Stagecoach

This is a picture of the Deadwood Stage, typical of what a stagecoach  looked like in 1885 when Dee drove the stage coach or rode shot gun between Deadwood and Spearfish for a stagecoach company for several years. 

This is the only picture we have of Dee during this time. He became a Stagecoach driver/or shot gun in 1884.

  His brother, Meriot, arrived in Deadwood in 1884 and also got a job driving Stageoach for McClintock's  Company.  Meriot and his family will be spotlighted in a future Billington Blog. (this picture donated by his Meriot's granddaughter).

The mother of these Billington's, Florinda, came to visit them in Deadwood, by stagecoach, and then returned again to Kansas City in 1887.  It is believed that Mariot returned to Kansas City a few years later, around 1890.

In 1886 Dee's Brother, James, married Adelaide Beuter and settled in Deadwood..  Their first born, a son, died the following year.  Later they had two girls who will be spotlighted in a future Billington Blog. 

New research shows that Dee's sister Roberta lived near Deadwood in the Red River area with her husband, Tom Hardwick from 1878 to 1879. Her story will be told in a future Billington Blog.

Indian Stories

"Your Horses or Your Scalp?

"When Dad was living in Deadwood South Dakota, he had many
responsibilities. One story you might like is as follows:

Dad had to go down Spearfish Valley to bring back the body of a

Mr. Deffenbaugh who was killed by Indians. Spearfish valley was the
last battleground for the Sioux and the Crow Indians. There were
still sporadic raids and the Indians were also protesting the White
man's invasion of the Black Hills. People were very cautious if they
had to leave Deadwood. Dad and another man, wrapped the wagon
wheels and the horses feet with gunny sacks and left at night hoping
the Indians would not see or hear them. They thought they would be
back before daylight. However, they didn't make it before daylight.
When crossing the flat land before the hill to Deadwood they saw a
band of about 50 Indians riding toward them. The other man readied
his gun to shoot. Dad grabbed his gun and pushed it down yelling at
him, "What are you doing? What chance would we have ... two of us and
about 50 of them?!!!"

"Well, I'd take a couple with me anyway."

"If we Just stay calm and wait for them, they might not
do anything," Dad replied.

Reason prevailed and when the Indians approached, Dad recognized his
friend, Yellow Bird. He wanted to know what they were doing out of
Deadwood. When they explained their reason, Yellow Bird said they
had better let him escort them to Deadwood. So they did •.. to where
the road went down hill into Deadwood. Yellow Bird said they should
have their horses for the safe escort to Deadwood. So Dad unhitched
the horses and gave them to the Indians. His friend was furious!

To which Dad simply replied:

"Would you rather lose the horses or your scalp?" 

"THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN"

"Earlier in his career, Custer had been friendly with the Indians and
had even become a "blood brother." No Indian would have killed him.
They knew him well as "Yellow Hair." D.S. Billington said three
Indian Chiefs told him what really happened and he thoroughly

believed them.

Custer was conceited and took his own way disregarding any advice.
He was put out of the Army for this, but when the Army planned a
campaign against the Indians, they recalled him because he was
experienced. Custer was glad to be reinstated. They planned to
encircle the Indian forces. Custer would come from one side and
General Reno from the other side and meet at the Little Bighorn.
Custer got there first and saw that the Indian force was small.
Thinking he could finish them off quickly he didn't wait for Reno.
He under estimated the Indians and was caught in the trap they had

set.

His men were killed and Custer was disgraced. History books all say
Custer was the last man standing. D.S. said that the reason he was
the last one standing is because they wouldn't kill him, he killed
himself and saved himself from saying he made a terrible mistake."

+ + + +
To see historical link: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/custer.htm...note the line:  "The real reason is unknown."

"The Last Hunting Ground"

A book D.S. Billington read from cover to cover over and over was
"The Last Hunting Ground" by Annie Talent. She described South
Dakota accurately as it was during his time there. 

The Buffalo Hunt by James Fontana

"My grandfather went to South Dakota on a buffalo hunt when he was about 19 or 20 years old.  It was during the Gold Rush to the Black Hills.  The white men killed many buffalo  just for sport and the Indians did not like it because they were killing off the buffalo which the Indians needed for food, clothing, shelter, and weapons. The Indians also thought the white men were very clumsy hunters.

I do not know how Grandfather first met Chief Yellowbird, but the chief knew that grandfather was a very good rider.  One time grandfather met Chief Yellowbird and about 50 Indians where they were going to hunt buffalo. Chief Yellowbird invited Grandfather to hunt with them  Grandfather was very pleased because the Indians never let white men hunt buffalo with them.  Grandfather knew he would have to do what the Indians did and follow the Chief's instructions.  First he took the saddle and blanket off his horse.  Then he took off his clothes wearing only his cartridge belt and carrying his gun.

The Indians formed a long line, one behind the other, with Chief Yellowbird at the head.  At first they trotten easily until the chief signaled them to stop.  He had sighted the buffalo grazing.  They then proceeded at a slow, quiet walk,.still in single file. until they had circled around so the buffalo were between them and the direction of the wind. so the buffalo would not get their scent and start running.

Chief Yellowbird signaled again and each hunter turned his pony toward the buffalo.  Now they were in one long line riding abreat, still slowly and quietly.  They proceeded this way..closing in on the herd until the first buffalo raised his head, gave a warning snort and started the herd moving.  Then with a yell the chief signaled for the stampede and every pony broke into a wild gallop into the buffalo heard.  It was a serious and dangerous game.  There is just one place to shoot a buffalo to fell it quickly.  That is right behind the left fore leg.  You can see that it is not an easy shot for a target running wildly and from a pony on a fast gallop.  But to wound a buffalo and not kill it was asking for death.  A wounded buffalo was likely to turn and charge horse and rider and in that mass of wild animals one could only hope his pony could out run the enraged buffalo.  It was no boy's game and only those who were sure of their ability to shoot took part in it.

Each Indian killed one buffalo and when his buffalo fell, the hunter dropped a moccasin beside it as he rode by.  Later, after he rode back to camp, his squaw came and identified his buffalo by the moccasin, which she had made, and she skinned the animal, cut off the meat, wrapped it in the hide and carried it back to camp on a horse or travois.  The young boys and girls might help, but never the hunters or warriors.

As Grandfather had no moccasin to mark his kill, they knew his buffalo was the one not marked.  Grandfather gave his buffalo to Chief Yellowbird to be cooked for a feast for his people as a token of thanks for letting him ride with them.  Of course the chief invited him to the feast, but Grandfather had to ride on to Deadwood.  This was an honor that was accorded to very few white men . It was a very high compliment for the Indians to pay to Grandfather's riding and hunting ability."


Note:: from Estelle:  Every bit of the buffalo was used by the Indians. The hides for tee pees, clothes, boots, straps, etc.  The horns for powder horns, dippers, etc. The bones for tools, scrapers, needles, etc.  Nothing was wasted.  The buffaloes killed by white men, were killed by buffalo hunters for the army.  They just took the hump which was the choicest meat and left thee rest.  This naturally angered the Indians to se this waste of one of their main resources.

More stories about Jailer Days - Deadwood South Dakota

"A New Suit of Clothes"

"Many men in Deadwood were without their families such as miners, adventurers, cowboys, and you name it..Some literally "ended up" in jail and died there. In that case, they were given a new suit of clothes to be buried in.  I don't know who provided it, the town, the territorial government or who.

There were two brothers, Ike and Jake, who had a tailor shop.  Dad thought up a scheme to give them a scare.  He sent someone to tell Ike one of the inmates had died and he wanted to make him a suit.  Ike came to measure the man who was "laid out" on the table looking very dead.  Ike carefully measured him but when he measured his chest the dead man raised up and grabbed Ike in a tight embrace.  Poor Ike froze.  When everyone laughed, he recovered.  The 'dead man" got off the table, but Ike said, "No,no..somebody go get Jake."

So the little drama was repeated, but Jake didn't freeze.  He gave the 'corpse" a terrific blow to the face and ran out the door and down the street out of sight.  They later found him in the black smith shop.  The blacksmith wondered what the poor man had seen.  Dad realized then that sometimes a good joke can backfire, but it must have been funny at at the time.  Dad would laugh so much he could hardly tell this story."..from Estelle.

Crow Dog's Story

"When the Dakotas became a territory, officials, anxious to establish law and order (and give the new circuit courts something to do), rounded up all known criminals, including Chief Crow Dong, who had killed Chief Spotted Tail. My father, D.S. Billington, was the jailer in Deadwood at that time.  Some years prior and at the invitation of Chief Yellow Bird, my father had hunted with the Indians.  Few white men had this privilege.  He came to have a great respect and admiration for the Indians.  He and Crow Dog became friends.

Crow Dog had an arrow wound in one lung.  Dad, knowing also how painful it was for an Indian to be caged, told Crow Dog that he would let him out during the day if he would return at sunset every evening to be locked up for the night.  My father had absolute faith that an Indian would keep his word to a friend. So, with one of my father's two English bull dogs, Crow Dog would go up to White Rocks every day and return at sunset every evening.  This went on for nearly four years.

Most people expected the day would come when Crow Dog would not return, but Dad's faith in him never wavered. The wait Crow Dog endured was unusually long for a man accused of a crime which carried a sentence of death.  Crow Dog was sure he would eventually be hanged according to white man's law.  The reasons for the long wait was that there was no one to defend him  No one wanted to take a losing case.

One day Dad and another man had to go down Spearfish valley to pick up the body of a man killed by the Indians..that's another good story.  Crow Dog overheard their plans.  That evening Crow Dog and the dog did not return.  People were sure their predictions had come true.

When Dad returned, he was soundly repremanded, but he still believed that Crow Dog would eventually return.  He probably went to the Reservation to tell his people good-bye.  Not having Dad's faith in Indians, the Marshall sent a man named Billy to bring back Crow Dog.  I don't remember how many days had passed before Crow Dog came back to Deadwood alone.  When asked where Billy was, Crow Dog answered, " I do't know any Billy, I left by myself.  I came back by myself."  Dad asked about his dog.  Crow Dog said,  "Sorry, I ate it."

In the meantime, a young lawyer in Boston named A. J. Plowman had heard about this "strange" case.  Not knowing anything about the West, other than tales he had heard, he thought that it would be quite a lark...and some publicity ...to go West and take this case.  He went to the Reservation and talked to many Indians.  He learned that Crow Dog had been tried by the tribal council and that he had been exonerated by them. At Crow Dog's long awaited trial, young Plowman then proved that this was double jeopardy, and Crow Dog was freed.

Unlike the television rendition of this story, the people of Deadwood were glad that Crow Dog was set free.  They had come to like this Indian who had been quite a fixture in Deadwood.  Many had to admit that Crow Dog had taught them an unforgettable lesson in honor."

Laws were changed after this decision was made as  Crow Dog had to petitioned the United States Supreme Court for a Writ of Habeas Corpus and the Supreme Court had accepted the case.  1863 ^{[1][6][9][10][14]}

In the BLACK HILLS DAILY TIMES NEWSPAPER appeared this article dated Dec. 1883 p3.col.2 :

When Jailor Billington heard of the supreme court decision, last night, he went to Crow Dogs' cell, awoke him, and told him the news.  Crow Dog leaped out on the floor, jumped up and down exclaiming, "bet your boots, bet your boots: washta, washta."  

To see the whole story go to link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_parte_Crow_Dog

Note:  This story was submitted by Estelle Billington Fontana in 1985, to the Adams Museum in Deadwood, along with an Indian purse, knife and peace pipe that had once been give to Dee Billington from Yellowbird.  Also submitted was an album that had been signed by Crow Dog.  He drew a picture of a dog with a crow on his back.   He also drew a picture of himself and Chief Spotted Tail on horseback.

Deadwood Days from 1878 to 1897 about the era D Billington lived there

1878

1888

1890

post card of 1897

1897 Main street

for more info link: http://archive.cyark.org/deadwood-info?gclid=CMW8mP3e3KsCFWYbQgodkQrXOwdeadwood south dakota

for buildings.

Jailer Days - Deadwood South Dakota

Dee was jailer for the local Deadwood jail  for four years under Sheriff Garland and later Sheriff Manning.  He shared  many unusual adventures about this time of his life with his daughter, Estelle, who has now shared them with us.  Some of these stories will be retold here in her voice.

"Dad often had to go to the saloon to break up a fight or put someone in jail until he sobered up, mostly on Saturday nights when the cowboys came in with their week's pay.  Dad, of course, had a gun but didn't usually wear it.  He believed the best way to get shot was to wear a gun. He also was more concerned about killing some one than being killed himself.  He had two English bulldogs.  He said they looked fierce but wouldn't hurt a mouse.  Whenever he had to bring someone into jail, he would take the dogs along instead of his gun.

"Come on, I'm taking you to jail until you sober up," he would tell the guy stirring up the trouble.

"Who's going to take me??" was often the reply along with a dirty look and a fist ready to hit Dad.

"Take'em Boys!" Dad would yell at the dogs.  The dogs would each grab a pant leg and pull until the guy sat down---HARD!  After that the guy would step on his heels to get into the jail away from the dogs. 
The dogs loved this game.


One time when the jail was full, one of the inmates asked Dad to let the dogs in because there was a mouse in there and they thought the dogs could get it.  So Dad let the dogs in and locked the door. But it sounded like all H...broke loose.  When Dad opened the door, every man was downed and the dogs were looking at him very self satisfied.  They didn't understand they were sent in just for a little old mouse!"

Jailer Days-Deadwood South Dakota

Dee told Estelle, his daughter, how he came to stay in Deadwood:

"When Dad decided he wanted to stay in the Black Hills of South Dakota, he looked for a job.  They had a dangerous prisoner, Mr. Lawton, in jail and they needed another man for the night shift, so Dad got the job.  Mr. Lawton, had killed four men and was the reason that another man was needed.  When Dad asked for the key to go into the room where the prisoner was kept, he was told, "Don't go in there!"
Dad said, "How can I do my job if I'm afraid to go in there?  He took the keys to go in.  The door was unlocked, then locked after Dad went in.  He could hardly believe what he saw.  Lawton was chained hand and foot to a bench.  He just scowled at Dad.  Dad went over to him and saw that his wrists and ankles were swollen over the irons.  Dad went to the door and asked for the keys to the irons and a basin of warm soapy water.  Fellows outside said, "You're crazy...he will kill you."  But they did give him the keys and the water, but they locked the door after him again.  Dad took off the irons and bathed his wrists and ankles and messaged them.  He thought he saw a tear in Lawton's eyes.  He said, "Thank "God, there's one human being here."

Dad got him to walk around and exercise.  He became very friendly and he and Dad would have long talks to while away the long hours.  Lawton admitted he was getting what he deserved.  He didn't blame anyone but himself.  He said it was his uncontrolled temper.  He said each of the four men had wronged him but they didn't deserve to die.  Dad really liked the man.

When the time came for Lawton to be hanged, he asked Dad, "Do you think you could get me the rope?"  When dad asked why he said, 'I want to be sure who ever ties that knot knows how to do it right."  You see he didn't want to hang and choke to death--the knot should break his neck.  Dad was able to bring him the rope.  So Lawton himself tied the knot that broke his neck the very next day.  That same knot is on display today at the Adams Museum, in Deadwood, South Dakota."


www.adamsmuseumandhouse.org/   Link for your information