Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-08-23


manned the postmaster at Bismarck
until he resigned In 1885, the office
having grown in the meantime from
fourth to second class. Dickey was
post trader at Fort A. Lincoln.
In the spring Of 1874 General Geo.
As. Custer arrived at Fort Rice with
the Tth y. s. cavalry, and participat-
ed in the expedition OF that year to
the Yellowstone. The cavalry bar
racks at Fort "A. Linsoln were built
that year and occupied on the return
of the expedition as regimental
headquarters, portion OF the regi-
ment being located at Fort Rice.
Expedition to Black Hills.
In 1875 Custer conducted an expe-
.dition to the Black Hills and settled
the question as to the existence of
gold in that region. Professor Win
5chell of the Minnesota University,
accompanied that exped ition, togeth-
er with other specially invited scien-
lists. Gen. Fred derrick D: Grant, then
a lieutenant in the army, went as the
special representative Of President
Grant. w. e. Curtis, the famous
newspaper correspondent, represent
ed the Chicago Inter-Ocean, N. H.
Knappen represented the Bismarck
Tribune. H. N. Ross, then of Bis
marck, was selected at the head of
a mining party, especially equipped
for prospecting. 1t was understood
that the scientific portion of the ex-
petition was organized to disprove
the stories that would not down, of
the existence Of rich gold fields in
the Black Hills. A solemn treaty had
been entered into with the Sioux
Indians reserving almost an empire,
lying west Of the Missouri river and
embracing the Black Hills region,
for the exclusive use of the allied
tribes. This treaty prohibited the ex-
ploration Of the Black Hills; it pro-
hibited the residence Of white per-
sons, not oficially employed by the
United States or connected with their
families from residing within the
limits Of said reservation. It pro
hibited settlers, immigrants or ex-
plorers from passing over or through
said reservation, and promised much
that was never performed, and per-
haps never intended to be performed
by the United States.
Clusters expedition to the Black
Hills may or may not have had en-
tire official sanction. 1t is quite GER
tain that the organization of the
mining party was not authorized. II
was the good fortune Of the Bismarck
Tribune to have its correspondent
assigned to the mining party, with
instructions to report the facts. The
scientific party found no gold. The
representatives of the other great
newspapers saw none. The personal
representative of President Grant
was oblivious of its presence, but the
miners found it and the representa-
tive OF the Bismarck Tribune gave to
the world the first official informa-
tion concerning the fact, and had the
first assay made of Black Hills ore.
Gold the Magnet.
AS the result Of these discoveries
the Black Hills were being invaded
from every direction. The govern
ment issued drastic orders and many
trains loaded with mining outfits or
supplies were DESTROYED by the milf
tary and many arrests were made,
while other parties were destroyed
by the Indians, for the Indians were
enraged beyond endurance by this
new act Of bad faith. The miners
were rapidly concentrating in the
hills; among the Indians the young
men inclined to war were eoncentrat-
Ing in the Little Big Horn country.
They were well armed and the inn
mense herds Of buffalo then in Eek
istence, gave them abundant supplies,
which they were unable to obtain at
B the agencies, Notwithstanding the
treaty obligations Of the government,
The treaty Of 1868, which provided
for the great Sioux reservation also
provided that certain supplies should
be delivered to the Indians annually
at their several agencies. along the
Missouri river. AT the Standing
Rock agency there was an alleged en-
roIlment OF some Z, 600 Indians. There
was actually less than half that NUM-
her The winter Of 1872 set In early
and a large portion Of their supplies
were not delivered until the next
spring, on account of the early clos
ing Of the Missouri river. And when
delivered 1t is charged that they
were stolen by the boat load: that
"a small portion of each cargo was
de1ivare1 and the whole receipted