Deadwood Free Press Vol.

2 Issue 17 May 28, 1878

Vol. 2 Issue 17 May 28, 1878

Will Bill Tour

Highlights Mass Arrest Clears
Deadwood Ties
to Great Man
Deadwood Streets
As part of the festivities for Wild Bill
Days, Mrs. Dio Kuhr led a tour of places
famous in the life and death of Mr. Wild
Bill Hickok. Participants reported it most
interesting.
The places included the tree near the
stagecoach stop, where Mr. Hickok and
companion Charlie Utter and others in
their party spent their first night in the
earliest days of Deadwood. Mrs Kuhr,
among them, would start a laundry as
part of her path to business success that
now includes co-ownership of the Grand
Central Hotel.
“Wild Bill wasn’t here to get gold from
the ground; he came mostly to get it off of More than a dozen newcomers shooting Deputy Maynard, nursing a shoulder gentle, but were still appropriate.
gamin tables,” Mrs. Kuhr said. up the town and generally acting moronic wound and recovering over a drink at the “Why it warn’t nothing, I am always
Of course Mrs. Kuhr showed partici- were arrested by one stalwart lawperson, Phoenix, reported she felt no fear. She glad to serve my town and protect our most
pants a building most know, Nuttal an Deputy Tal Maynard. was ably assisted by passers-by Mrs. Cyn precious resource, our children,” Deputy
Mann’s Saloon No. 10, where Hickok was The newcomers were mostly dismissed Shippe and Astolat Dufaux, who appar- Maynard stated.
shot in the back. by being ejected from the town by citi- ently wielded words in convincing the dis- Deadwood observers say this is one of
“As I said before, most o’ yer gunplay zenry who have put up with quite enough ruptive that they were indeed under arrest. the largest mass arrests in memory.
ain’t face to face like real men on the street, of this. Much law has thus been restored. It is reported some of the words were not
it’s cold blooded ambush an assassination
-like what McCall did.”

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Deadwood Free Press Vol. 2 Issue 17
"The Black Hills fever seems to
have entirely worn off."
From the Times: The Black Hills Country Wild Bill Days a
Dull Times Among the Miners Roaring Success
The following article is from the New York some weeks. The snow and rainfall during
Times of just a few weeks ago. We printed April was very heavy. There has been
the first half of this article upon arrival two so much of it that it has interfered with
issues ago: this is the second part of the mining But the roads are getting better
article, and we will print the final install- now, and work that has been suspended
ment in our next issue will soon be resumed.
The stages over the several routes
The total population have been greatly
of Dakota, including delayed, and have
the Black Hills, is been coming in two
about 50,000. The or three days late at
older settled portion, time. The detention
of which Yankton is of mails and freight
the trade centre, is causes a good deal
given chiefly to farm- of inconvenience;
ing. The Black Hills and this will occur
people claim that in from time to time
legislation, no atten- until better roads
tion is paid to the fact are laid out over the
that the new settle- several routes to the
ments of that region Hills.
live upon the mines, While some of
and that laws regulat- the shopkeepers,
ing mining operations mill men, and
are needed. miners in and
So it is hinted that about Deadwood
this and other causes and Central City
of failure between the two sections of the seem to be doing very well, I can discover
Territory to affiliate will lead to a politi- none who are making a fortune, as, as they
cal contest, to see whether Deadwood or designate it in this country, “big money.”
Yankton shall be the capital. If the former The developments thus far made and the
gets to be the “seat of empire,” it may the various industries and business pursuits
more readily give up the chances for the growing out of ining give employment to
organization of a new Territory. a considerable part of the present popula-
Travel into the Hills and between the tion at moderate wages. Everybody has
various camps has been very difficult for sobered down to steady work.
There are no indications that these camps
will grow much or the country about here
settle up very rapidly. The Black Hills fever
seems to have entirely worn off. No miners
or prospectors are coming in from the old
mining camps of the other States and Ter-
ritories, and “tender feet” are not arriving
from the East in any large squads, as they
were last season.
The only thing I can see at present indi-
cating any great amount of faith in this
section in the liberal way in which Califor-
nians are investing in minds and mills. It
cannot be said that all the capitalists who
have put away money into mines or quartz
mills are satisfied. There are a good many
mines offered for sale at low prices. Lodes
that are claiming to be as promising as
any in the Rocky Mountains do not tempt
purchasers when offered way down in the
thousands.
And there are plenty of placer claims,
which are represented as paying $10 per
day to the man, that somehow are hawked
about by street brokers at a few hundreds,
without takers.
Editor and Publisher I notice several quartz mills and con-
siderable second-hand machinery offered
Neil Streeter at much below value. It is not difficult to
find tradesmen, hotelkeepers, and saloon
Associate Publisher men who want to sell out cheap. There is
Lola Kanto not much movement in real estate, and the
sales recorded do not show on the average
so good prices as last year. I refer to busi-
Reporters ness lots in Deadwood.
Addison Leigh But I see, in some respects, a great
improvement over a year ago. There are
Contributing Writers fewer idlers about the streets, the low the-
Laurel Blackheart atres and bawdy houses have been rooted
out, a good public school has been estab-
Mrs. Fine Lady lished, and church societies organizer, and
there is everything to show a better state of
Typesetter public morals and more stability.
S. Morigi
Final segment will be in the next issue.
2
May 28, 1878
Editorial
I am pleased to say Wild Bill Days has of an annual series of posters that will
helped to put Deadwood on the map. Visi- someday be worth big money.
tors from throughout the East Coast and So I am pleased at all three of these top
California said they considered coming entries, and our distinguished committee
here. It would have been better if they has agreed to split the award three ways,
actually had come, but this is a promising so each will receive $60 ((600L)).
start. I hope this will reward them in some
I am grateful to the town council for small measure for their hard work, and
sponsorship of the event, including staging also prepare us for next year. Tourism will
a contest to create souvenirs for visitiors. never, ever, ever replace mining and farm-
We tried to judge winners, but found ing as a source of business and industry in
it difficult because there were so many this community.
excellent options. Justice Rod Eun’s offi- Yet there is considerable evidence that
cial Wild Bill outhouse is certainly a proud Easterners, Europeans, Californians and
contribution to the man’s legacy, since he others will want to travel here to mysti-
surely would have used outhouses in Dead- cally experience the “Wild West,” as it is
wood. called.
I was also grateful to Marrant Vita for To us who live it, it’s not Wild. It’s
her Wild Bill tombstone bed, in which home. But to those who do not live here,
someone can lay down in the same direc- this is a mysical place. I can see a future
tion as Wild Bill and under a replica of his in which buffallo and Indians are penned
tombstone. and perform their hunts in front of audi-
And finally I was appreciative of Miss ences from the East. I would remind you
Astolat Dufaux’s commemorative poster of that even in 1843, PT Barnum was able
the event. I at first thought it was a simple to profit by $3,500 dollars - an amazing
red target. The stark sharp circles caught sum - simply by bringing a dozen buffalo
my eye and drew my attention. It made me to New Jersey and having a man twirl a
wonder if a bright red target might make a rope around them. Since then, others have
good sign for a store. But then I realized hosted tourists who pay real money to hunt
that was a silly thought. and enjoy the scenery.
I took another look, though, and saw There’s no doubt these tourists will want
behind the target was a light drawing to enjoy towns, and Deadwood should be
of the back of Wild Bill’s head, and that one of them. I look forward to a bright
made me laugh. I am ashamed I laughed, future for Wild Bill Days and the embrace
but I laughed. It is a poster that rewards of many tourists. Hopefully, they will
frequent viewings, and should be the first show up.
Letters to the Editor
Editor,
I felt I must write this letter to bring to
light the shocking lack of modesty amongst
the women in Deadwood.
Specifically I refer to women who feel
they must walk around nearly undressed.
Why this past Sunday as I was walking
to church when what do I see? A woman
walking towards me in a dress with a neck-
line that went down to almost the middle
of her chest.
To make matters worse her bare skin was
exposed, showing her mammary glands
in all their glory for the whole world to
behold.
My wife and I were both scandalized by
this spectacle. But dear Editor, this is not
a solitary occurrence in our town. Nor
are these women who work in houses of
ill repute as one might expect. No, these
are married women, women of supposedly
respectful character.
I urge the Free Press to trumpet the cause
of decency and push for legislation by our
Town Council to curb our towns decent into
debauchery and licentiousness. We must
return to the standards of decency that all
civilized societies uphold.
Morally Upright
Deadwood
Editor’s note: We show great interest in
this problem; next time, please including
damning photographs for publication.
Deadwood Free Press Vol. 2 Issue 17
Review of “The Trial of Jack McCall”
A Drama by Astolat Dufaux
Another fine production was played out
on the stage of the Phoenix Hotel and
Theater Saturday evening. The play was
about the trial of the man that shot Wild
Bill Hickok and killed him on that fateful
night.
There were quite a few in attendance,
and the play was actually audience par-
ticipation, a change from other plays I’ve
had the privilege of attending.
The curtain opens to the court scene, two
tables where the lawyers and the defendant
were seated, and the podium where the
Judge stood. First, we see the prosecuting
attorney, played by the great Mayor of
Deadwood, Claytanic Kungler, present-
ing the case to the judge and jurors. He
politely turns it over to the defending attor-
ney, played by the lovely Astolat Dufaux,
who presented the side of the defendant,
Jack McCall, played by a very serious and
Lionheart-Turner Wedding
Miss Morganna Lionheart and Mr. Michael Turner married at the
Deadwood Church. The council wishes them a long and happy life
together. Presiding was Minster Rev. Baird Bravin, who called the couple
loving and God-fearing.
May 28, 1878
nervous Alabama String.
That attorney, then proceeded to
ask Jack his reasoning behind kill-
ing Wild Bill, and he said because
Wild Bill had “MURDERED” his
brother. The defense rested.
The prosecuting attorney start-
ed asking questions that gave the
jury more information on what
had happened in Abilene, where
Jack said he wasn’t even there
when his brother was killed, and
nothing seemed to fit. He rested
his case.
The Judge, played by the very
astute and smart-looking Ernst
Osterham, then charged the jury
with finding Jack McCall either
innocent or guilty. The over-
whelming response by the audi-
ence jury found him GUILTY
of the murder of Wild Jack McCall. Very realistic, the hanging the man who killed the legend, Wild Bill
Bill. Then, the sentenc- took place in the street just outside of the Hickok! Justice done! Justice served!
ing: “Ernst Osterham Phoenix. The crowd shouting, “HANG The play was very well done, more seri-
raises his gavel with a HIM!!! KILL HIM DEAD!!! STRING ous than the last one. The actors put on
pointing motion to the HIM UP!!!” their best, and I think outdid themselves
defendant,Jack McCall, I The noose around his neck, Jack was led this go round. All in all, I did enjoy this one
sentence you to hang by up the stairs on the “make-shift” gallows, as well. I’m just glad there wasn’t another
the neck until dead!”” looked at the Sheriff, also played by Ernst dead body like the last time! Seems most of
The verdict in, the Osterham, stating: “Jack McCall clears those in attendance were pleased and like
sentence handed down, his throat, looking around at the people, the play as well. Another “job well done”
all were asked to step he tries to put on a brave face, “Make it by the citizens of Deadwood!
outside and witness tighter, Sheriff.””
the hanging of one The last “scene,” the wriggling body of By Laurel Blackheart
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Deadwood Free Press Vol. 2 Issue 17 May 28, 1878

Deadwood School Notes

We present with pride some compositions of the bright children of Deadwood referred to at the school referred to in the New
York Times article of this issue. Be proud of our youth. We begin with versions of a Deadwood School Song as presented first by
the teacher and then the children.

through,
Mrs. Westland’s Extra Credit Verse by Olivia’s School Song shoulda Let us have recess
(chorus)
Deadwood School Song Rachel O’hare sung to Go Down Moses
She said, come on children, you won’t be
(Sung to tune of Battle (One line added by Ms. Westland) (originally published in the lost,
Hymn of the Republic) We come to school day after day to learn
Children’s Gazette) Let us have recess
Follow me and come on across,
so very much; The Lord hisself to Teacher yelled , shoulda Let us have recess.
Our eyes have seen the glory of our future We learn all about mining, spelling, Custer Let them have recess (chorus)
bright and clear. and the Dutch. If not your lunch it will be felled,
For now that we know how to read, there’s Ms. Westland leads us strictly cause she Give them more recess When we got in the deep dark mines,
nothing more to fear. wants us to do well; (chorus) Let us have recess
From memorizing ABC’s to acting out and keep us out of hell! We screamed and fell right out of line
King Lear, Come on, children shoulda Let us have recess
Our Knowledge marches on. Deadwood school is our salvation, Dance right upon your des’ (chorus)
Saves us all from our damnation! Tell old Teacher
Glory, Glory, Education We’ve all learned how now to behave and Let us have recess. Teacher promised she’d get us across,
We’re the brightest of all nations never act like fools Let us have recess
Our uncle Sam will cheer us on to learn We loooooove yooooou Deadwoooood When we children was in Deadwood But Teacher just got all of us lost,
the golden rule. Schoooool! land, shoulda Let us have recess
Thank you Deadwood School. Let us have recess (chorus)

We’ve learned to cipher, add, subtract,

divide and multiply,
We learned A, E, I, O and U and even
sometimes Y
We’ve learned to always tell the truth and
never tell a lie
Our knowledge Marches on
Glory, Glory, Education
We’re the brightest of all nations
When we grow up will fight our fights with
vicious spelling duellllls
Thank you, Deadwood School.
Extra Credit Verse by We studied so much we could not stand,
Give us more recess O let us all from homework flee,
Nellie Little Boots (chorus) Let us have recess
And let us all from school be free,
This song is done and over now please No more shall we in homework toil, Give us more recess
please just set us free. Let us have recess, (chorus)
I want to go to recess now and play with Free us now, let us play on God’s soil
friends you see. Let us have recess We need not always weep and mourn,
This school keeps going on and on and the (chorus) Let us have recess
outhouse is calling me And wear these homework chains for-
I really got to p_ _ ! The Teacher thought what she should do, lorn,
Let us have recess Give us more recess
Note to typesetter: Mrs. M please check Was in the mines take the children (chorus)
with Mrs. W to see if she meant to include
that last one.

From Midterm Exams
Rachel O’hare
Age 8, Grade 3
What is a moral?
A moral is a rule to live by , for proper
beehaveeor
If you don’t have morals you will grow
up to bee a bad person.
Some morals are do unto others as you
would have done to you, don’t kiss if you
aren’t married, do as adults say not as they
do.
What is the most improtant thing you
leaned in school? I learned how to spell
better
The person I most admire in the world
is? I most admire Mr Clay for taking mee
in and teaching mee how to spell better,
and getting mee a bed that is pink and I
do not have to share with any other child
like at the orphanage.
Jadzie DeCuir
Age 8 1/2, Grade 3
Armstrong Custer was a man who
fought the Indians because he got the coo-
ties disease from them. He was a great
hero cause we got custard to eat. The town
was founded after the luckiest man found
gold up in the hills. The difference between
placer mining and hard rock mining is one
hurts more if you have an accident.
Morals are important because without
rules we would be all happy and that would
make us all go to hell.
Some morals are don’t let people see you
naked, don’t kiss until you are married, it is
better to kill your husband and be a widow
then be an old maid with no husband
The most important thing I learned in
school is I have lots to still learn like, that
gardening with cow poop is dangerous, gun
fights outside means we can’t look out the
window, a girl should never sleep upstairs
but it is ok for a boy to sleep upstairs, if
we are happy then we are doing something
bad and will go to hell, and the mine is only
fun to go into when the rest of the town is
stuck down there too.
Dwayne
Age 10, Grade 3
A moral is somethang that tells you how
to behave.
Morals make sure you are not a sinner.
Some morals are
Beeing good, beeing polight, not being
an upstairs girl.
130 years from now, Deadwood will have
white people and Indians living together
in 130 years. Deadwood will have giant
gold houses. Deadwood will have buffalos.
Deadwood will have gold streets. Dead-
wood will have gold fireplaces. I will be
king of Deadwood. I will make everyone
listen to me for 130 more years. I will sit on
a chair of gold in 130 years. The end.
Nellie Littleboots
Age 8, Grade 3
Morals are what the man who stole my
deer ain’t got.
He will go to hell with some other people
in this town.
Morals are important because they keeps
us from walking in on each other when we
are taking a bath. Some morals are don’t
kiss in the street
Don’t look at naked pictures in the
library and don’t steal others deers.
The most important thing I learned in
school is about how not to get lost in the
mines if you teacher takes you there. I
admire Mister Cameo most in the world
becuse he plays guns with others and oh I
like Darcy too.
I don’t know what Deadwood will be like
130 years from now I will be dead.

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Deadwood Free Press Vol. 2 Issue 17 May 28, 1878

Excitement Rampant for Classifieds

new Product Whatever It Is

WANTED: Deadwood Town Council.
Anyone seen them? Jes’ wondering.

I attended Mr. Abraham Duncan at surprise.”

his shop Needful Things located on Main
Street. As I arrived, he was being assisted
by Deacon Dryke in moving his merchan-
dise around the store to make room for ...
well, what exactly? I wanted to know.
Mrs. Fine Lady: “Mr. Duncan, word
about town is that you’re bringing in
something new to the shop. On behalf of
our readers, I was hoping to ask you a few
questions.”
Duncan: “I want it to be somewhat of a
surprise, ma’am. But I can tell you this.
It shall be a boon to all the ladies of Dead-
wood. I guarantee you they will be most
pleased with this new acquisition.”
Mrs. Fine Lady: “To all the ladies, you
say? Surely you can tell us a bit more? For
our readers’ sake.”
Duncan: “It shall save our dear ladies
countless hours of effort and provide the
most delicious experiences. It’s made of
sturdy material, the best quality of course.
In addition, it can warm them upon any
cold night. Even the men if they are so
inclined to assist their wives. Oh dear. I’ve
said too much. I’d really like it to be a
Mrs. Fine Lady: “My word. I’ve always
longed for something like-- Ahem. How
much will you charge for this service... I
mean equipment... package... product?”
Duncan: “The market will decide its
value. But I can say this. It will be very
fair on the pocket book. In the long run,
it will pay for itself many times over. Sat-
isfaction guaranteed!”
Mrs. Fine Lady: “When can we start
getting our hands on this product?”
Duncan: “I plan to unveil it on the 6th
of June. I’ve enlisted the help of a special
woman in town who has extensive experi-
ence handling this kind of equipment and
can demonstrate its use to all other ladies
of Deadwood.”
He stopped then and pondered for a
moment. He smiled kindly at me that I was grateful.”
taken aback by his most shocking offer. There you have it, ladies of Deadwood.
Duncan: “I could perhaps be persuaded On June 6th, Saturday, we could very well
to give you a personal demonstration in my have our prayers answered. May Needful
back room if you like?” Things provide us the things we so desper-
Mrs. Fine Lady: “Oh no no that won’t ately need.
be necessary, Mr. Duncan. Thank you
for the interview. Our readers will be most Mrs. Fine Lady

Scenes From Around Town More Upcoming

Events
Failte!!!!!!
Come to the Grand Affair. An Irish Ceili
at Gallagher’s Row on Lee Street.
From Tristanne Gallagher: I’m going to
tentatively schedule my Grand Opening
(better late than never) of the Gallagher’s
Irish Pub and Ice Cream Emporium for
Sunday, June 7, 1878, at Noon. Cordial
invitation letters sent to all of the Dead-
wood citizens young at heart and ready for
the gala event and a grand affair.
Put on your Irish smile, flirt with the
colleens, and dance an Irish jig with your
mate.
Mr. Chey Wylder, in the presence of his lovely wife, You must learn 3 Irish words for this
receives a prize of pistols from Mayor Clay Kungler as event: Failte - Welcome, Slainte - Cheers,
part of the shootout competition for Wild Bill Days. It is Craic - havin some good crack (a good
reported that Mr. Wylder has since died, circumstances time).
being under investigation.

Oh Romeo! Come see

Petruchio and Kate
Oh Romeo, it’s not your turn yet at the
Bella Union Theater; you need to get to
the performance noon Saturday, June 6, of
another play by your creator, Mr. Shake-
speare, The Taming of the Shrew.
Actors Planter Leitner and Elisabeth
Leitner will star in this show that will teach
you, Mr. Romeo, everything you know to
win a woman and hold her heart forever.
In this drama, Petruchio must win a
woman, and does, completely. The play
will be instructive for all ages.
Lawmen, lawmen everywhere: three of them were
minding the jailhouse where a Lawrence Brun is locked
up for aiming a gun at Nellie, the second time he’s aimed
a gun at children (the first being at a picnic at the cem-
etery in honor of Wild Bill).