Charles Nolin, Pony Mail Carrier

Charles ‘Red’ Nolin, pony mail carrier on the Sydney-Deadwood trail, was ambushed, killed, and scalped here by Indians on August 19, 1876. On this evening Nolin stopped on Alkali Creek, where the National Cemetery is now located. Here a party from ‘Hay Camp’ now in Rapid City, were spending the night before hauling their hay on to Deadwood.

Among those in the train were Jesse Brown, T.W. Leedy, Mrs. William O’Brien, Judge H.C. Ash, and Mr. and Mrs. Reason Rupe. Nolin was urged to stay over night because Indian war cries had been heard in the vicinity. He insisted on leaving as he had promised his mother in Nebraska that this would be his last ride.

The next morning his lifeless body was found here. His horse had been killed and the mail scattered. The freighters dug a shallow grave with their hay forks and covered the remains with rocks. The pile is still in evidence. In 1880 the remains were moved to the Bear Butte Cemetery. Deadman Creek here and Deadman Mountain behind you to the southwest were named for the tragedy that befell that 24-year old carrier.