Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-02-25
THE BLACK HILLS PIONEERS.
A Narrative of the John Gordon Stock
ade Party in 1874.

L oeC oAsy AA &Ss@
CONTRIBUTED TO THE CUSTER CHRONICLE
BY DAVID AKIN, voNA, COLO.
| CONTINUED from last week.
This White River was one of the placel
that we expected to encounter Indians
if at all on the trip, and the other mair
point was the Cheyenne. In moving OF
travelling generally the Indians follow
the course Of some stream where woot
and water are easy to get. Naturally
the course of the White River would be
main thoroughfare from the Missouri
River back to the Agencies and the
Black Hills country and we fully ex
pected to meet them at one of these
points II at all on our trip. But in can
vassing the matter over at our camp fires
Cordeiro claimed they would all be in
| winter quarters in some other locality al
this time of year and in this assuring
manner has said, he would eat all the
Indians we found at either of these
places. 1t now looked as though we
were quite sure to encounter some at the
White River and l fastened to remind
Charley of his previous contract and as
it had not been specified in the agreement
as to how they were to be served I in
sisted on his taking them raw and on foot
and as quickly as possible. But he de-
INJURED on the ground that there was no
stipulation in the contract prescribing
the manner in which he was to take
them. He was willing and anxious to
fulfill the contract, reserving the right
to choose the mode of preparation and
that be would insist on their being roast
ed and we'll done.
This evening we camped about two
miles from the river on high, dry bar
rem tableland overlooking the valley of
the White River. Our oxen could go no
farther. Their feet were so badly worn
in the last few days travel that it was
really distressing to see some of them
actually trying to walk without putting
their feet to the ground. We intended
to have reached the River where we
would at least have had good feed and
shelter and an abundance of wood and
water. But we had gone as far as the
poor beasts could walk and were com.
PEELED to pitch camp on spot destitute
of wood, water, feed or shelter, on a
high, bald piece of ground sloping to the
north with every indication of terrible
storm, the heavy clouds presenting the
appearance of a blue black looked as if
a hundred billiards had met in their
mad frolic and were preparing to swoop
down upon us, while below us, ensconed
in their cozy tents nesting in the shell
ter of the wood by the river, were pos
sibly thousand painted devils dancing
to the music of their tom toms and glee.
fully waiting to receive US like the tiger
would receive lamb. But laying all
jokes aside and coming down to serious,
sober facts think l can safely say with
out fear of being accused ofexaggeration
or of being pessimistic, that we had all
met under brighter, happier and more
cheerful conditions and surroundings in
times gone by, and the serious look up.
on the smoke begrimmed and weather
beaten faces of some of the party was a
sure indication that their minds were
wandering back to fairer climes and sun
nier spots. In fact they had sat down
on the wagon tongue or OK yoke and
were having genuine old fashioned at
tack of the blues, one Of the very worst
things one could possibly indulge in at a
time like this and very expensive lux
ury at any time.
AS l have said, there was no water or
feed near the camp. My mess had car
ried quite log of dry cedar from the
Niobrara River swung under our wa.
gon. 1t was intended for just such an
occasion as this, so we took it down and
started fire. After pitching our tent
Harry and took buckets and went to a
ravine nearly half a mile distant where
we found drift of snow that was al
most like ice. From this we melted
enough to give each of our four oxen a
full bucket of water. This encouraged
others and we kept at it until all the
oxen had had water. In the meantime
Johnny with a couple of others, had
found ravine some distance from camp
containing pretty good feed and with the
aid of a few buffalo chips that we could
secure our wood economically used ans
wered all necessary purposes. So one
shadow after another was dissipated, the
threatened blizzard failed to material
ize, it had passed along with all its fury
and left the kindly blinking stars smil-
ing in its place.
Soon after supper those not on guard
duty were in bed and asleep. In the
morning we pulled for the river. 1t was
a distressing spectacle to see the sore
footed oxen limping of, but it was down
hill and they had but little to do but
walk. On the second bank we found a
large Indian trail. This we followed to
the bottom land and on the bank of the
river went into camp. No Indians were
to be seen but the large camp but recent
ly occupied by them was within hun.
dred yards of US. Fire was still to be
found in the ashes. Judging from the
size of their trail and camp the old
frontiersman of the party estimated
their number to have been three or foul
hundred. They were on the move ur
the river and without waiting to receive
opr hon ;ot;op opd God epaad hof