Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-03-04
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.
| CONTINUED from last week.
have since visited these bad lands
and spent nearly week within their
confines and close scrutiny leaves the
mind as greatly mystified as it was be-
fore bewildered. The petrified remains
of various kinds of animals and reptiles,
fish and turtles are found in great pro-
fusion. Heads of some mammoth that
weigh more than ton each have been
found at various times here while one
rib was found that but few men could
raise from the ground and put on end,
although considerable had been broken
of. The country had been pretty thor
oughly picked over at the time our party
was there, in 1890, yet we found some
very interesting specimens. The re-
mains of one of these monster animals
as nearly as we could estimate or meas
ure was over 40 feet in length, but the
principal part of the skeleton had
already been taken away. Carloads of
these petrifications had been taken out
and sent east.
We spent greater part of the next
day at this camp, going to the river after
ice. Gordon had concluded to haul
load of ice with US, for we could see that
our trail from this point must necessa-
rily leave the river and we fully expected
to encounter the real bad lands where
no water could be found. Mr.. Gordon
proposed to use the wagon belonging to
to my mess, distributing the load among
the other wagons, but when be made
this proposition Whit. positively and
bluntly refused to allow any such thing.
Gordon then turned on his heel with
an oath and threatened to leave our mess
to its fate. Whit. had proposed taking
q load OF ice the day before, and our
mess had taken about 300 pounds. But
the proposition had not originated with
Mr.. Gordon and no notice was taken of
1t, and now he was in rage.
Brockett's wagon was used-its load be-
ing distributed among the other messes.
1t was more than mile direct to the
river and over terrible rough roads, but
four good yoke of oxen were put on and
about 10 o'clock they returned with a
load of ice which made about 400 pounds
Office to the mess. AS our mess was not
included, Harry and l took his pony
and couple of buckets and brought
between 300 and 400 pounds, returning
about noon. We moved on about four
miles in the afternoon and instead of
finding bad lands, as marked on the
map, we found smooth rolling country
with good grass and ravines containing
pools of water.
One night while in camp on the bank
of a ravine or dry creek containing con-
siderable small timber was on camp
guard the after part of the night. The
camp stood back probably so yards from
the ravine. My beat was along the
bank of this creek which was smooth
and covered with a short grass, while
the bottom or large bend below me was
thickly covered with brush and small
ash timber and would have been an ex.
Cellent place for Indians to have come
upon US, only the rustic of leaves would
have warned US against them. AS l was
along near this bank just be-
fore day break, heard a rustling in the
leaves in the bottom. 1t sounded as if
there might be two or three objects. 1t
seemed to go little ways then stop, 60
again and stop for only half minute or
SO at time. soon discovered they
were coming up the bank on an angle
and were evidently going to reach the
top at point near where was stand
ing, 1t was becoming quite interesting.
Being quite dark could not discern an
object only as it showed up on the hor-
izon. AS it drew near stepped back
couple of rods from the brink and rested
my rifle on my knee and awaited devel-
opments. 1t came on in the same halt
ing manner. 1t did not seem to be
stealthy move, only that it seemed to
hesitate. Finally an object showed it
self above the horizon and stopped. 1t
might be listening or trying to locate
the camp. l glanced along the barrel of
my gun and though could not see the
sights l was sure could hit the object,
but concluded to wait until it moved
again, which it did after few moments
halt. 1t came on and stopped not more
than couple of rods from me. l put
the hammer down as it was a set trigger
and went with light touch. AS l had
looked along the barrel and ranged it
with the object as it appeared above the
horizon had almost given it that touch.
Had done SO, would have undoubted-
ly killed the little donkey. He had a
rope dragging from his neck, which
made it sound as if there was more than
one oD1ecC moving.
Some of the party expressed the wish
that had killed it. 1t had a strong pair
of lungs and good delivery and seemed
to take delight in running the scale on
that old saw whenever we imagined we
were or might be close to an Indian
camp or trail. I think would be with
in the bounds of reason and truthful
estimate when say that at some of our
camps its rasping tones could be heard
five miles away and of course would be
dead give away here, as no Indians
kept any such animals.
The country through which We were