The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-02-03
IOWA PIONEERS OF
THE BLACK HILLS
Narrative of the John Gordon Stock.
AIDE Party in 1874 Contributed
to Custer Chronicle.

Pflor TO the year 1874 the Black
Hills country was absolutely I'M
known, save that it was located in
the center of the great Sioux Nation,
where the ruling chief and dictator,
Sitting Bull, was an uncompromising
enemy of the whites and up to this
time had never treated with the
government OF the United States
and allowed no encroachments or
respassing upon his broad domain
by the whites
Ii an rapper, hunter or adven-
curer has ever had the hardihood or
ahe misfortune to have penetrated
Ghese forbidden grounds he was new
or heard of more and only the re-
cording angel and the willy Sioux
could recite his fate.
Through legends this country was
surrounded by a halo of mystery.
Nuggets OF gold had been received
from Indians by trappers and trad
Grs, who claimed that vast deposits
of gold and silver were there but
~as guarded by the relentless hand
OF death Consequently, up to tins
time this particular part of our do
main was unexpIored and wholly un-
known
In the spring of 1874 the govern
ment fitted out large expedition
nnder the command of General Gus
GER for the purpose of exploring
these hills. This expedition start
ed from Bismarck, n. D., and
was considered at the time one of
che most perilous trips that this
brave and daring man ever under
took. IT was like daring the lion in
hig den and the Nation seemed to
hold its breath" as it We're, from
che time the army passed out of
sight and disappeared within the
bounds Of the mystic circle until it
emerged from the other side weeks
after and reported at old Fort
Pierre
The trip was considered extremely
hazardous. First, on account of it's
being located in the center of one of
che most sagacious as well as the
strongest Of all the warlike tribe OF
Indians in existence. Secondly, the
unknown nature or lay OF the coun-
cry, coupled with the legends of pit
falls, ambuscades and all the willy
cactics of an unrelentng, uncom-
promising foe with the executive
ability OF a Caesar and the unswery-
ing relentless disposition of The
angel of IIades," backed by an un-
known horde of braves, ever ready
and willing to follow their leader to
the last ditch.
Again, these hills were known as
sacred grounds, or the home of the
Great Spirit. Here waring factions
would meet in friendly council and
smoke the pipe of peace Whether,
che astute chief, Sitting Bull was
anprepared to make defense al
CHS time or whether his nOn-resist-
ence was on account of the sacred
reverence vouchsafed to these
grounds, is not known, but the ex-
pedition encountered no hostile In
dlans and after a successful and ex-
citing trip, General Custer reported
gold in the southern part of the
aills, to which he gave the name of
Clusters Park
This Park is succession of beau
liful openings along French Creek
This report was made about July | |
1874, and of course created furore
among all classes in the country
especially those inclined to seek ad-
venture
Shortly after this Chas. Collins,
editor of the Sioux City (Iowa) |
Times, went to Chicago for the pur-
eose of organizing a large expedition
90 go to the Black Hills to prospect
and mine But he had no sooner
reached Chicago and made his inten-
tons known than Lieut.. Gen. Sheri-
dan issued an order forbidding any
one to go to the Hills until proper
treaties were made with the Indians
Though defeated in his plans of or
ganizing a company of 1000 men or
more and invading these lands with
G strong force he went back to Sioux
City and on the quiet began the or
ganization of a company.
Now, an adventure of this kind
mad always been one Of the greatest
desires of my life. When but a little
lad l had listened to father tell OF
mis- thrilling experiences in crossing
the plains to California in 1850, ana
resolved to have some such expert
ence myself, should a favorable OPP
qortunity present ITSELF So, when ]
heard of this move by Mr.. Collins, I
wrota him and received tho terca re