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Show BLACK EP.LS. A Trutbful Aceoutit by a lT(;ili Mr. Irank Cnuclly, writing from Oi.i Fort lVrre, Dakota, under date ol Mii-.-b J7:b, t 1 M,-. Jolnj Campbell, Camp-bell, tins city, iHyB : I k-f the loot of tl. Jllueic Hills OI1 llie 8Lh i:,-tant, lo hud a road to tb H:l!n from tiie M:s.-ouri river. Xiiere were live of us in the party, three from Yankton, who had conic out by another route. We had three saddle horses and one light two-horse wagon We found a very pood road, and made tbe trip in five days ami a half. lrstormed every d.iy out, and the weather was extremely cold. Our traveling time was only thirty-six hours. As soon as tbe river opens Old Fort Pierro will undoubtedly be the starting point for the Hills, for the eastern einigiation, as it is the nearest point on the riter. We estimate esti-mate the distance at 140 lo loO miles. I am goiim to return in a few days lo guido a train into tho hills. Tbeo'hersof my parly are going to Yankton, to make arrangements for moving back. Them are about forty people here waiting to start, and a train of twenty wagons on the way here from Yankton. . . . Now .about tho Black Hills. The country has not been prospected, and it will lake years to prospect il thoroughly. Most of the creeks are very deep, and will be bard to work. French creek, where Custer city is built, is irom twenlv to lortv feet deon and Iherp in water only about three months in the year; and there is not fall enough to work it, if they had all the water in the Missouri. There is not a claim on it open and in working order. The emigration from Cheyenne Chey-enne will support Custer city for a while. So much for French Creek. Hi.lcity isiluated on Spring creek, which is about thirty miles long, and looks moro liko a mining country. There is plenty of water, with good fall; but it ie very deep, and thero is no claim open on it, as yet. The bars and dry gulches jutting into Spring creek pro.-pect Tery well, but there are only two claims that I know of which are in actual operation lhat is the discovery claim on a bar on Spring, and tho claim adjoining. They have paid about iS or $10 a day to the man all winter. There arc several creelu from twenty to hfly miles north, which they euy are nh!ow and prospect well, but the weather is Loo cold to work. Wo have- a town located at the foot hdls which we propose to make the supply point for all the mines. It is situated at the head ot Rapid rivervalley and is called Rapid city. We are twelve miles from tbe discovery claim on Spring creek, twenty miles Irom Hill city and about thirty-fivo mitt s from Cnsu r. Itie Ibe most beautiful place I ever saw; thousands of acres of good farminc and grazing land, plenty of timber and the fim t-l water, which never '! freezes. At present I there is no money, and no chanco for any. |