Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-02-28
A RUSH FOR LAND.
Tho Sioux Reservation in South
Dakota Open for Settlement.
A Great Scramble by Settlers
for Desirable Locations.

Thu President by proclamation has
- tho Sioux Reservation in South
r. and established land offices at
o and Chamberlain. Reciting that the
,;gare,t bands of Sioux Indians had relin-
orisbed all claims TO the land in question,
,,rox-isi0n is made by the proclamation for
r. future homes Of the tribe, and any
iards occupied by religious societies are
;an such societies The proclamation
ssrnviIes that all the lands in the
Creat Sioux Reservation, outside of the
eanarate reservations for the Indians ex-
ut American Island. Farm Island and
Tiiolqara Island, regarding which islands
gnecial provisions are made, and sections six
tean and thirty-six in each township (which
are reserved for school purposes shall be dis
1oled Of by the United States upon the
terms. at the price and in the manner set
forth in the Act Of the Commission, to actual
settlers only, under the provisions of the
Homestead law Except section 2301 thereof
and under the law relating to town sites. 1t
j. nr0vIded however, that all persons who
between February %, 1885, and April -,
1853 entered upon or made settlements with
intent to enter the same under the Home
stead or emptiOn laws of the United
States upon any part of the Great Sioux
Reservation have right to re-enter upon
said claims and procure title thereto under
the Homestead or Pre- emptiOn laws of the
United States.
dispatch from Chamberlain describes
the rush for the newly-Opened territory as
follows
There was a rush for the Sioux Reserva-
ton hours before it became known that the
Presidents proclamation had opened the
new territory. 1t was grand sight, viewed
from the high bluffs on the east side of the
river to see the teams with their great
lumber-lOadS daShing across the river on a
dead run, up the bluff on American Island
and finally being lost to sight i'll the heavy
timber.
The Indian police, to the number of nearly
one hundred, had been placed as a guard to
prevent any premature invasion, but they
stood daZed and helpless as they viewed the
great and irresistible r'.sh for the reserva-
ton A most novel sight was the moving
Of large building, under which had been
placed heavy timbers and wheels. This like
the other wagons, was pulled across the
river by gallopng horses.
It took but few minutes for the several
sections on the valuable bottom to be liter
alv covered with claimants and it will take
a score Of lawyers to solve the problem as to
who the rightful owners.
The local TOWNSHIP boomers undoubtedly
secured all advantage over the other organ
lied boomers by few minutes, but among
the boomers are q number who intend to Sc
cure homestead filings if possible which if
persisted in, wilt cOmplicate the matter to
such an extent to result in a prOtracted
legal struggle. While this rush and conflict
was going on for the bottom lands many
other intending settlers rushed promptly into
the uplands and began at once the erection
of houses, and these are prepared to defend
their rights as against later settlers, deter
minedIy guarding against any invasion of
their lands.
AT night the settlers encamped on their
claims The new land office will be organ
lied at once and be i'll running order by the
time the lands are surveyed, when filings
will be rendered by settlers. The land is as
get uusurvoyed, and settlers wilt for the
present have to secure squatters rights.
There were a number of smash-ups in the
rush but no fatalities were reported. The
city was in a great uprOar. Bells ringing,
whistles blowing, cannonS booming shout
M of excited men and the rushing of teams
N" de veritable bedlam.