Wichita eagle., 1890-02-13
THE LANDS FLOODED.
Fifty Thousand People Enter the Newly
Opened Sioux Reservation.

PIERRE, S. D., Feb. l2-This afternoon
Colonel Lassen, in command of the mill
tia at Fort Pierre, received an official tele-
gram from the war department officially
announcing the presidents proclamation
opening the Sioux reservation, and that
military forces should be withdrawn. In
formation to this effect was sent to the
daily papers of this city, and Immediately
extras were flying the streets announcing
the fact. The town was immedi-
Vehicles of all kinds were
Immediately called out and packed with
men of all classes and there was an exciting
race for the reservation Everybody who
could not ride walked over. They went
pell-mell without waiting for anything,
bankers, clerks, boomers and all, each and
every one trying to be first to get In the
promised land. In thirty minutes the
town was practically deserted, stores were
closed and business almost suspended.
Perched on the dome of the capitol
building the writer could see over the
country for miles around, and such
thrilling sight was never before seen in
this city Stretching away across the
river for miles into the reservation was the
procession of men and boomers wagons
hurrying along on their mad rush for
houses and laud, winding their way over
hills and valleys. each trying to get ahead
of the other TO pick up choice pieces of the
land taken away from the red men and
given to the settler Fully $4,000 people
were in the crowd and tonight they are
campeu over what was yesterday the home
and hunting ground of the Sioux nation,
tonight the home and property of those
vino have waited long TOR the dav when
they could take possession OF the rich land
and cultivate the soil. Load
after load of lumber has left the immense
lumber yards here until they are almost
depleted, and tonight, for radius of
twenty-five miles, can almost everywhere
be heard the sound of the saw and ham,
mer. Work is progressing now and Will
be continued all night by the light of fires
and lanterns on the construction of shacks
on which the house seeker can lay his head
and protect himself from the elements
Many houses can be viewed from this city
where this morning there was nothing but
the naked plain.
At Fort Pierre the situation is serious
The bulk of the crowd first struck that
Village and Immediately commenced to
claim town lots, there being as many as
ten claimants to one lot. Some trouble
has already arisen and the indications are
that before morning there will be some
thrilling scenes gone through by those
who are disputing the possession of lots.
Ten wagon loads of beer and whisky left
this city for Fort Pierre and several gam
bling outfits. The liquor has been pre-
vented on the reservation heretofore, but
tonight 1t Is as free water and the resi-
dents having been relieved of the desDotic
military rule that they have been subjected
to for several weeks are giving vent 10
their feelings by lmbibing the flowing
bowl. Gambling is going on openly in the
streets, and hail breeds, squaw men and
sven the red man himself are playing high
with the funds which they have received
for the REIMBURSEMENT of claims. The
willy speculator, I. w. Pettigrew, brother
OF Senator Pettigrew, has charge
of the town and is at the head
of vigilance committee in the
absence of any law. Pettigrew Will profit
immensely from the sale of Fort Pierre
town lots aud his attempt to deny the real
situation in the hope of keeping settlers
back until ali of his plans Were laid.
n big crowd of settlers came in on the
evening train who Immediately crossed
over to Fort Pierre to join in the revelry.
wRANGLING OVER THE LANDS
CHAMBERLAIN. S d., Feb II The stu
alton on the town site west of this city be-
rame more complicated than ever last
night when "A large party of per-
sons from along the Milwaukee road
arrived on the ground with a force of sur
veyors aud began at once running lines re-
gardless of the rights of prior settlers. In
nlan lands or anything else. \ meeting
was held last night by the several claim
ants for the purpose of adjusting the diff
ierences. but a compromise could not be
made and the fight for the possession from
this time on promises to be most bitter
Many settlers are putting up buildings on
lands reserved for the Indians in severalty,
lut they are being elected. The settlers
from distance are beginning to arrive