Hello friends,

We have had some hot days this week, while our friends in Australia are having their cold winter weather.

My friend Dee and her husband Mike spent a couple days with me on their way through Wyoming. They are vacationing and still have a lot of places to go. Dee has been my best friend since we were about five years old and we went through grade school and part of high school together. Our parents were good friends, so both our families have known each other for many years.

Dee served for many years as a volunteer at the McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, Oregon. She brought me a cookbook published by the hospital. I will use recipes from that cookbook in this newsletter.

Sunday evening my sister Clara and I went with Dee and Mike to Deadwood, since they had already been to Devils Tower and seen most of the Wyoming sights in our area. When we got to Deadwood, we were just in time to watch a reenactment in the streets of Deadwood of a shootout between Wild Bill Hickok and Jack McCall. The actors were wearing period dress and it was quite entertaining. We watched Wild Bill gun down Jack McCall in this wishful version of Deadwood history. Of course, what really happened is that Jack McCall was the man who shot Wild Bill in the back of the head as he sat playing poker.

We visited Mount Moriah Cemetery, where many notorious characters, along with ordinary people, are buried.

Martha "Calamity Jane" Canary died in 1903 and was buried beside Wild Bill Hickok in Mount Moriah Cemetery. In her 53 years she worked on a bull train, performed in a Wild West show and was a prostitute. Most historians believe her claim to have been Wild Bill's sweetheart were not true. Her acts of charity and her willingness to nurse the sick prove she had a soft, caring side. She died in the mining camp of Terry, near Deadwood. Her dying wish was that she be buried next to Wild Bill Hickok. *Calamity Jane's grave is decorated with a gargoyle column.

Potato Creek Johnny was one of Deadwood's most colorful characters, being a Black Hills prospector. John Perrett was often seen along the streams of the Tinton area, where he claimed to have found one of the largest gold nuggets ever panned in the Black Hills. Some older area residents claim it was actually several nuggets melted together. In his later years, he became one of the fixtures of Deadwood, often taking part in the parades and community activities. John was always popular with the children and was an ambassador of good will with visitors to the community until his death in 1943.

Dora Dufran was the proprietress of a sporting house. Miners, or anyone else down on their luck were fortunate that Dora, like many early- day prostitutes and madems, apparently had a heart of gold. Her industry spread beyond Deadwood. Her brothels could be found in Lead, Rapid City and Belle Fourche. Perhaps her most lasting claim to fame was that of befriending Calamity Jane, whom she occasionally hired as a maid. After living in the Black Hills for 60 years, Dora and her parrot, Fred were laid to rest at Mount Moriah next to her husband, Joseph. *There are gargoyle columns stationed at each of the four corners of the lot.

Henry Weston Smith "Preacher Smith," Deadwood's first ordained minister truly lived his faith, and was an outstanding individual, liked by the entire community. During his brief stay in Deadwood, he worked at menial jobs during the week and preached on Sundays. Smith was an ordained Methodist minister and a medical doctor. On Sunday, August 20, 1876, while enroute from Deadwood to the nearby mining camp of Crook City, Smith was murdered, presumably by Indians. Wild Bill's death had caused little stir in Deadwood, but the killing of Preacher Smith filled the community with rage, and for a time a bounty was placed on Indians. Before being exhumed and reburied at Mount Moriah, Smith reposed in the old Ingleside Cemetery.

Civil War Veteran's Section: Mount Moriah contains the remains of many Civil War veterans, but this section contains the largest concentration of burials. Nearly all the gravestones of these veterans are alike, provided by the government at the request of relatives.

Freeman Knowles-- congressman, attorney, Civil War veteran and flaming Socialist. Knowles published THE LANTERN, Deadwood's Socialist weekly newspaper. He served numerous jail terms for his biting editorials which usually defended the miner's union. At one point Knowles was jailed for writing about abortion, a risque subject during the early 1900s. Knowles was a vocal champion of the underdog, was never questioned for his courage or for where he stood on a particular subject. Freeman Knowles underwent surgery in early 1910 and died in April of that year. After his death, Socialism was short-lived as a political force in Lawrence County.

Richard Gibson Anderson was a noted mining engineer and surveyor who had a brilliant future in the Black Hills. He was unaccountably rendered insane and taken to a hospital where he attempted suicide. His first effort was unsuccesful; however, later in the evening he succeeded in mortally wounding himself with a screwhook taken from the wall of his room. Richard Anderson's tombstone contains some ornate scrollwork.

Hui Ta Mei-Fen: This is the only tombstone of a Chinese left in the cemetery. We can assume that he was a person of some importance in Chinatown because his grave is marked with a regular tombstone rather than with a piece of wood as was usually done in these cases. Hui is the last name: Mei-Fen is the given name. Ta means "man" or "great."

Children's Section. From 1878 to 1880 Deadwood was struck by epidemics of scarlet fever and diptheria. According to records, more than 350 infants and children are buried in this section alone. During these times the infant mortality rate was estimated by Undertaker Smith to be double that of adults.

Mass grave. Accidents were not limited to the mines. In 1883, fire swept through a boarding house near Brownsville, south of Deadwood. Sleeping in the building, owned by the Hood and Scott lumber mill were fifteen mill employees. Eleven men perished in the blaze and the other four were severely burned. The men were buried in a mass grave.

Seth Bullock was one of Deadwood's most notable citizens. His accomplishments are legendary. Bullock was Deadwood's first sheriff, a friend of Theodore Roosevelt, a member of the Black Hills Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War, a mining promoter and mine owner. A life-long promoter of Deadwood, Bullock and the Black Hills Pioneers constructed the monument to Theodore Roosevelt on Mt. Roosevelt. Bullock requested that he be buried above Mount Moriah on a plot of ground facing Mt. Roosevelt. His grave is about 750 feet above the main part of Mount Moriah.

Harris Franklin, a Jewish immigrant, changed his name from Finkelstein to Franklin. It is said that he was Deadwood's richest men. Though involved in the 1876 Black Hills gold rush, it was not until 1878 at the age of 29 that he decided to make Deadwood his home. His wealth, estimated to be five million dollars, came from investments in the liquor business and the mining industry. During the severe winter of 1886-1887, he bought the survivors of 23 livestock brands then on the open range. After spring count he ended up with over 300,000 head of cattle. His stately mansion, now aged, was built below Mount Moriah on Van Buren Street. He was also known as the largest investor in the very expensive Franklin Hotel which bears his name.

This is but a few of the people who rest at Mount Moriah.

The above information was taken from the walking tour guide to Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota.

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Hi Mom, I love reading the "When I was a girl" section of your newsletter. It reminds me how different society as a whole is now compared to when your generation was growing up. On that note, I have to tell you what Michael asked me the other night while looking at an old "Coca-Cola bottle from the 70s. He said "Mom, how come the bottles of pop didn't break when they came through the machine?" I laughed at his question and then realized, Michael only 16 years old has never operated an "old fashioned" pop machine with bottled pop, but rather has always put coins in the machine to have the cans drop down. Just thought you'd enjoy that little tidbit. Love, Mary

Hi. Thank you for the sagebrush inspirations........ my favorite feature of your news. Imagine my surprise when I realize it is all too true! On my lunch break I headed for MY place in the cafeteria, realized it, then found a new PLACE. True, too, I didn't feel at ease there, the atmosphere was strange and didn't feel comfortable around the NEW people! I got strange looks, too, like, what are you doing sitting here?! Well, thank you. Keep up with your good writing...... I love it! Jan

G'day Rosie, Enjoyed your Inspirations. Just goes to show, we are all creatures of habit. Artichoke Hearts - nice recipe I must try it in summer The artichoke hearts I buy here are all imported. Do you pack them in jars in USA or are they imported from Europe like us ? Dirt Cups - I had to laugh at "gummy worms" - never heared that before ! Mount Rushmore - our local press has run a photo of work on the four presidents, all of them getting a "facial". Would be fascinating to watch the huge water jets doing their work ! regards John Sheridan

Artichokes here can be purchased in jars and at times, fresh. ~~~ Dirt cups are a treat loved by young children. Gummy worms are a candy, similar to jelly beans without the sugar coating and shaped like "worms." They are quite popular with young children. ~~~ I would have loved to go watch as they cleaned Mount rushmore. I will have to make a trip over there soon and see if I can tell the difference.

Fire Bites 26-oz can sliced jalapeno peppers (not pickled) 2 2/3 c cracker crumbs, 2 c flour, 2 eggs, 1/2 c water, vegetable oil for frying. ~~~ Drain jalapeno peppers and set aside. Mix cracker crumbs and flour together, blend well. In separate bowl, beat eggs and add water; blend well. Heat oil in fry pan, deep fryer or fry cooker to 375º. Dip slices of peppers in egg wash and then the flour mixture, dust off the excess and carefully place in hot oil. Place enough peppers in the deep fryer so they are not overcrowded. Take care, the peppers like to pop a little. Fry until golden brown. Remove peppers and dry on a paper towel. Serve with your favorite Con Queso Dip on the side. ~~~ **Both recipes are from the Recipes and Recollections cookbook from the McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, Oregon.

Sagerose Creations

"Action toys" to us were things like self-propelled cars. To make them go, you wound them up by hand. Tops......... you pumped the handle to make them spin. We had quite a few wind-up toys and to make your baby doll cry, you first placed her on her tummy, then turned her over and she made a crying sound. I think we were more excited about these toys than children today are with all the computerized toys and games they have.

© 2005 Rosie Cooley; All rights reserved.