Year: 1875

Hills few weeks ago under the leadership OF Ross
OF the original dscoverers Of gold in the Black Hills have
just returned from the latter country, having
away in obedience TO the terms of General Crooks
orders under the Presidents proclamation. Calling on
the leader Of the party Ross within hour after their
arrival here gathered the following items concerning
the mineral resources of the Black Hills Ross is
well known all along this frontier and he bears
honorable reputation doubts his veracty. He
accompanied Custer's Black Hills expedition last year.
and, along with named Mckay the latter now
acting guide for Professor Jenney the first to
discover gold in tho Black Hills Ross and party,
numbering eleven men, left the Black Hills nine days
ago. No Indians were their return trip but
very heavy Indian trails observed leading west
showing that large bodies of Indians had left the Missouri
River reservations, and gone join the hostile camp
on the Big Horn and Yellowstone rivers.


INTERVIEW


To my inquiry as to whether the opinions he formed
when with Custers expedition relative to the existence
of the precious metal in the Black Hills were as strong
as when in the country last year. Ross repled:-


81 am better satisfied than that the Black Hills
rich in gold and that immense fortunes to be
made by mining in that country"


''Did you find any diggings make any addi-
tonal discoveries to those you made last year ?"
asked


'oh yes - said he 'I believe gold has been found in
paying quantities throughout extent of territory
embracing at least two hundred miles of valley land"


"How many miners do you estimate in the
Hils2"


/ 'From 800 to l. 000"


"Were all equally successful in finding gold?"


No, nor could it be expected that they would be- for
the reason that of the l saw there not one in
twenty had ever been in mining country before or
ever handled pick They came there expecting to
dig gold they would dig potatoes and falling to find
it at the first attempt they became discouraged and
many of them anxious to leave and their
homes but this is not true OF the practical miners who
went to the Black Hills l did not single man
who was anxious to remain and go to work"


''Why did you come away if you found the dggngs
so promisngS"


'Why, there the Presidents proclamation and
General Crooks ORDERS and there Crook himself
and he gave just fifteen days to leave the Hills.
What could few miners do against the governmentS
Besides believe 1t will prove good thing for the de-
velopment of the mines, and for all who are in
earnest in regard to mining in the Black Hills. The
government acted 1t did and shut us all out because
large portion Of the who had made
their way to the Hills after the FIRST excitement
were perfectly helpless after they got there They
knew nothing about mines or mining and could not
take of themselves. They were only draw
back the few real miners who trying to develop
the OF the country, and while | went there
hoping to be allowed to remain yet was perfectly
willing to agree to any which would rid the Hills
of every who either would or could not work
TALKS TO JENNEY.
"Dd you see Professor Jenney during your stay in
the HilsY"


ooh, yes talked with him considerably At first
he opposed to having anything with any OF the
miners; but they began making discoveries of good
paying dirt when he writing to Washington
that he did not believe there any gold to be found
he finally concluded it best to count little on the
assistance Of the After that he was glad to
have us help him. l showed him the best ground
he had seen, and l found a good deal better
paying ground than showed him. Jenney wanted me
to tell him where had found the best but l thought
that the government had sent him out there to find
out whether gold could be found in paying quantities
not, and as he had already found that much did
think was called upon to tell all knew, particularly
| expect to go back there the very first day the
government gives me permission to do so."
'What do you think of Jenney-does he seem to 60
about his work as if he understood tn"
'He Is quite young man, and he is n hard worker,
but think he knows more about quartz mining than
about placer mining He found quite extensive lodges
of gold bearing quartz, but gold the surface
1t reported among the boys, however that Jenney
had sunk several drills at different points in the quartz
ledge and had marked it for some parties in Boston
New York and Washington"


"Dd you bring any specimens of Black Hills gold
back with your"


''oh, yes All our boys thought they would bring
enough TO show they had found it, and what's more we
wanted to show that the Black Hills gold was not
all scale gold"


SAMPLES OF THE GOLD.
With that remark Ross took from his pocket a care
fully rolled paper and unrolng the package exhibited
to the HERALD representative some very promising
specimens Of gold in the rough. The indications
showed that had been recently taken from the earth
The particles nuggets varied in size from that
pin head up 10 fiat piece almost large in
the uncut end of lead pencil The value of the speci-
exhibited from seventy five cents to 81 and
the result Ross stated of washing three pans
full of earth. 81 showed this, said Ross o Jenney
who said he wanted TO know where it came
from, 1t did not look like any gold
he had found, but did not tell him, l thought he
had found enough already TO report to the government
Hills"


show does Professor Jenney explain the fact that
Professor Winchel and Colonies Grant and Ludlow of
the army reported that no gold existed in the Black
Hills 2"


trouble with these that they did. not under
stand their business, that any who knew anything
geology could have told by merely riding through the
Hills and without looking specially for gold, that 1t
a gold bearing region The TRUTH presume, is that
Wnchell made the examination and report,
and the two army officers, Grant and Ludlow
adopted winchel's opinions in the absence of any Of
their Still, as TO this am not certain but do
know" he added, that just before came here to
anime this country Winchell wrote me letter saying
that there not only no gold here but giving his
sons why there could not be any If publish that
letter it would show what kind of geologist Winchel
is"


"what do you and the men who accompanied you
propose to dor"





make with the Indians and throw the hills open
when We will go right back to where We have our
claims saked Oh. We felt confident that we would
soon be back in the hills again that cached all
picks and mining tools near our claim know men
who cached between $500 and $500 worth OF property
in the shape OF tools and camp t their claims


"Did you any Indians in the His7n


"Only one small party that came there with Spotted
Tail They watched prospecting, but seemed kindly
disposed toward Spotted Tail said his people were
all willing TO dispose of their title to the Black
Hills, they knew that the white men had
found gold there The Indians could never use
the ground again and would prefer to sell to the gov
ernment Spotted Tail stated however, that he would
like 70 keep of the creeks which gold had been
discovered for his private use"


Ross further stated that the country between here
and the Black Hills Afforded good road with abund-
ance Of wood water and grass


TIE COLORED WATERS QUARREL.
NEWPORT, r l., August 26 1875