Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-02-11
THE BLACK HILLS PIONEERS.
A Narrative of the John Gordon Stock
ade Party in 1874.
CONTRIBUTED TO THE CUSTER CHRONICLE
BY DAVID AIKEN, voNA, COLO.
1Continnad from last uaak

on all the water courses. They had un
doubtedly drifted into or near the agen
cies as the cold weather came on. This
news was very encouraging and added
very preceptably to the good cheer o
the party and especially when Uncle
Newt got to singing his favorite sons
which consisted of but one verse but was
repeated several times, always com.
mencing as though starting new verse
and with such enthusiasm as to invari.
ably cause ripple ofmerriment through.
out the camp and tonight it added to the
cup of cheer as he sang while busying
himself around camp.
Down in a coal mine underneath the
ground,
Where ray of sunshine never can be
found.
Digging dusky diamonds all the season
round,
Down in a coal mine underneath the
ground.
We spent about one week at this camp
giving our stock chance to rest and re-
cuperate, something they were much in
need of and also for the purpose of put
ting leather shoes on the hoofs of some
of the oxen that had become little foot
sore. The weather was fine but it was
cold enough at night to make slush ice
run on the river. Three of us waded
the river which was fully waist deep at
the deepest point and did little explor-
ing, but nothing was seen of Indians
save their deserted summer camps, some
OF which had been but recently vacated.
Here l had the good luck to find flock
of wild turkeys, the first had ever seen.
l succeeded in killing two fine ones with
but little difficulty and with a couple of
mallard ducks l started on my rather
unpleasant trip back to camp. The
four fowls made a pretty good pack,
weighing at least forty pounds. l broke
through couple of times in shallow
water but had no serious difficulty until
close to shore at camp. Here the water
was very swift and so deep that the tur-
keys dipped into the water and only for
the timely arrival of Uncle Newt think
| would have been compelled to drop my
load or go down stream with them. But
he ran to the bank and reached out a
short pole which l took hold of and
reached shore all right only that l was
wet to my ears.
Mr.. Aaron became sick and although
one of the most rugged looking men in
the party, he never recovered. He was
greatly missed by all. Though a perfect
stranger to all on entering our camp he
had endeared himself to us by his cheer
ful, accomplishing disposition that
seemed to allow no Respondent shadow
to cross his path aud although his lot
was very trying, SO far as l know he
never uttered one complaint. The en-
tire party did everything in its power to
anticipate his wishes and to assist and
relieve him in all ways possible. At
times he would partially recover and
then seem to take relapse and finally,
after long march, he was confined to
his bed that was prepared for him in
one of the wagons and in a few days as
we went into camp at night, it was
found he had expired but a short time
before.
On Sunday morning we broke camp
and prepared to cross the river. 1t was
an experience that one wants but once
in life time. Floating ice was going
down the swift stream quite thick. As
have said, at this point it was near
half mile in width. This of itself would
have been but little consequence but
the greater part of the distance was a
bed OF treacherous quick sand and in
this rapid current the entire outfit was
liable to be swamped and drowned. But
here the experience and good judgment
of John Gordon in handling a train of
oxen over a bed of quick sand in man.
ner that would do credit to the most
expert freighters of the world, was dis.
played.
Everything being in readiness the fif-
teen yoke of oxen were hitched to the
wagon belonging to my mess. Our teams
were all put on the lead, one of them
being yoke of four-year old stays that
were considered the surest footed and
most nimble travellers in the entire
string. They were put in the lead and
to their yoke was attached long, heavy
rope and eight strong, nimble fellows
took hold of it and waded out into the
stream and kept a direct course. Be-
sides the drivers others were on either
side of the string to keep them in line
and to be of immediate assistance in case
of need. There could be no halt, those
at the lead rope kept a steady pull. Sew
eral times an OK or a yoke would 60
down as if they had broken through ice,
but the pull would enable them to i'm
mediately come up and 60 ahead. II
they once stopped all would 60 down
and be swamped and drowned. Even
men would break through at times but
quick step would put you on solid foot
ing again. Thus our first wagon was
landed on the forbidden ground with
out an accident and the entire string oi
oxen were taken back over the same
route, as nearly as possible, and We could
follow the same track very closely as we