A BROKEN HOME (Newpaper Clipping--with corrections in
parenthesis)
Death Angel Visits the
Billington Household Twice Within Three Days:
Little Girl Died on
Thursday and her Mother Passed Away Saturday
Never has it been the duty of the writer chronicle two sadder
events than those which took place in the family of D.S. Billington last week.
The death of the little six year old Gean (Jean)was mentioned in the Enterprise
of last week, and the fact that Mrs. Billington was in critical condition was
also noted. Soon after(before) the burial of the daughter, the mother was taken
to the hospital at Deadwood for treatment her physicians deciding that it was
the only course that would save her life.
Early
Saturday morning word came from Deadwood that Mrs. Billington failed to rally
from the operation and that death ensured a few fours after it occurred. The
mother was not told of her little one's death before she passed away, her
condition being such that it was not thought advisable to do so. The funeral
services over the remains of Mrs. Billington were held at the Congregation
Church at 2:00 p.m. Sunday. The attendance was very large and the deep sympathy
of all was evidenced by tear-dimmed eyes and trembling lips as the solemn words
of tribute to the dead were spoken.
The
Oddfellows, Knights of Pythias and M.B.A. lodges attended in full strength, and
W. J. Todd, of the Pythians, delivered a touching eulogy of the departed one in
behalf of the fraternal orders. The services were conducted by Rev. S.B.
McCarthy who told in reverent tones of the many quiet unassuming virtues of the
patient home loving wife and mother.
Estella
Boyden was born June 6, 1869 on board a steamer off the coast of Cape Breton.
Most of her early childhood was passed in the Black Hills and there are many in
Spearfish and vicinity who remember her as a bright, winsome girl. She was
married to D.S. Billington on March 19, 1885(1884) at Deadwood.(Lead) For a
time after their marriage the Billingtons resided on a ranch, but later moved
into Spearfish and have made this city their home ever since. Nine children
came to bless this union, six of who are still living.
Mrs.
Billington was a woman whose heart and soul were wrapped up in her home and her
family. No outside pleasures could lure her from the pleasure of caring for
them and making that home the brightest spot on earth for those for whom she
lived. The simple domestic beauty of her character was like a benediction in
the home and the void which is left by her departure will never be filled. She
has earned the highest tribute to which woman can aspire in this life--a
faithful wife and a loving mother.
Beautiful
flowers covered the casket as the last sad rites were performed-the tender
tributes of loving friends. Their fragrance blended with the prayers that
ascended from the altar before which she reposed so calmly. But the fragrance
of the blossoms was faint and fleeting as compared with the fragrance and
beauty of the life that has gone, and the prayers were needed more for the
comfort and guidance of those left behind than for the pure soul of the
departed.
The following articles are stories Dee related to Margerite Driskill, newspaper reporter for The Queen's Mail, in 1936, as he recalled his early days in Spearfish. He lived first in Deadwood, then St. Onge, then Spearfish, SD, a short time with his son Les in 1940 in California, and then..at the end of his life, 1944, he lived with his daughter, Estelle Fontana in the Carmel/ Monterey area of California.
One time
assistant on a Missouri River steamboat, jailer at Deadwood, and livery man and
Postmaster at Spearfish for a long term of years, D. S. Billington of this city
can relate many interesting and amusing stories of the old time
days beginning the spring of '79 when he first arrived in the land of the Dakotas at
Bismark, Dakota Territory.
Mr.
Billington is the son of a Texas landowner in western Texas; the Billingtons
migrating from Kentucky to the west. In addition to his knowledge of farming Mr. Billington Sr.
was an expert lock and gunsmith. When the Civil War broke out, the draft
officer, noticing the. gun carried by Mr. Billington asked who made it and he replied
that he had constructed the weapon. Mr. Billington was not sent to the front
but was put at Tyler, Texas to help manufacture guns for the southern army. At the close of the war he
turned his land and other holdings into horses and taking his family came over
the Old Chisholm Trail from Tyler to St. Louis, Mo. in 1968.
When
they reached the Arkansas River young Billington then 13 years old was riding
his favorite horse. The horses were loaded on flat boats to be ferried
across. Young Billington swam into the
river on his horse. The horses immediately got off the flat boat and swam after
the boy. There was a number of Indians in skiffs on the river and Billington
had hired them to help get the horses across. There was a very young colt that so much
enjoyed the water that it swam back and forth three times. The Indians became
so interested in watching and laughing at the antics of the little animal that
they allowed 20 fine head of horses to drown.
When
they arrived in St. Louis, horses were such a poor price that the Billingtons
decided to remain in the horse business, which they did, and from that time to
the time a few years ago upon his retirement from business Mr. Billington has
always been interested in horses.
"In the
winter of '79 a neighbor of my family, Captain Wolfolk came to
me," states Mr. Billington, “He said the Northern Pacific Railroad was
building a steamboat, ‘The St. Louis’ to go up the River, with him as captain,
to Bismarck and he wished me to go with him on the initial trip. I told him I
knew nothing about a steamboat however he said he could make use of me, so I
made the trip. At that time steamers could go as far as the Yellowstone which
cannot now go as far as Bismarck owing to the filling of the river more and
more, with silt from the upper reaches of its tributaries.”
"Upon our arrival in Bismarck the first work accomplished was
the taking of an engine across the river to Mandan to be used to carry freight
on the extension being built, by the Northern Pacific westward from Mandan to
protect the workers on the railroad against Redskins and
to preserve some
semblance of order in the lawless community.
What was my surprise to
recognize an old school friend Lieut.Criel. He had gone to West Point since I
last seen him and was now a full-fledged army officer. The army men had to
spend their time mostly at Mandan. One evening Criel came to me when we were on
the Mandan side and said a party of the officers anted to go over to Bismarck
for a few hours' the next evening and could I arrange transportation. So the
next evening I took a skiff belonging to the steamboat and rowed over and
brought them back telling them to be on hand by 11 to 12 o'clock. They were
there and I took them back and turned around to return to Bismarck. As I was
about to start the worst wind and dust storm came up similar to the one we had
here during November. I looked at the river with the waves piling high but as I
was supposed to be back about 1 O'clock at the steamer, I concluded I would
risk it. I guided it crosswise of the wind knowing I would not strike our
landing place but far south. Sure enough I was about 3 miles out of the
way. However about 4 o’clock I arrived at our landing place to find everyone
much alarmed over my disappearance and the disappearance of the boat as well.
"Those of
you who might have been in Deadwood and considered it tough in the early days
knew nothing of toughness unless you were in Bismarck in the 70's. The wharves
were lined with dance halls and saloons with saloons predominating.
"When a boat crew was paid off they
would start for town, possibly meet one which was just returning, then there
would be a free for all. There was a young man with us, his father was
president of the Northern Pacific at the time and Capt. Wolfolk was looking
after him for his father that summer, his home being in St. Paul. One evening
we wanted to go to town. Capt. Wolfolk whistled his steamboat and the
locomotive of the Bismarck side came down to the wharf to get us. We had a wild
ride over the two miles, the engineer putting on full steam. Arriving in town
my companion proposed that we take in some dancing at one of the dance hall, so
I agreed, but seeing a wagon spoke lying
in
the road, I picked it up and put it up my sleeve.
All went well
for a short time when the future railroad president stepped upon the train of
one of the queens of the red light district and she slapped him thereupon hades
broke loose. "Follow me," I said to my companion, "states Mr.
Billington, "and I'll get us out of here." With this I drew out the
wagon spoke. In a moment they were on the outside and like Lockinvar of
poetical fame, "They staid not for brake and they stopped not for
stone" but never slacked their pace until they reached the landing two
miles away.
“One particularly hot
night," remembered the narrator, every- thing was open on the boat; the
vessel being anchored near the shore. The next morning as soon as I opened my
eyes I missed something, My Clothes! Sure enough every stitch of my wearing apparel
had been stolen, also my satchel. I called to my chum Reed across the hall and
he managed to equip me. About the time I was fitted out a yell went up from the
cook - he had suffered like depredations to his wardrobe."
Not long after this,
Mr. Billington let it be known in one of the wharf saloons that he and the cook
would be glad to have their satchels returned with the keepsakes in them which
would be of no value to the thief. A reward would be offered and no questions
asked. In a few days the barkeeper told them their grips were in the alley back
of the liquor palace. They went back there and under some straw were the
missing bags.
“Going into the saloon I went up
to the bar and in language more forcible than elegant, I told them that the man
that wanted the reward had only to come forward. For some reason or other he
did not materialize.”'
In the fall of 1879 after
spending the summer in Bismarck,D.S. Billington came to the
Black Hills making his headquarters in Deadwood for a few weeks. That winter he
went to Denver where he remained until spring, he then returned to the Black
Hills town and the Black Hills have been his home up to the present time.
While
Garland was sheriff, Billington was offered the position of jailer. This was
immediately before the desperado, Jim Lawton was hung. Manning was elected
shortly after the outlaw was hung but so well had the jailer fulfilled his
duties he was again given the position by the new sheriff, which duties he
fulfilled for the next four years.
As
in a fog certain objects loon unnaturally large so with the mists of memory
certain events, phases of existence, or individuals stand out. Thus with Mr.
Billington, phases of the conglomerate collection of people in Deadwood in the
early days impressed him.
In the capacity in which he was employed
while in Deadwood he was thrown together with a mixture of people. “It was
strange,” he said "that among the fallen women of the community many were
of high education, had great musical ability and other accomplishments. They
had started off on the wrong foot and landed at the mouth of Hades.1”
Among the men drawn by the lure of the yellow metal were likewise those of outstanding
merit and of the highest morals, education and ability, but one characteristic
was owned by all alike-charity toward the unfortunate and needy of the
community._
"Thus," our narrator
says, “never was a truer statement
made than Estelline Bennett makes in "Old Deadwood
Days,”
when she says, 'We were all one big family’."
Mr. Billington's first visit to
Spearfish was made in the early 80's at which time he rode horseback over part
of the trail which is now the highway between Deadwood and Spearfish. He stayed
at the old Murray place that night. It was run by a negro and his wife and was at
that time considered a decent enough place. It is the old building which was
moved from its former location to a lot near the grade school in Spearfish.
Afterwards it was turned into a house of ill fame and bears a most lurid history.
That night before retiring Mr.
Billington placed his gun
in the hall down stairs with a stack of other guns.
It was a new
model not seen before in this place. "That
night the hotel man gave
me
a room over the hall on the second floor," continues our storyteller.
“I
had fallen into a sound sleep when a rifle shot awoke me.
I jumped out
of bed and the negro woman rushed into my room.
‘Fo’the
Lo’d sake, is you hu’t?’
He
replied that he was not hurt but upon examination, it
was found a rifle shot had
entered the mattress missing him
by inches. It seems another lodger seeing the
gun and noticing
it was a new model,
picked it up to examine it and “Didn't
know it was loaded."
An
outstanding event which occurred not long after his arrival in Deadwood was a
buffalo hunt in which he participated. As this was his first one, but by no
means his last, it stands out in bolder relief than any later hunt.
After
much discussion regarding the members and number to compose the outing, the
personnel was at last decided upon. It consisted of Eaf Witcher, noted Black
Hills freighter and son Jr., Elackis, well known old timer who recently died
out on the coast, Dr. Kelly's stepson Berchy, a boy of about twelve years old,
Rattlesnake Joe, and a trapeze performer from the Gem Theater.
It was thought by the others that the
trapeze performer would be an entertaining addition to the crowd. However Mr.
Billington remarks that he was the worst grouch he ever met anywhere during the
entire trip.
They
took two teams and wagons to carry the camp equipment and bring home the meat,
and a string of riding horses. The one ridden by Mr. Billington was an
outstanding animal belonging to the sheriff's little daughter. She had insisted
that he take her pet.
The
hunters made first for the bluffs north of Belle Fourche to hunt deer. The
first day they met Baum Mendenhall who was also after deer and they asked him
to join them, so the next morning they went over to his camp to get him. But
his camp was gone and there were signs that he had been taken in by hostile
Indians. He was later released near Whitewood after they had stripped him of
his belongings.
That
same night it was decided to return, so they packed up and started. Topping a
rise they saw the hills covered with Indians about half a mile away. The boy
was in advance of the remainder of the party and the Indians chased him back to
his crowd a much scared youngster. They brought in their stock
at nightfall but could not find the mules. Mr.
Billington started out to look for them in the dark when something struck him
in the chest, knocking him down. He called and the other came running, thinking
he was shot by the Indians, but it turned out to be the mules and one of them
had kicked him in the chest.
Before breakfast next morning, Billington decided to go to the camp
to see if the Indians were hostile. As he approached the camp, he saw
there were about 200 of them, plenty of ponies, travois, and camp equipment and that they had
their squaws and papooses.
Shortly
an Indian advanced to meet him and what was his relief to recognize him as
Yellow Bird, an interpreter from Pine Ridge, a brave he knew well. Yellow Bird
said Young Man Afraid of His Horse was the chief and was in charge of the trip
and they were on a buffalo hunt. Yellow Bird book him to the chief and after
visiting awhile Chief Young Man Afraid of His Horse invited him and his party
to join them, the chief to have charge of the entire party and he assured them
plenty of meat. Mr. Billington returned to his camp and it was agreed that they
accept the chief's invitation. Our narrator states he was always glad they did
for he learned much about Indian ways and habits he would never otherwise have
known.
That night Young Man Afraid of His Horse
sent out a scouting party and in the morning it seemed as though the camp was surrounded
by
coyotes. Then the detachment galloped in imitating coyotes as they came.
***
One
day as the hunting parties went northeast they came across a large herd of
black tailed deer. Billington started out on his swift pony to head them off. 'He succeeded
in turning them in toward the camp almost causing a stampede. As
he was cooling and exercising his horse after its hard run, the Indians came up to see
at close range the horse that could accomplish such a feat, as they had
never seen this done before.
***
One evening the scouting party
reported that they would strike buffalo that afternoon, large herds. The camp was immediately all
bustle and confusion in preparation for the big event. When they came to the.herd, one hundred ten men formed in line, the Indians stripped to their waists, and Billington in his
underwear and also bareback like the Indians. Billington was the only white man
that would join the dangerous buffalo hunt and he immediately won the Indians
acclaim by discarding his saddle and hunting as the Indians did.
'I,
Then Yellow Bird gave the word to go and Billington's horse left
the others behind as the white man rode up and killed the first buffalo with
his first shot. He noticed the Indians
left some kind of token on each kill to mark it as his own. The chief asked him if he marked his kill,
but he said no, that the white men’s buffalo were to go to the Indians anyway.
The chase lasted over an hour when the chief recalled his men and immediately the
squaws started out to skin and cut up the meat and to prepare large amounts of “jerky”
for future eating. The next few days
were spent in camp watching the disposal of the provision.
“At
the close of this hunt,” concludes our narrator, “we turned back toward home,
using Bear Butte as our guide. We ran
across other buffalo herds on the return and we secured our meat. This ended a most enjoyable, unusual and
successful hunt.”
In the
few years which followed, Mr. Billington came often to the valley town on one
business or another and in ’89 he became the partner of James Rogers of
Spearfish in the livery business. He did the principle part of the driving of
the four-horse stage coach between the two places for many years. The place was
located on main street and had the words:
D. BILLINGTON'S BARN printed on the
top side of the building.
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