attend him always Mr.. Dietrich had
found his way to the west just as the
| discovery of gold in the Black Hills had
opened rich field for fortune hunters.
He hadn't enough money to pay his
way by stage, so he hired the transpor-
| tation Of his provisions, loaded blankets
and clothing on his back and trudged
| beside the provision wagon to Dead
wood. It was in winter, and many dan
| gers awaited any one who would brave
| the blizzard and the Indian. He walk
| ed unprotected 400 miles and passed
through Red canyon. Before and after
his trip few whites had come out of the
| canyon alive, but Dietrich went through
untouched.
| He had no more money, and it took
money to prospect. So he opened the
| first store in Deadwood, The Pioneer,
and stocked it with his provisions. His
goods brought high prices from those
who had come with money, but with
out food Dietrich disregarded the eau
| tons Of his friends and peddled food
through the Deadwood country, travel
| ing on foot. That winter he was one
| of party that helped to lay out the
| town of Spearfish.
| Dietrich now had sufficient capital to
open mine and with two partners To-
| Gated the Aurora, made famous not
only by it's value, but also because of
| the determined attempts Of rivals to
GUST the three prospectors.
| There was no law at that time in the
Black Hills; there was no system Of es-
tablishing property rights; all men
| were trespassers, and title meant pos
session. So Dietrich and his partners
| fortified themselves on their claim and
sent out word that any unwelcome Wis
itors would not be given the privilege
| Of leaving. The rest knew what this
meant and did not attempt open attack.
The Aurora owners attributed their
~ 40 mo hn hotd fGo oy.f,x
Hidden Treasure and Keats mines.
One of the three guarded the Aurora
sod house all the time. One night the
| guards attention was attracted by the
falling Of pebble from above. Look
ing up, he discerned the skulking figure
Of man. A challenge brought no an
swer, but precipitate flight. A giant
| powder bomb had been dropped by the
visitor. 1t was learned afterward it
was the mans intention to light the
bomb, drop it upon the sod house and
| next morning take possession of what
| was left.
| Dietrich's luck was discomforting to
his rivals, and now he was offered
| $4,000 foy the mine, it being under.
stood that refusal meant a resumption
of hostilities. DIETRICH refused the Of
fer. Not long after, Cephus futile Of
| the Aurora nine was shot from am
bush and killed. Two bullets hit Die
trich, one grazing his forehead. Then
| Dietrich discovered that the Hidden
Treasure people had stealthily dug tun-
| nels into the Aurora property and were
| planning to blow it up from below /
| Dietrich said nothing, but put his men
at work digging counter tunnels and
| laid powder mines in such a way as to
| blow up the men working in the Hid
| den Treasure.
| Just as the night shift went into the
| Hidden Treasure to relieve the day
| force Dietrich and his crowd sailed
boldly to the mouth of the mine and
| covered the exit with their guns. The
| Hidden Treasure people were told that
a refusal to capitulate would result in
destruction of the Hidden Treasure SO
| there was an unconditional surrender
Dietrich was conceded title and sold nj
a handsome figure.
Dietrich was so fascinated with the
| life that instead Of taking the 0pp0r-
| tunity to leave it he joined the VIII
| lance committee. The very first case.
That of Thomas Smith of Denver, is
one that Dietrich has told rs Iii Illus
tration of his good luck. Smith loft 4
wealthy wife in Denver and Won't to
| the bad in the hills. His wife followed
after time and told the committee
| that he had spent all her fortune u24
refused to support her
| Con Stapleton, marshal for the com
mittee, and Dietrich were detailed K
find Smith and bring him up for tria
| They located him at Belle Union. tht
| toughest corner of the hills Smit,
refused to go, a fight followed and II
the scuf1ie Dietrich was stabbed in til.
hand and abdomen. But Smith wa
taken. The committee found he should
turn all his property over to his VIII
| md loo Vn ann o'clock M