The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-10-01


Elaborate exercises marked the
recent dedication of monument
to Rev. Henry Weston Smith,
known ms preacher" Smith, who
WAS the first "sky pilot" TO enter
the Black Hills after the discovery
of gold. The monument which was
erected with funds contributed by
the people of the different cities
and towns in the Black Hills,
stands near the exact spot, three
miles from Deadwood, where
preacher" Smith was killed by the
Indians, August 20, 1875.
At the time he was killed, he was on
his way from Deadwood to Crook
City, town OF the district, to preach.
1t was a curious coincidence that
preacher Smith and "Wild Biz
Hickok--men representing the two
extremes of soeiety-should die vi
client deaths In the same month.
wild Bill'' having been assassinated
by Jack Mccall. August 2, 1876.
when seated with other men In a
Deadwood saloon playing cards
Preacher" Smith lived In a log
tADiU III lfthuMbtnt anu htAtAt W.
parting on his Inflated trip to Crook
City he had written the following
words on card, which he fastened
TO his cabin door Gone to Crook
City TO preach, and, II God willing,
will be back at three O'Clock"
"Calamity Jane" Prepared Hody.
He never returned alive for 81
about ton o'clock that morning he
was killed by the Sioux Indians on
the top OF what was known az the
Big Hill, over which the crude road
to Crook city wendell It's way. In
formation of the killing of the "Sky
Pilot" created intense excitement
among the rough and ready element
then making up the population OF
the young Deadwood. which at that
! time was termed the widest mining
camp in the world.
A posse was quickly formed by
heavily armed men, who started out
to punish the Indians. Members OF
tho posse had several skirmishee
with the Sioux Indians that same af-
ternoon, killing several of them. but
they themselves losing five of their
number.
When the members of the posse
had made their way back TO Dead
wood, whore the body of the slain
"sky pilot" had been taken, they
found calamity Jane" a noted
frontier woman. and kitty" Arm
old. familiar character I'm Dead
wood in the early days. laying oui
1.-THE body of the dead clergyman in his
cabin, and making arrangements fol
the burial. Calamity Jane" salt
with tears streaming down her face
isn't 1t too bad that tho only mar
who came here to tell us how to live
had to be killed by the Indians?"
On one occasion Preacher" smitl
on invitation OF the proprietor, held
religious services I'm the saloon anf
gambling den Of Nutshell Bill" Oh
early Deadwood character. Nutshell
Bill had showed back his tables fol
the occasion. All was orderly ant
quiet during the time Preacher
Smith was preaching his sermon Il
the assembled roughs and others
who contributed literally to him II
cash at the conclusion OF his remarks
Some men entering the Blacl
Hills had permitted preacher
Smith to accompany them, and on,
evening one of them found hin
reading Bible. Then the strange
informed the men that he was
Methodist preacher. He was toll
he was up against hard proposition
to which he replied:
Possibly so, but | viii do the bes
| can"
His only baggage, when he on
tered the Black Hills, was a small
valise. He was man about six fee
tall and of fine physique. His ag
at the time he reached Deadwool
was about 40. He came west from
the New England states TO peach th
gospel among the rough men OF TIL
day.
. |
be a valuable contribution---thi tell
. fnp NJ fha btatory nf fha trfha hv IN