506 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



the Hills include Bell 



THE JAGGED SIDE OF SPEARFISH CANYON IN THE BLACK HILLS 



blowing from the cave, but its source has never been dis- 

 covered. Some people claim it is due to reaction follow- 

 lowing the lectures of the guides, but I cannot say. 



A few miles from Hot Springs are found the Cascade 

 Falls, where seven mineral springs gush forth, one of 

 these, known as the Ilig Geyser, gushing out sixty barrels 

 of water per minute. This is an estimate, merely, not an 

 exact measure, as the spring is not fitted with a water 

 meter. 



Other points of interest in 

 Fourche, a town well stocked 

 with early-day tragedy and 

 history. It is now a flourish- 

 ing city and the largest ship- 

 ping point for range stock in 

 the United States. Here is 

 held an annual roundup, 

 rodeo, stampede or whatever 

 name you know these frontier 

 sports by. It takes pl.ace July 

 5, 6 and 7. 



Another annual roundup is 

 held in Interior during Au 

 gust. Interior is a good place 

 from which to see the Bad 

 Lands, as it is in the heart oi' 

 this formation and adjacent to 

 many miles of rough view. 

 Scenic also is a good point 

 from which to tour the Bad 

 Lands, and near here is the 

 famous Sheep Mountain 

 which displays some of the 



most uproarious scenery to be 

 found anywhere. 



A few miles further west 

 and all in a bunch is Sturgis. 

 Bear Butte and Fort Meade, 

 which, incidentally, is perhaps 

 the finest military camp in the 

 West. It was for years the 

 most im]X)rtant frontier out- 

 pcst and it was here the fa- 

 mous horse Commanche spent 

 many years of his eventful 

 life. Commanche, for the ben- 

 efit of those who may not have 

 met him personally, was the 

 sole survivor of the Custer 

 fight. He was found standing 

 in a river two days after the 

 battle and he was full of In- 

 dian bullets and indignation. 

 He was taken carefully back 

 to the fort, nursed to health 

 and lived a decade or more 

 thereafter. He was buried 

 with military honors. 

 Thus we have peaks, lakes, .springs, falls and caves in 

 the Hills and about the only thing needed is a canyon 

 Well, there is a canyon. Spearfish Canyon it is called, 

 and for real rough and reckless perpendicular scenery it 

 i.s quite a ditch. Many people claim it is fully as good as 

 the Grand Canyon, only on a smaller scale. People hold- 

 ing this view, of course, are not natives of Colorado and, 

 as a matter of fact, seeing Spearfish Canyon would not 

 really spoil a trip to the Grand, but as far as canyons are 

 concerned the Spearfish is no slouch by any means. It 



1 



PHE PEAK-RIMMED TOWN OF CUSTER, SOUTH DAKOTA, 

 SETTLEMENT IN THE BLACK HILLS 



THE FIRST 



