Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-05-29

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"Pete, we've had enough. From
what those men at the fire said last
highland they're old enough to know
what they're talking about-we'd be
derned lucky to git through alive. But
even If we got there and did find gold
what chance would we stand of fetch
ing 1t out? Either the road agents or
the Indians would be sure to catch
us"
'Those old fools we're trying to
scare you," warmly demonstrated Dins-
dale.
"They scared this boy all right"
frankly confessed the younger of the
men. I'm through. l wouldn't go a
rod farther for a whole mountain of
gold"
WED rather you'd think us darned
fools, Pete, than to take the risk
added the other. $50 we're going to
wait for the first outfit bound south
and strike for Fort Laramie"
''Those old liars certainly filed you
boys up" sighed Dinsdale. swell, if
you really feel that way about it,
then the hills aren't any place for you.
Go back and stick toraising vegetables
and flowers. I'm starting as soon as
| I eat"
He had finished his breakfast when
| San Juan Joe turned out. Despite
their early rising the two did not get
started until nine o'clock because of
| the threat of rain. Not until the sun
struggled through the sullen clouds
was the journey commenced Bowman
shouted good wishes after them, and
| the two fasteners waved their hats in
| farewell.
The travelling was hard on the
horses, as the mud had glue-like te-
nacfty In clinging to the hoofs. After
two hours Of slow progress they
swung in close to q high yellow bluff
and came to Indian creek.
| They halted and looked about for
signs of the two wagons They found
| the trail left by the mud-blOcked
wheels, and could tell where at fire.
| quent intervals the men had halted to
| shovel the mud from between the
| spokes and from between the wheels
and the wagon boxes.
The two men rode several rods
apart, the gambler in the lead. Each
was armed with a Winchester forty
four; but for immediate use Dinsdale
preferred his two hand-guns, Colt
forty-fours, as he believed any fight
that might be brought to them would
be in the nature Of hand-to-hand
struggle.
BY six o'clock they had covered
some eighteen miles, and were glad
to take refuge in deserted cabin at
the right on the rocd and on the bank
Of the creek. They ate cold venison
and did not attempt coffee. Dinsdale
retired early, leaving San Juan seated
before a sickly fire. dealing out the
/ cards.
| BY morning the persistent wind had
/ dried up much Of the mud, and
cheered by the prospect Of making
good time, the men devoured some raw
ham and bareback, brought along by
/ the gambler, and resumed their jour
ney. AS they followed the road, riding
side by side, Dinsdale remarked on
his companions lack Of belt-guns.
! "Got in the habit Of carrying these, .
San Juan explained as he produced
| two double-barrel Remington der
| ringers, forty-one caliber."
They assembled high ridge that
| crossed their course at right angles
| and came to the trail which connected
the agencies with the stronghold Of
the northern Sioux The summer
campaign Of 1875 had brought no de-
/ feats to the Sioux and Cheyennes. The
latter, whose cornfelds once grew
along the Bellefourche, claimed vic
tory over General Crook as the result
Of the June fight on the Rosebud
| Clusters death week later marked the
peak Of Sioux supremacy.
/ Curiously enough 1t was the federal
government that started the gold rush
4 to the debatable hills by sending an
/ expedition to confirm the many border
stories about gold to be found there
| Once the cry was raised in seventy
| four, "Custer's soldiers have found
gold in the Black hillsl Hills Of gold