Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-12
ON THE SIOUX LAND AT LAST.
Rushing Across the Missouri to Get the
Choice Ground.

There was O rush for the Sioux reservation al
Pierre and Chamberlin Monday hours before
il became known that the Presidents proclama-
ton had opened the new territory. Il was q
grand sight, viewed from the high bluffs on the
east side of the river. to see the teams will
their great lumber loads dashing across the
river on dead run, up the bluff on American
Island and finally being lost to sight in 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 rush for the reservation
most novel sight was the moving Of a large
building. under which had been placed heavy
timbers and wheels. This, like the other
wagons, was pulled across the river by gallop-
ing horses.
tions on the valuable bottom to be literally
covered with claimants, and it will take q score
OF lawyers to solve the problem as to who are
the rightful owners.
The local town-site boomers undoubtedly
secured an advantage over the other organized
boomers by few minutes, but among the
boomers are number who intend to secure
homestead filings if possible, which, If per-
sisted in will complicate the matter to such an
extent as to result in protracted legal strug-
Sio. Vuile ILLS rush ana CONNECT was gong on
Tor 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 us against
later settlers, determinedly guarding against
any invasion of their lands
Monday night the settlers encamped on their
claims. The new land office will be organized
at once and be III running order by the time
the lands are surveyed. when filings will DO
rendered by settlers. The land is as yet I'M
surveyed, and settlers will for the present have
to secure squatters' rights.
There were a number of smash-ups in the
rush, but as yet no fatalities have been re-
ported. The city was in great uproar Monday
night Bells ringing, whistles blowing. can
mons booming. shouting of excited men and the
rushing OF teams made a veritable bedlam.
The description above applies to Chamber
lin. At Pierre the scene was somewhat differ
ent. Immediately after the news came there
was grand stampede and rush for the reserva-
ton. Immediately across the river from
P1erre Is the famous 'mile-square," on which
is situated the city of Fort Pierre. 1t was this
that the settlers first rushed for but as the
military headquarters was stationed there and
as no orders had been received from head
quarters to allow the settlers to cross the river
they were met by the military and obliged to
return to Pierre.
The situation down the river was more seri-
Gus: About mile east of the city was stu
ated another boomers camp. just at the time
the news was received the guards along the
river were changed and the fresh guards did
not leave the camp at Fort Pierre until few
minutes after the new shift had come into the
town. AS consequence the east Pierre crowd
were In the reserve before they were noticed
and had had already commenced to settle
The regulars were soon in hot pursuit and sue
ceeded IN capturing all but few OF the BOOM
ers. Many were put in the guard house at
Fort Pierre.
A dispatch last night says that until yester-
day morning Indian Agent Anderson proposed
10 eject all boomers who had entered the Sioux
reservation at Chamberlain because he had re-
celved no official notice of the Presidents
proclamation, but the notice came at last and
the rush continues. Settlers arrived at all
hours yesterday and the night before and the
landscape west OF the town is thickly dotted
with buildings i'll course of erection. The
company from Chamberlain, who 80 cleyery
located n town site near Lower Brule agency
are reported to be safe. United States Mar
shal Fry left tor White River yesterday to as
certain the condition of affairs there and to
quell any disturbance that NAV arise