The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-12-30

die to each coach. The wheels woul,
clog with nearly every revolution
with gumbo, and we would have t.
clean it off before making another
pull. We We're four days getting t,
the Cheyenne river and the river wa:
way up, although it had stopped
| raining, and the road was dryipz
very last. We had to load the pass.
engers, mail and express on to 9
kind of a boat kept there and landed
them on the west side all right not.
withstanding there were many fears
and doubts expressed by some of the
passengers. did not blame them
1t was enough to make the stoutes,
heart quake. The drivers doubled
as usual and all got over without the
loss of anything, although the water
had run owe the seats in the coaches
and We waited while for them to
dry. When We got to the top OF
the Cheyenne river Hill the roads
We're good and we all felt SO encour-
aged the drivers cracked their whips
and away We went rejoicing that it
was not any worse. The country ly-
ing between Pierre and the CHEYENNE
river was an Indian reservation in
those days, No liquor was sold on
the reservation but could be sold on
the west side, from which source
the drivers would often fall off the
water wagon. The messengers had
no control over the drivers except to
Keep their time and report them at
Pierre or DeadWood. On this occa-
sion one Of the drivers got hold of
bottle of bug juice. We were rid
ing along at a good stiff trot and
frequently the hind driver would
run up along side of the lead coach
and they would take a swig out of
the bottle. The drivers were Kid
Ellis and George Dean. We were
driving down gulley about -
O'Clock at night and mule team
mad been along the day before and
cut the road into ruts. The wheel
on one side dropped into deep
and threw the coach over
onto the side and the passengers
were all thrown into heap, but
fortunately there was no damage
done. but about half an hour of time
lost. We finally arrived at Rapid
City, when it began to snow, and on
the way from there to Sturgis Sam
pie and myself both became snow
blind. DeadWood was the next and
1lnal station and we felt greatly re-
lleved. The passengers all had to
walk up the hills in going into
DeadWood, Sample and l carrying
child apiece. On another occasion,
While crossing Box Elder creek the
water was high and the coach stuck
about the center of the stream.
got down and cut the horses loose
and got them out. The driver went
on to the station with the horses and
remained with the coach all night,
wet and shivering. The driver re-
turned in the morning with eight
horses and pulled the coach out and
we got INTO Box Elder station for
breakfast
Calamity Jane and Wild Bill were
picturesque characters in the early
days. They were Black Hills p:o-
neers. Calamity very often went clad
in male attire. Her costume, when
On dress parade, was buckskin suit
nicely decorated with fringe and
many colored beads, white Stetson
hat, patent leather belt filled with
and two Colts revolvers.
appearance. She was a profession
SChe was a profess. on
al mule skinner and bullwhacker and
was an expert with whip and {,
good shot with rifle or six-shoot-
ar. She had warm heart and a deep
kindly feeling for friend and many
an old timer can testify to that, as
she would be the first TO lend a help
ing hand in case of necessity Wild
Bill, the famous scout and Indian
fighter, was known for his daring
deeds and reckless ways. He was shot
in the back and instantly killed by
worthless human by the name of
Mccall, who had a trial by a min
ers jury and was set free, as he tes-
titled that Bill had on a former oc-
casion killed brother of his. He
afterwards went from the Hills to
Larimie City, Wyoming, got on
spree there and made a boast that
he had killed Wild Bill for notoriety
and he was re-arrested and taken to
Yankton and tried and convicted and
hung. Bill and Calamity Jane are
both resting in Mount Moriah ceme-
terry in Deadwood. Deadwood in
early days was the rendezvous for
the wide open policy. 1t is now
city of schools and churches and