Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1913-07-05
BLACK HILLS OR
BLACK MOUNTAINS.

L :
The suggestion by Editor Day of the
Sioux Falls Argus-Leader that TIE terri
tory known as the Black Hills SHOULD be
renamed "Black Mountains" has been
taken up by quite few South Dakota
newspapers, the comments all running
in the same vein and endorsing Mr..
Days suggestion. While it may be as
Editor Day says, that the name "Black
Hills" does not fittingly express the real
significance of these mountains and can
yons, nevertheless it would be an up
hill job to bring about the change in
name in generation. The name was
applied to this region as far back as 1888
by the only survivor Of that ill-fated
party of seven gold-ssekers who drifted
into the Black Hills, discovered gold.
mined the placers successfully for about
one year, were then discovered by the
hostile Sioux, all killedsM r..nning
battle extending from Deadwood gulch
to Lookout mountain adjoining Spsarfish
on the east, where the only remaining
member of the party wrote the brief his
tory of the party, carrying it out slowly
and laboriously on block of soft sand
stone, and then was doubtless discover
ed by the relentless foe and suffered the
fate of his comrades. The history of
that party has been told in these col
umns many times, but the tradegy and
pathos will always bear repetition. The
stone was discovered by Louis Thoen at
the base of Lookout mountain in March,
1887. The writing tells its own story in
these words; "Came to these hills in
1888, seven of us-DeLacompt, Ezra
Kind, G. w. Wood, T. Brown, R. Kent,
VIM. King, Indian Crow. All ded but
me Ezra Kind. Killed by Inds beyond
high hill. Got our gold June. 1884,"
On the reverse side of the tablet: "Got
all of the gold We could carry. Our
ponys all got by the Indians. 1 have
lost my gun and nothing to eat and Ind
ians hunting me-"
This stone tablet is preserved at the
Spearish normal school. Its authenti-
city has been proved beyond doubt by
letters received from people who claim
ed to have been relatives of some of the
party, and who knew that those men
started across the plains about 1882 OF
1888 and were never heard from until
this tablet was found. Indian tradition
also verifies the story. Attempts were
made in 1855 by scientific expeditions to
explore the Black Hills, but 80 far as
known no expedition was successful un-
til 1874. All historical data obtainable
gave this region the name of "Black
Hills" the name is so interviewer with
all history since the first invasion, and
the name 10 so fixed in the hearts oi
those who have been instrumental in
building this inland empire and making
it part of the civilized world that to
now attempt to change the name would
be task so great that it would be hope
less. "Black Hills" has significance to
those hardy pioneers which can scarcely
be appreciated by citizens of South Da.
kota who have had no part in this life
work. 1t isn't feasible proposition,
however much our neighbors would like
to bring it about. The Black Hills are
part and parcel of South Dakota, one
of the most interesting and valuable
parts, and as the "Black Hills" will re-
main for all time.-Spearfish Mail.