Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1895, by In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. PREFACE. It was in September, 1882, when coming from Europe where I had finished my education, that I was put in charge of St. Ambrose Parish at Deadwood and the Missions in the Black Hills. Rev. J. J. Shea was at that time pastor at Lead, and by mutual agreement we exchanged frequently our outside work, and I was thus placed gradually in contact with all the people and places in the Black Hills. Naturally desirous for information regarding all that pertained to this grand region of the Northwest I found that outside of local newspaper accounts the resources for information were rather meager, and that what existed was difficult of access. But gradually the notes and "clips" I got from here and there amounted to considerable material, and when a well-meaning friend suggested the publication of the same, another true friend warned me saying: "I pity a friend of mine who goes into book-making." Still believing that a benefit would be conferred upon the public by making it easier to others than it had been for me to become acquainted with the country, I collected wherever I could get hold of anything referring to the Black Hills, and regardless of expenses obtained all books where mention is made of the region. Assistance was kindly given me by the Hon. Librarian of Congress at the Capitol at Washington, D. C., and all Government records referring to the Black Hills were put at my disposal. Likewise did the Rev. Fathers, Librarians, of the Jesuit Colleges at Georgetown and St. Louis, allow me the use of their records; and at the latter place the manuscript letters of Father DeSmet. Of the many books consulted I can mention only a few: The Aunals of the Propagation of Faith; Bancroft's His tory of the United States; Schoolcraft's History of Indian Tribes; Parkmann's Works; Catline's Indian Gallery; George E. Ellis' works; the Memoirs of Rev. S. R. Riggs and Rev. Gideon H. Pond; A. T. Andreas' Atlas of Dakota; the reports of the Minnesota Historical Society; the works of General and Mrs. Custer; books on frontierlife on the plains, and many others too numerous to mention were consulted. Oral information was often unintentionally given on the many and often long "trips" across the country on stage or hack lines. For over five years I had to travel about two hundred miles weekly in and around the Hills on wheels. The companions on the public conveyances did their share to make me acquainted with Western life and manners. But I must say here that never did they allow themselves to be carried away to such an extent as to use in my presence rude or unbecoming language. In case the weather would cause me to wrap shawl and furs so tight around me that I was hardly recoguizable, and thus my presence not noticed, a sharp cut, "Don't you know that a priest is in the coach" had the desired effect. The conversation became often most interesting, and many a line within this book owes its origin to these " trips." Hon. Dan McLaughlin of Deadwood deserves my and the public's thanks for placing his excellent lectures of Mines and Mining at my disposal. The officers of the School of Mines at Rapid allowed me the benefit of their researches, for which I thank them. The editors of the local papers in all the localities in the Black Hills were most kind to me, and I thank them for it. My thanks are also due to John Treber, Thomas Russell and Porter Warner of Deadwood; P. A. Gushurst and the Abt family of Lead; C. C. Moody and Olaf Helweg of Sturgis ; Johr Brennan, Dr. McGillicuddy and P. McCarthy of Rapid, and many others. My frequent contact with the Indians made me acquainted with many of their habits and modes of life; lengthy conversation with many of the chief men mong them led to a knowledge of their ideas and their history as to their migration from the East to the West. Their traditions are many, and I may say that some of them are published here for the first time. The bringing in" of the Spanish explorers may seem to some rather " far-fetched," but in my opinion a valuable starting-point is given to the future historian who may thereby be able to explain a great many of the ideas of the Indians, who have distorted, misconceived and wrongly handed down by tradition some things which they learned centuries ago from the Spaniards. Besides remnants of old cabins, places of abode as shown by their ruins to have had Europeans for their builders are found around the Black Hills, and might they not be of Spanish origin? About the present condition of the Indians in South Dakota and their advance in civilization I will speak in a subsequent volume if this one finds favor with the public. Also about the work done by the different religious denominations in the Black Hills, and their present condition and apparent prospect, would have found room in this volume had the amount of material not forbidden me to curtail the same, and due consideration and full satisfaction will be given to all of whatever denomination they may be. The kind reader will condone the shortcomings he may find here and there and bear in mind that I do not lay claim to literary merits, and publish the volume for no other purpose than to make the world at large acquainted with that part of the United States which has up to now not found any one to give a complete history about it. The people of the Black Hills will surely be thankful for the pains I have taken to show them all about their homes. Need more be said? Heidelberg, MINN., August 14, 1895. THE AUTHOR. |