Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-04-15


usually along the valleys and streams
A very nutritious grass grew in abun-
dance in these openings and to quite an
extent all through the timber. We sank
hole to bedrock couple of rods from
the gate of the Stockade. Tt was about
seven feet deep and fine colors of gold
was found from the very surface.
French Creek Valley is a bed of gravel
that the water runs through like sieve.
When We bad dug within couple OF
feet of bedrock the water came in 80
fast we could not bail it ont and work.
But couple of the old miners, Logan
and Whitney I believe, contrived a
chain pump or rather kind of elevator,
raising the water by means of buckets
in slanting chute. A rocker was made
and whenever the weather would per-
NIT this mine was WORKED.
AS soon as our cabin was completed
Thomas, Russell and /, took couple of
ponies, packed some provisions and our
camp outfit and went up French Creek
four or five miles, or about two miles
above the present town of Custer City.
Here We made a camp by telling tree
over the edge of rocky point and put.
ting the boughs over the trunk in such a
manner as to be partial shelter from
the snow, one side being open. This
was used merely as our sleeping apart.
ment, as our kitchen and dining room
was outside. This was our home most
Of the time while we remained in the
Black Hills.
From this primitive shelter we hunted
and prospected quite distance up the
valley, generally going down to the
Stockade about once or twice week
with from two to four deer on our ponies
and returning with a supply of what
aver we were in need Of We generally
had from one to three deer lying on top
Of the shack. A few feet above the top
Of this bough house rock jutted out.
1t was almost directly over where the
deer lay and probably some six or seven
feet distant. To this point mountain
ions and wolves often came and looked
down on the carcasses of deer beneath
hem. The wolves would whine similar
10 dog, while 1the lion would make
harsh purring noise. They never came
rs we know of until after we had re-
tired for the night. l often tried to
steal out and get shot at them, but
they always skulked back among the
rocks whenever the slightest noise was
made. These lions are very powerful
animals and are capable of dragging a
large deer for miles at time. l have
seen them that measured OBJECT from
the end of his nose to the tip end of his
tail. Their tails are long and are car
ried low and gradually curve up from
the root to the tip.
On one occasion while in this camp /
took trip up the creek to see if l could
60 little deeper in a prospect hole !
had previously sunk and had got some
nice flakes of gold, but was prevented
reaching bedrock by water. Thus rein
forced with bucket thought possibly
/ might reach bedrock where the heav-
lest gold invariably lays. While riding
along on this occasion a small deer, a
fawn came running by. Its tongue was
hanging out and its slow short jumps
indicated that it was quite exhausted.
My presence did not seem to add to its
terror in the least for it could run no
faster than it was running and seemed
to have nearly given up the chase and a
new enemy at this time seemed to make
but little difference. / could have killed
it easily, for it stopped within a few
yards of me and looked back. l soon
discovered the cause of its alarm. About
q hundred yards distant in little open.
ing, was large timber wolf. He had
seen or scented me and had turned from
his direct course and was going round
me. l Iquickly slid to the ground and
dropped on one knee as l did so. The
wolf halted for a moment and fired.
He sprang into the air, turned two or
three somersaults and finally ran off. l
think l shot him through the lungs as
my aim was behind his shoulders. He
bled freely but there being but little
snow on the south side of the slopes
1 could not track him readily 80 let him
60, but l had saved the fawn.
ITO be Continued