Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-03-11
THE BLACK HILLS PIONEERS.
A Narrative of the John Gordon Stock
ade Party in 1874.
CONTRIBUTED TO THE CUSTER CHRONICLE
BY DAVID AIKEN, voSA, COLO.
[Continued from last week.

BY DAVID AIKEN, voSA, COLO.
CONTINUED from last week.
The back k-bone or divide between the
Cheyenne and Bad River at this point,
was sharply defined. The source Of the
valley is large basin, the banks OF
which seemed to have encroached upon
, the territory of the Cheyenne. In the
center of the basin, which must be about
two miles in width, is low, round butte
| or mound. There seemed to be three
streams that formed confluence at or
near the center of the basin. The course
of these streams is plainly marked by
timber growing along their margin and
is not unlike. the track of large bird.
The western rim of this basin where the
Cheyenne had seemingly eaten into it,
was probably $50 feet deep and contained
thick coat of brush and small timber.
AS we passed along each one of us chose
his future home here and mentally
transformed the beautiful landscape into
garden of Eden.
We took dinner on the divide where
the Black Hills were plainly In view I;
also the Cheyenne River whose course
could be traced for miles, was just below
US. Indians had camped on the same
spot that we were occupying and left
wood sufficient for our present use. In
fact we were following an old Indian
and buffalo trail-the only practical way
that the river can be reached from this
side at this time. Although the river
seemed to be just below US at noon, we
travelled steadily all the afternoon fol-
lowing the tortuous windings of the
trail all the time going down hill finally
in the evening camping at the last pitch
that led to the river bottom. Our camp
was in swale and out of sight of the
valley and if we had not been seen, We
were all right for the night.
Early the next morning we prepared
to descend the last pitch. 1t was about
a hundred yards long with fully forty
Eve degree slope. We went over the
ground pretty thoroughly with picks and
loosened the surface, then a good yoke
of oxen was put on the tongue, all wheels
rough locked while a heavy rope was
tied to the hind axle and several men
would hold back all they could. In this
way all the wagons were lowered one by
one in safety. While this was being
done some Of the party were viewing the
surrounding country with glasses. Some
thing was discovered far up the river.
Some thought it was buffalo, others that
it was elk, while Others said it was In
dians. After long survey with tele-
scope Thomas emphatically pronounced
it elk and says: "Dave let's take the
donkey and 20 and get one"
Shortly after We reached the bottom
and strung out for the river about halt
mile distant two horseman were seen
coming from away up the river and we
were not long in discovering that they
we're Indians, their beautiful fat ponies
coming at the top of their speed. They
advanced to within five or six hundred
yards of us and halted. They seemed
very much excited and viewed us as if
endeavoring to compute our strength.
After looking at us for a few minutes
they turned with a whoop whoop and
rode back from whence they had come
as fast as their ponies could carry them.
In the meantime we had moved in our
course as if oblivious of their presence.
Some of the experienced plainsmen of
the party said their actions indicated
that they meant business if their forces
were strong enough.
On the opposite side of the river is a
beautiful valley nearly mile in width
at its mouth and running back toward
the hills. 1t was beautiful spot and if
we were compelled to meet the Sioux in
mortal combat this would be an ideal
place and if our little band now number
ing twenty-four, was to be wiped out of
existence it was a charming place in
which to die and a beaut..l place for
our bleaching bones 10 rest. 1t would
also be an inviting 1t that our spirits
free from their teu'Doats of clay might
return to with ple"aG,S and when beau
tiful springtime cou. ss with its fragrance
and song to decorate their former habi-