The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-07-07

roots, they found it in placers and in
rocks; they reported to General Gus
ter, and Charley Reynolds was sent
by Custer to Camp Robinson, Ne
braska, to report to GENERAL Sheri-
dan the gold discoveries. knappen
sent his dispatch to the Bismarck
Tribune which was given to the
world the same day by me, through |
the Associated Press, and brought |
about the final opening Of the Black |
Hills to settlement.
Black Hills Opened
On Knappen's return lie brought |
specimens of the ore from what aft |
erwards became the great Homestead |
Mine, which I sent to the Semihis-
torian Institution for assay. This
was added proof to sustain the
in their contention.
In December, 1875, q party of
Bismarck people headed BY Russell
r. Marsh, went to the Black Hills to
determine for themselves the true
situation. They returned early in
January bringing nearly two ounces
of pure gold the size of a lima bean
down to dust taken from the placer
mines at French Creek. These spec.
linens were placed in my hands, and
Hon. John A. Mclean and I went to
St. Paul where we met the Chamber
Of Commerce and stirred into activ-
ity the person who organized the
Northwestern Stage and Transpor-
tation company with headquarters
at Bismarck. We appeared before
the Minnesota legislature and pro-
cured a memorial to congress for
opening the Black Hills. We went
to Milwaukee and Chicago and in
terested the Chicago, Milwaukee and
st. Paul railroad, and the manage
ment and both took immediate ac-
ton toward fixing passenger and
freight rates for Black Hills traffic.
We went to Washington and ex-
hibited the specimens to President
Grant at the White House, to Secre.
tary Belknap and to the House of
Representatives on the floors of
Congress. Before we left the fight
for the opening Of the Black Hills
remained only for congressional &C.
ton which quickly followed in due
course.
We left Washington on the MORN
ing the Belknap sensation which re-
suited in his proposed impeachment
was published. His resignation fol-
lowed, and changes resulted which
placed General Terry in command of
the Little Bighorn expedition intend
ed for Clusters command.
Distinguished Party
General Custer and wife were in
Washington and left on their return
to Fort A. Lincoln on the same train
The train carrying US west from
Fargo left March 6, 1876. It carried
General Custer and several return
ing officers and attachments of re.
cruits and soldiers intended for the
expedition, with military supplies
and munition for the expedition. Il
also carried large number of gold
seekers, including the Billy Bulge
party from Grand Forks. The
trains were stuck in the snow banl
near Crystal Springs for nearl,
three weeks. Gen. Custer left thu
train and went on by ambulance, re.
turning with a wagon train loadee
with coal and supplies. Mclean ane
went on by team to Bismarck, bu'
the soldiers and gold seekers en-
dured the discomfort Of that Ions
wait.
During my trip to Washingto,
Frank D. Bolles and e. v. Knign
had been in charge Of the Tribune
assisted by A. r. Collins, who wa,
styled the cowboy editor from hi,
frequent raids on the "Cow Coun
ties" Is he called South Dakota. H,
was q waiting gold seeker, . Mon
tana miner and went on to the BlAcl
Hills with the Bulge party, accom-
panied by q considerable number o
expert Montana miners from Bis
marck.
Indian Trouble Frequent
i There were freqnent Indian depre
dations then N the immediate vicin
ity Of Bismarck. One farmer wa
killed on the west side Of the rive
near where the bridge now crosse
the Missouri. John Wright, . cattl
herder, was killed but Z short dis
lance north Of the capitol. Til
Tribune favored joining other citi
zens in arming and drilling to repe
Indian attacks expected almost an
moment.
In connection with the Belkna
disclosure Mrs. Slaughter retire
from the Bismarck postoffice and
took charge first as her assistant an
. moved the office to the Tribun
block. Bolles and Knight ran tn
. postoffice and the Tribune durin
. my absence.
! was appointed postmaster i
February and but for that added r.
sponsibility and the sickness Of m
!. wife would have met my death wit
, Custer at the Little Bighorn, as q
arrangements had been made for m
, going. I was ia, be the only CORE
, spondent. Mark Kellogg being q
ceptable to General Custer went !
, my stead and forwarded his report
: to me. BY me the New Yor
. Herald and other newspapers wer
served with expedition news.
II The Custer Story
i When General Terry and state n
, turned with the wounded Of the Z,
petition. they came with Dr.. Porte
} and other survivors directly 70 IA
II office. They brought mo the mani
!. script from Kellog4s haversac
with al incidents written to the ms
{ msnt Of the first attack; the
, brought mo the list Of the dead, eiy
! ing their appearance and the gel
eral conditions on the battle hel
} prepared especially for the Ne
York Herald by General ]. D. Bril-
i bin. Thsy furnished : full list {
; tho wounded and the ineldlats