The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-07
ANOTHER OKLAHOMA.
The Great Sioux Reservation Will Soon BE
Thrown Open to Settlement.

STANDING Rock AGENCY, OAK, Aug. g.
The requisite numbers of signatures for the
opening of the great Sioux reservation was
finally secured last evening. The sensation
of the day was the signing by Chief Gall.
Gall made no speech. as was expected, but.
with his faithful followers around him, and
in the presence of those whom for years he
had influenced against giving up the lands,
he marched silently to the roll, touched the
pen, and amid the applause of the friendly
Indians and the disappearing grunts of
Sitting Bulls band, it was announced that
Gall had sigaesA This settled it, The
Blackfeet and upper and lower Yankton-
ians followed Gall and signed with rapidity
and eagerness. AL day the Indians signed.
and now the eleven millions acres of land,
to which the whites have been looking
longingly for years, are theirs. The COM
missiOners are rejoicing over their success.
Gall was sought out by correspondent.
Il have given my consent" said he. My
after learning that the government could
take our lands for nothing If it wanted to-"
John Grass said he had been holding out
for better terms, but when he found the
Indians at the lower agency were, signing.
he thought it best to do so 1--WE hOpe." he
added. ito receive such help from the gov
to become civilized. There is one big log
in our camp. though, and that is Sitting
Bnll. He Is utterly worthless to us. and
keeps us back more than he helps us.
We want to earn our living and be as the
whites; but SO long as we have the disturb
er and his bad influence to contend with
we cannot accomplish much. Governor
Fosters idea of having industrial schools
ment would build big houses where they
could teach our young men to make wagons,
harness, shoes and clothing for ourselves,
and teach them the white peoples
language besides, it would be good. and we
Sitting Bull. when asked what he believed
the effect of opening the reservation on the
Indians would be exclaimed: Don't talk
to me about Indians! There are no Indians
dead. and those left still wearing the
clothes of warriors are only squaws. l am
sorry for my followers. who have been de-
feated. and their land taken from them."
Hundreds of settlers have been encamped
on the eastern banks of the Missouri during
the last two months awaiting the success of
the commission, and they are now jubilant
and are receiving kilograms from friends all
over the country, giving notice of probable
reinfOrcements. 1t IS predicted that the
rush to the reservation will be greater than
the Oklahoma stampede. AS the land is of
much better quality. and the prospects for
prosperity are brighter General Crook
said the commissioners hope to close their
reports within a few weeks, and place ev-
erything in readiness for the formal open
ing of the reservation. There is some fear
that premature rush OF whites to the
lands will cause much trouble between the
Indians and the settlers, as there will be
for some time many points of dispute as to
the boundary lines and survey.
CHAMBERLAIN, Oak, Aug. 6-Excitement
is intense in this section to-day, On account
of the success of tie Sioux commission.
The feelings of our people may be imagined
when it is stated that for fully eight years
they have labored INCREASINGLY to accom-
plish this end. A celebration was held to-
day which eclipses anything ever held in
this city. Buildings are covered with flags
and the sound of cannons, music, fireworks
and bells fills the air. This is great day in
the history and development of the North,
west.