Deadwood Free Press
Volume 1, Issue 1 • February 9, 1877
JF elected sheriff
by FaithMay Merryman
Staff Writer
I sit here in the press
room: my feet aching, my
hair askew.
I have been running
around town all day looking
for that man JF Kanto that
has gotten elected Sheriff.
I know it would be fitting
for one to at least find the
sheriff if one needed a sheriff.
I even tried standing on the
balcony of the Deadwood
Free Press shouting “Help,
someone get the sheriff!”
And my cries were
returned in silence. So I
began wondering to myself,
what could this sheriff be up
to?
I snooped around town
asking questions, and it
wasn’t hard to find out excatly
where this man we elected
sheriff was. His honeymoon
suite. Not that it is any huge
news he married a girl. But
in order to have the sheriff
around more we should hook
Lola on a fishing pole, then
tie the pole to JF’s back so
we can get him on the streets
so he can remain a real asset
to this town.
So please, men of
deadwood, be careful before
you let your ladies go out
tonight, because the sheriff is
consummating his marriage.
Editor’s note:
After this definitive
note, for we men know the
definitive note is always
sounded by a lady, your
editor merely adds that he
has seen in every other city
that newly elected men and
women avoid the press, as
a babe avoids baptism until
there’s a good dunking.
We welcome the
opportunity to embrace
JF, though in a different
way than his darling, in
the warmth of the dialogue
of a free press and free
discussion.
And in fact we are pleased
to announce that Mrs. Lola
Kanto is now business agent
for the Deadwood Free
Press.
She shall be selling
advertising on account of
the paper and for promotion
of local business.
Even if the sheriff
continues to refuse to
speak with us, we expect to
frequently find him silent in
our offices with a twinkle in
his eye.
Free Press comes to
Deadwood
The Free Press proudly
announces its arrival and
welcomes the support of all
who want to see Deadwood
flourish and grow.
A subscription is $15 a
year but at this stage we
are also most grateful to
advertisers who wish to see
their businesses prosper. The
Deadwood Free Press, the
latest Deadwood newspaper,
has commenced circulation.
Advertising is available at
investor-level rates.
The Free Press shall remain
forever free and beholden to
no special interest. It shall
be the voice of all common
men, be they orphans or be
they the businessman or
businesswoman.
Its publisher, editor
and proprietor is Mr. Neil
Streeter, who has worked at
newspapers in San Francisco,
New York and most lately
Washington Territory.
Mr. Streeter’s most recent
paper, the Bellingham
Bay Mail, blushes at the
commonly known fact that it
was the Mail’s valiant efforts
that have built Whatcom
into the boom city that it is,
the future San Francisco of
the Great Pacific Northwest.
Mr. Streeter’s extensive
background includes years as
foreman of the Alta California
newspaper in San Francisco.
Mr. Streeter was among the
printers who demanded their
paper endorse the Vigilante
Committee of 1857.
As the only paper to do
so, the Alta immediately
became the loudest and
most prominent voice of
the businessperson in San
Francisco - a position it
retains today.
The Deadwood Free
Press will similarly be
the voice of the hard-
working businessman and
businesswoman.
Mr. Streeter’s extensive
knowledge means his paper
will circulate among news
agents based in New York
and San Francisco.
Thus, the advertiser’s
message will circulate
FREE PRESS continued on page 2
Editor
Neil Streeter
Staff Writers
FaithMay Merryman
Addison Leigh
Typesetter
Mae Goldflake
Office Manager
Lola Kanto
The Deadwood Free Press
is a weekly publication
dedicated to the
townspeople of
Deadwood and Yankton.
We strive for accuracy and
justice in these writings.
Page 2
Letters to the Editor
Editor,
I congratulate you and
your colleagues upon
completion of the first issue
of the Deadwood Free Press.
There is much excitement
for its arrival. Deadwood is
growing into a mature city
and is in need of a mature
paper. Businessmen from
the East arrive daily, while
attractive virgins awaiting
prospective suitors walk
the safe streets. With their
escorts, they talk of tea and
being belle of the ball while
their true purpose is to
search for men of equally
marriageable age ... but
happily settling for men
of prospects in their later
years.
I have never seen such a
city of industry so happily
endowed. God bless
Deadwood and its fine
citizens, and the many fine
citizens who should be
leaving tomorrow for its
fields of gold.
E. Plegbert Fitcom III
FREE PRESS continued from pg 1
among the many thousands
of people who will someday
come to Deadwood, and give
them businesses to look for
upon arrival.
The Deadwood Free
Press offices are formed
on the second floor of the
Hearst Enterprises building,
east end of Main Street,
Deadwood.
Circulation and advertising
inquiries are welcome.
Please contact the office.
Volume 1, Issue 1 • February 9, 1877
Editor,
It was with disgust that
I read you plan to foul
Deadwood’s streets with a
newspaper produced, as all
newspapers you produce,
between your left and right
cheeks. I also come from the
Northwest recently. Anyone
familiar with your record in
Washington Territory knows
your newspapers have failed
both to inform and to profit.
In each city where your paper
has produced like a ghostly
spirit and then faided away,
you have repeatedly failed to
write about one of the biggest
stories in town, your own
failure as a good citizen.
It is well known though
rarely written about
that Neil Streeter left
WashingtonTerritory
following the shooting of
his own daughter. It is
well known in Washington
Territory that only the
kindness of Gov. Ferry’s
protection allowed you to
leave the state in a hurry
and alive; the mothers of the
Territory would have gladly
slaughtered you before the
men could reach you. Leave
Deadwood; we do not need
your foul newspaper and
especially your foul soul
here.
- A Citizen of Yankton
Your letters may be shared
through the mailbox outside
Mr. Tanner’s building,
or please give them to a
member of the Free Press
staff.
Editorial
To look upon him,
you would not think the
editor of Deadwood’s first
independent newspaper has
much in common with the
ladies of the Bella Union.
But in fact, men have visited
us at all hours of the day and
night.
Just as with the ladies of
the Bella, the editor has had
something long and hard
pointed at him. However,
the difference between the
ladies and the editor is that
each of these men visiting
the editor has drawn a gun.
And each demands that this
thing or other be printed in
the paper, as if iron conveyed
any weight to the press.
We have seen this sort
of behavior before, in
other cities. One gunman
brandishes a dirty gun and
demands this paper bow
before a crime lord of the
city; another demands
that the newspaper print
news for or against the new
sheriff or this citizen or that,
including George Hearst;
another demands the paper
support the Town Council;
and another demands the
paper only insult the Town
Council.
It would be this editor’s
fervent wish that these men
gather in one room and
shoot it out. Whoever wins,
he will get to live to hold the
Deadwood Free Press in his
hands, and see none of their
wishes come true.
This editor will not bow to
any of them. Our press, like
America, is free.
The editor of the
Deadwood Free Press will
not bow before any cause
except an American’s right to
be informed. He will soldier
on, with your support. Like
any soldier of the American
Free Press, this editor is
prepared to die 1,000 times
– in Deadwood, it might be
every day, once an hour on
the hour – for his freedom
and for yours.
Please welcome the Free
Press to Deadwood.

Where is
the Law in
Deadwood?
by Addison Leigh
Why can’t we find
lawmen until it’s too late?
Saturday last, I served a
man dinner while an angry
mob armed with guns and
rope waited to lynch him.
The man, a local tame
Indian well known in
town, was unable to finish
his black forest cake after
the crowd outside forced a
stand off. Enabled by their
drunken incompetence,
the man eventually made
his escape. I would have
preferred to turn him
over to a lawman, but
none materialized during
the entire ordeal. Much
later, one impotent man
claiming to represent the
sheriff’s office insisted on
searching the café over
my protestation that no
one was there and the hour
far too late.
Volume 1, Issue 1 • February 9, 1877
Mine cleaning
event
Join the leading citizens
of the town - and that
means you - such as the
newly elected mayor,
the town council and
law enforcement as the
community gathers to
clear out and reopen the
Homestake Mine. The
mine needs clearing from
the recent cave-in in order
to resume its role as major
source of payroll.
The weekend-long
event begins at the crack
of dawn on Saturday,
Feb. 16. This outstanding
opportunity to reinvigorate
the economy and provide
jobs will be hosted by
local businessman John
Tanner, who says, “We’ll
be working all weekend,
so come pitch in whenever
you can!” Tanner will
pay $1 a day, though it is
expected many citizens
will donate their share
and even more to Tanner’s
newly established
philanthropic venture, The
Tanner Fund for Orphans
and Other Youth.
Words to Live By
• Never approach a bull
from the front, a horse
from the rear, or a fool
from any direction.
• Don’t squat with your
spurs on.
• Don’t judge people by
their relatives.
Page 3
Sand Rau Returns
by Addison Leigh Col. Rau, will be active,
training and drilling from
For many weeks I have time to time, unless called
worried about my dear up to full active status in
brother Sand Rau, former emergency situations.
Marshall in Yankton. who Volunteers will
was recalled to active duty. otherwise have their
I am now happy to
say he has returned
to us well and whole.
Unfortunately, I
must report that his
marriage celebrated
a month ago has
sadly faltered. His
wife found military
life disagreeable,
and they have
chosen to part ways.
It is my sincere hope that regular employment in
this handsome and dutiful the town, and have to
man finds a new partner furnish many of their own
to share his life as soon as supplies as well as pay
possible. modest rent. But this is
an excellent way to find
Editor’s note: Col. Sand a home and something
Rau, already sharing important to do. And has
his delightful sister by such a man ever walked
her presence with our past a lady without seeing
community, is now not a gleam in her eye?
only going to share The ammunition, rations
himself but food and and horse fodder needed
shelter as well. The man for use during training
is starting a military camp and drill is to be covered
nearby by order of the War from conributions that
Department, and anyone Col. Rau is to solicit
is welcome to contact him from the businesses and
for more information. communities that will
The camp will be an benefit from this unit’s
experiment in formation protection.
of a volunteer Territorial We can only await his
Militia. The Dakota request of the Deadwood
Territorial Militia has been Free Press, that we may
inactive after serving with contribute in the presence
distinction during the War of his lovely sister and
of the Rebellion. These bask in the glow of her
citizen soldiers, including smile.
Page 4
More Letters to the Editor
Editor,
I lives here long as anyone.
I’ve a mule named Rose and
a donkey I never named that
comes when I whistle. I’ve
been here almost 8 months,
and I’ve still never been
able to get a single shoe on
either of em. No blacksmith
to be had anywhere, and no
word when one might come.
How long till loyal citizens
Deadwood get what they
need? I see whores runnin
loose with fancy shoes and
stockings from Paris and
Chicago, and I can’t get so
much as one decent iron on
a hoof . The way this town
acts, I bet if was my animals
had shoes and these whores
were tip-towing barefoot
through the horse shit, the
most upstanding citizens
would send up a pitiful wail
that God himself would
answer.
Annoying Crank
A few words on Etiquette for Men excerpted
from Martine’s Handbook, 1866
“A gentleman never
sits in the house with his
hat on in the presence
of ladies for a single
moment. Indeed, so
strong is the force of
habit that a gentleman
will quite unconsciously
remove his hat on
entering a parlor, or
drawing room, even if
there is no one present
but himself. People who
sit in the house with
their hats on are to be
suspected of having
Volume 1, Issue 1 • February 9, 1877
Editor,
I write to express dismay
at the women available
for entertainment in our
community. When you come
in from Yankton stage and
walk past the Gem, you
immediately note even one
of their security guards is
prettier and more poised than
any other lady supposedly to
be employed for prettiness
found farther down the street.
I would encourage attractive
women from throughout the
region to come here and take
advantage of the opportunity
in Deadwood to meet some of
the finest and most desperate
men around.
Not Someone
Who Works at the Gem
(the editor has taken the
liberty of amending the
author’s name to avoid any
confusion)
spent most of their time
in bar rooms and similar
places”
“It is a great thing to
be able to walk like a
gentleman--that is, to
get rid of that awkward,
lounging, swinging gate
of a clown and stop
before you reach the
affected and flippant step
of the dandy.
In short, nothing but
being a gentleman can
give you the air and step
of one.
A Unique Wedding
The Marriage of Judge Willard Deerhunter
to Miss Adiiniah Darkstone
by Addison Leigh and Lola Kanto
Last Tuesday, His Honor Judge Willard Deerhunter
wed Miss Adiiniah Darkstone in a civil service officiated
by Mayor Mahalia Bertrand at the Yankton church. The
simple surroundings suited the dignity of the occasion.
Miss Bertrand began the service with the words, “Your
love has overcome many obstacles of ignorance in this
world, and now that the two of you are to pledge to
become one, I am certain there are no boundaries which
you cannot cross together.”
Truer words were never spoken as standing before
us, this unconventional couple who have passed over
so many seemingly hopeless boundaries with ease and
dignity, spoke the vows that would join them forever.
Once declared husband and wife by Miss Bertrand,
the service was followed by a joyous reception at Mrs.
Dio’s wonderful Number 10 Saloon. Beer and wedding
cake were served.
Earlier, an earthquake shook the grounds of Yankton
as guests awaited the arrival of the Deerhunter wedding
party. Guests found themselves falling unexpectedly,
hanging onto each other as the earth tremored. No
injuries were reported. It is widely believed the Lord
was sending the message that this was a marriage union
of note and importance, and all should pay attention to
the happy couple.
The first earthquake reported in the region occurred
on October 9, 1872, apparently centered near Sioux
City, Iowa. Severe effects were noted at Sioux City,
Yankton and White Swan.