CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1909-04-01
FRONTIER SKETCHES

1t was away back in the '70's that
gold was first discovered in Deadwood
and of course thither fllocked all
kinds OF adventurers from the honest
gold miner and speculator to the gam
bier. the desperate and the riff-raff
of society. which Is always among the
first to arrive at such a place. Before
the end Of the first year there were
people in plenty in the new camp and
provisions had been freigh.ed in, so
that everyone's wants we're properly
provided for, but the great need was
ready money. Gold dust was used as
currency which was neither economi-
cal nor satisfactory. An enterprising
banker of Cheyenne named NJ. e. Post
conceived the idea OF establishing
bank at Deadwood. But how to get the
money across the country to the camp
was a question which bothered him
not little.
Unfortunately someone had become
acquainted with his plans and carried
the news that a bank was to be es-
tablished in Deadwood. After that a
persons life. to say nothing OF his
pocket book. was not safe on the
stage coaches en- route. Once. twice.
three times a week the stage was held
up by splendidly mounted highway
men. who would easily escape to the
mountain fastness and retain their
liberty. until Judge Lynch might
chance upon an occasional one OF
them. This august parsonage was a
great deal more lenient with robbers
and murderers than with horse thief
In the west in those days a man who
would steal horse was altogether
too low to live. so they strung him
up.
On a bright March morning In IT
the Deadwood stage. well loaded with
passengers. stopped in front of the
Cheyenne postof'ice for Its last con-
tribution. the mail. Among the pass
engers was a modest looking. little
dark-eyed woman with baby in her
arms. going TO Join her husband. who
was prospecting in Deadwood. She
was accompanied by her brother
John, who was to act as escort and
protector during the weary six days
trip. At the first stopping place out
from Chepenne while passengers were
walking around little 20 timber
themselves up. John came to his sis
ter and said: Hattie, here are some
little bundles I wish you would carry
in your hand-sat tchel among your
baby's belongings. They contain the
money for the new bank and nobody
packages were deposited In the bot
tom OF the satchel among bottles OF
camphor. paregoric. etc.
All went comparatively well for the
first five days and the little band OF
travellers arrived at Custer City sta
ton where they were to spend the
night for they only travelled during
the day. They were met by the un-
comfortable news that the stage 60
ing from Custer City Into Deadwood
the day before had been shot into and
the driver. Johnny Slaughter. killed
and several OF the passengers wound
ed This news did not tend to quiet
the nervous excitement OF the dark
eyed woman with the baby and satch-
ell The sixth day broke dark and
cloudy and the journey had to be I'm
Ished In the same coach that had the
day before been riddled with buck
shot by the road agents. The four lit
tie cayuse ponies could not make very
good time over the muddy roads and
with heavily loaded coach.
Along In the afternoon as they
neared the spot where the tragedy
occurred the day before, the passen
gers noticed a dark figure crouchlng
behind a horse which was silhoutted