Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-08-13
THE BLACK HILLS PIONEERS

THE BLACK HILLS PIONEERS.
Q [coNTRIBUTKD ToLEAp CALI
. When we gathered on the frontier,
In those days of long ago,
The great plains all around us,
] Prairie schooners in row,
: Roughly garbed-with heavy rifles,
3 Horses prancing as we 60,
All around were Sioux by thousands,
Mostly all of them a foe.
, Starting out across forbidden ground,
Trails were bad and progress slow,
Watched from every bend and hilltop,
; Veteran men of Little Crow.
The Buffalo chase on rolling plains,
As the great herd turns in fear
Our half wild horses set pace
| That brings the quarry near.
While stalking anti. re at morn,
AS sunrise paints ~ se.t
| Oft rifles sound out from ambush
And bullets round us fy.
We chase the coyotes DER the grass
And fill them full of lead,
Then switch them onto a lariat
And amputate their head.
Could one place impound,
A horse might drown,
In coyotes gore we've shed
While their shades come back
That very same night
And gambol round our bed.
Being eager for adventure,
Sending redmen now dare,
We are crossing to the Black Hills,
Will the warriors meet us there?
Swift and eager went the runners,
Calling out the different bands,
Pony tracks upon the prairie,
Warrior tracks ON river sands.
Stringing out across the grass land,
Crossing rivers wide and deep,
Scouting on the fanks and vanguard,
Wishing some our scalps to keep,
Shipping Sioux at various covers,
Rifles blaze and warriors yell
Bunch the train upon the prairie,
Stand the hostiles off spell.
Angry, wild men round us riding,
Call of horse and whistliug lead;
Bullets striking on the wagons,
Vultures waiting to be fed.
Guarding we'll the corraled wagons,
As the natives round US sped,
Using cartridges by dozens,
Wasting quite lot of lead.
Now and then one finds target,
Tumbles horse or warrior low,
While there's plenty more seen coming,
Rather wish they'd turn and go.
Getting now too close fer eor4fort,
Yelling like to beat the band,
Facing our repeating rifles,
Sioux have mostly lots Of sand.
Lying now behind some cover,
Shooting at some painted head,
Warriors calling to each other,
Wish we knew just what they said.
A II at once they up and scatter,
Rifles roar back on the trail;
Comes another line of plainsmen,
Sending on leaden bail.
Merge the two trains now together,
Fastening onward to our goal;
Dimly outlined in the distance,
Looms the tabled hills of gold.
All is we'll with hardy comrades,
AS we climb the narrow pass,
Where elk Craze on the hillsides,
And mountain streams dash past.
Cutting trails--locating Custer,
Build the stockade strong and high,
Axes ringing with the war.whoop,
While some mountain lions cry.
Finding gold on French and Spring
creeks,
Tin and mica scattered round,
Silver and copper in some ledges,
Lying there upon the ground.
Working northward past old Harney,
Where Hill City soon was seen,
Panning gravel in the gulches,
Finding gold by every stream.
Cutting trails up Deadwood gulch,
Locating number one,
Placing Deadwood on the map,
A marvellous region won.
Prospecting various gulches, r
Hunting in Gold Run;
Camping out where Lead now stands,
While the belt begins to hum;
Naming one place Central City,
Another one just Lead !;
Getting rather busy,
Building towns with speed.
Sluicing in the gulches,
And finding some good pay,
Not dreaming Of the marvellous reef
Where one-half billion lay,
Digging on the hillside
And finding golden ore;
Bringing in machinery,
Just causing stamps to roar.
Building one place called Crook City,
Down in the foothills green,
While the Sioux raid up Centennial
War parties daily seen.
Calling one place Rapid City,
Out in valley fair,
We excavate some rifle pits,
While the Sioux tries for our hair.