The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-02-20
KEPT OFF BY TROOPS
Boomers at Pierre Turned
Back From the Reservation
by the Military.
Attempts to Cross the River
Result in the WOunding of
a Settler.

PIERRE, S. D., Special Telegram,
The situation here over the proclamation
opening the Sioux reservation tonight and
to-day has been nearly the same as last
night. The crowd continues to mass along
the river, with no signs of abatement in
the excitement. The evening trains
brought in a large addition to the throng,
the cars being loaded down, and many
being compelled to ride outside. The
weather continues warm, and all circum-
stance seem to combine to make the situa-
ton exciting and make everything favora-
bic for the settlers and boomers. Last night
the attempts to cross over on the promised
land were kept up all night, and it seems
that the boomers never sleep. The soldiers
are being constantly taxed to their utmost
in their attempts to keep the excited crowd
at bay and unless reinforcements are had
Immediately there is no possibility
of them holding out. Another at
tempt was made by the South Pierre
boomers last night about II o'clock. They
had over twenty-five teams with wagons
loaded with lumber and supplies and man.
aged by closest secrecy to entirely cross the
ice about one mile below this city and just
above what is known as Farm island. They
were discovered by a sentry just as they
were driving up steep hill near the bank
of the river The sentry attempted to raise
the alarm, but was Siezed from behind by
parties who had been lying in ambush, and
was carried to the wagons and bound hand
and foot and laid in the bushes. The boom
ers steadily proceeded over the hill to the
number of about 5OO and had almost sue
Ceeded in getting beyond the lines when
they were discovered. The skirmiShing
party
COMMENCED AN ATTACK
to raise the alarm and fired over the heads
of the boomers. Immediately a company
of mounted infantry were dispatched from
Fort Pierre, and were soon in hot pursuit.
The boomers commenced to scatter in all
directions, but were nearly all captured.
One was shot in the leg-V. E. Prentice,
great town site boomer who has five addi-
tions to this city and is real estate partner
of Senator R. T. Pettigrew. Prentice was
taken to the guard house at Fort Pierre and
the military authorities refuse to give him
up to friends in this city. The boomers re-
tured to this side all worn out and some
what discouraged with the loss of ten teams
and wagons loaded with supplies. About
the same time the South Pierre boomers
were making this attempt another crowd,
though somewhat smaller, made a
desperate effort about half
mile north at the boat landing,
This crowd were all on foot and were ac-
companied by only five light wagons and
about twenty on horses, nearly two hun
dred in all. They succeeded, finally, in
making the other bank. When discovered
the boomers made a grand rush up the river
~ IsFall escapeG a. -ie"H15f't :,-~.sof
reservation, and about half of the boomers
are scattered over the lands. The other
half of the boomers were returned to the
city, and were used very roughly by the
soldiers. After this all was quiet. Your
correspondent crossed at the mouth of Bad
river and went through the brush on hands
and knees, and up through the streets of
Fort Pierre. Guards were all around, and
the people of Fort Pierre were asking
for permission to cross the river
and get food and delicacies, but
THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES
refused to allow the permission. Soldiers
have looted stores in the village and bull
dozed the citizens to give them eatables un-
til the citizens are in bad shape. The cor
respondent learned that the military are
| losing confidence. The boomers are getting
too numerous and the soldiers are getting
worn out doing double duty. Many are
sick with the grip, and, to one not used to
| the conditions constant watching has over
done them. Officers say that unless rein
| forcements arrive the boomers will not have
much trouble to evade the guards. Your
| CORRESPONDENT went over to learn the exact
| situation No one is allowed to cross the
| river either way, and strong guard is kept
| opposite the city. One line is along the
| bank of the river, and the other is on the
Ice. | managed to evade the first guard my
crossing in the center of the stream over
| portion of the ice marked dangerous.
| Twice it broke through, and it will not be
| able to withstand the rush of boomers to-
morrow The correspondent sneaked back
of Fort Pierre and found many houses dot
ting the land west of the mile
square, built by Indians and
halt-breeds, who will claim all the land
adjacent to the mile SQUARE. found several
boomers building houses on the quiet, but
all were burned by the soldiers this morn
ing. All night long boomers were sneaking
| over in ones and twos, and many escaped
the guard. Prominent citizens of this place
were caught and returned to the city, the
guard house at Fort Pierre being full. This
morning a squad of Indian police found a
colony of boomers ten miles west of here.
The police burned the houses and effects of
the boomers and carried their prisoners up
to Fort Sully. The boomers are getting
anxious, and it is expected that an order
will be received tomorrow afternoon by the
officers of the military to allow the boomers
to go on the land. United States Marshal
Fry arrived from Chamberlain tonight with
| forty deputies to assist in keeping the crowd
back, and desperate attempt will be made
tonight and tomorrow not to allow any
| boomers to escape on the land.