Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-13

modest or prevent the peaceful pos
session of said tracks by them
Tie surveys required to be made of the
lands to be restored to the public domain
under the provisions of said act, this
proclamation set forth, will be commenced
and executed as soon as possible.
This proclamation opens to settlement
nine million acres of land, which will be
disposed of to settlers under provision of
the homestead law In addition to fees.
each settler will be required to pay 81. %
per acre, and upon full payment of the
money due, be entitled to the patent.
At Fort Pierre Immediately upon re-
ceipt of the glad news the populance went
wild and were enabled by the suffrance of
the government given them, to remain In
Mile Square, to evade the guards and
sneak off onto the reserve. Some had
already commenced the erection of house S
which were Immediately torn down and
the builders put under arrest. The people
Of the city Immediately filed claims on lots
all over mile square, and even a number
of the officers of the squad now have town
lots at Fl. Pierre.
Fred W. Pcttagrew, brother of Unite
States Senator Pettogrew has been at Fort
Pierre for some time and he and
his older sister and cousin have
each taken lots at Fort Pierre
and have been put under arrest for going
upon the reserve and attempting to file
claims upon sections. A wagon train
crossing the river this evening broke
through the ice. Several teams
were drowned and the drivers barely es-
capped. 1t is safe to predict that tomorrow
hundreds will have escaped on to the land,
and when the order comes to the military
authorities to allow the crowd to go there
will be an awful rush.
ST. PAUL, Feb. 10.-A Pioneer Press
Chamberlain special says: The report of
a cannon startled the people camped here,
awaiting the opportunity to get upon the
Sioux reservation lands, which turned out
to be the signal for the town site boomers
who were secrated In the heavy timber on
American island, to get upon the coveted
bottom on the west side of the river.
Immediately the representatives of the
various combinations sent here for the
purpose of securing this tract, were In
motion and teams with loaded lumber
started on a dead run across the river, but
it was plainly evident to locate town
site that the boomers had secured an
important advantage by reason of their
closer proximity to the lands. 1t was a
grand sight viewed from the high bluffs
where several thousand people had
gathered to see as many more
take part in this exciting event.
Indian police numbering nearly one hun
dred, mad been placed as a guard to pre-
vent any premature invasion, but they
stood dazed and helpless as they viewed
the great and irresistible rush for the res
ervation.
The most novel sight was the moving of
large building, which had been placed
on heavy timbers and wheels. This, like
the other wagons, was pulled across the
river by galloping horses. 1t took but a
few minutes for several sections on the
valuable bottom to be covered with claim
ants, and it will take a score Of lawyers
to solve the problem as to who are the
rightful owners. The local town-site
boomers have undoubtedly secured the adj
vantage over other organized boomers by
few minutes, but among the boomers
are a number who intend to Sc
cure homestead filings, if possible, which
will complicate matters to such an extent
as will result In a protracted legal
struggle.
While this rush was going on for bot
tom lands many other intending settlers
rushed promptly into the uplands and at
once began the erection or houses and pre-
pared to defend their rights against later
settlers, determined to guard against any
invasion of their lands. United States
Marshal Fry and Indian Agent Anderson
assisted 10y deputies and Indian police
were soon at work vigorously at
tempting to eject invaders. Forces at
their disposal were entirely inadequate,
the requirements of the occasion
and while many were notified and escorted
across the river there was not large
force enough to keep them there and they
quickly returned to their claims. Tonight
| the settlers were In camp on their claims.
! If it should transpire that the prOclama-
! ton did not name future day for opening
claims the settlement would undoubtedly
hold good regardless of the fact that the
| claimants were elected. A new land office
will be organized at once and be in run,
ming order by the time the land
is surveyed, when filings will be rendered
| by the settlers. The land is as yet unsur-
veyed, and the settlers for the present have
to secure squatters rights.
! There were a number of smash-ups III
the rush. but as yet no fatalities have beer
reported, The city is in a great uproar to-
night Bells are ringing, whistles
blowing, cannons booming. By morning
the appearance of the reservation fol
many miles in every direction will have
undergone a great Transformation. The
settlers who have lumber on the grounds
are erecting houses by the light
of lanterns The morning sun viii
shine on scores of new houses many Of
them In groupes in the new town on the
west side of the river. The local town
siters who got the advantage of the other
boomers for the possession of the town
site have arranged for representation IL
nearly fifty different branches. Inside Of
48 hours buildings will be erected ano
everything will be in running order with
population between two and three thous-
and. 1t is fortunate the proclamation
came at this time as few weeks later the
crossing of the river would be dangerous
Suicide of Pioneer.
KEoKUK. Ia, Feb. 10.-lohn Rogers
n resident of Hancock cOuOtv Ills seventy