Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-21
RESERVATION iIURRAH
SCENES AND ENoiJrHSTs NEAR TIT:
BORDER Or PROMISE.

Ilc NtllliafN III itcf.e ftctSiit IN fAN7
couchment of Ambitious scheHacs-Iio"
the People Feel.
When it became known in Pierre that
the proclamation opening the great Sioux
reservation had been issaed a mighty cheer
went forth and the scene of excitement al
most beggared description. Thu crowd
made a rush for the river bank and par
tIc;pated in a grand rush forthe other side,
When the news was made known IN the
state house by the firing OF q cannon the
members arose from their seats and gave
three long cheers, and a motion to adjourn
went through as soon as it could be heard.
Flags tioated from every building and
bands played. Those who dill not go
across in the rush kept up the general
hurrah in the city until nlshtfall. The
greatest interest seemed to center on the
river and the other side. where the
mile square, dotted with houses,
was plainly visible. Teams hitched to
wagons had been stationed all along the
river bank on this side all day, and count
less boomers remained by, ready to make a
start for the promised land. When the
word was received. each team, with the
wagon filled with men, started. and many
races were had to see which would gain tie
other side and be first to get on the choice
quarter sections of thefamous mile square.
They found no hindrance in crossing the
river, the ice being perfectly sound, but
when the first loads reached the other bank
thew found an unlocked for. obstacle in
their way. The troops which had. been
stationed there for some weeks were drawn
up in line along the bank and the first ex-
cited boomers were stopped by the stern
command to halt. They did not wan to,
but when confronted by bayonets in the
hands of the soldiers sufficient in numbers
to keep them back they did.
They fell back on to the river and while
they could not proceed their numbers were
being constantly swelled by others who
were arriving until the crowd easily num-
bered 1000 excited men. The military had
received no orders from headquarters to
allow boomers to go on, and SO they re-
sisted the crazy throng with their fullest
power. The boomers, organized with re-
enforced numbers, proceeded up the river
bank again until they faced the line of
troops. Every man was armed, but no
guns were drawn. They were ready to
break through the line of troops at the first
chance presented.
Col. Tassin, in command of the soldiers,
came forward and talked with the boomers.
Mounting a stump where he could be seen
and heard he explained that he had no
orders to let them in and firmly told them
they must go back. At first the boomers
insisted that they would proceed, but
finally recrossed the river to this side a
disappointed crowd. Dom the river two
miles below East Pierre the situation was
different. Another boomers camp was
located and when the cannon announced
the news they made a start to the
number Of several hundred. 1t
was unfortunate just at this time
that the guard that had been thrown
along the river was being changed and the
troops were not prepared to hold them in
check. Consequently the boomers had
crossed and We're scattering up over the
hills back on the reservation before the
troops could be ready to hold them in
check. The latter, however. immediately
commenced a hot pursuit and finally over
took and captured all but a few. No orders
were received BY evening to let them go Oh.
so the troops built fires along the
reservation bank Of the river at intervals
frequent enough to discover any who may
try to sneak by the guards. Some of the
boomers are in organized bands and have
county records and officers elected so that
they can organize as soon as they reach
counties they have selected, and in several
cases several organizations are ready fo,
each county, which will make trouble when
they come together on the ground. As ii
is, the military has guarded SO well the
bank that it is impossible to get over, rot
withstanding the presidents proclamation
says they eau. The Indian police patrol
the reservation further back from the
line Of troops and word has come
that they have arrested a number of
stray boomers that got through the guard.
The people at Fort Pierre, though allowed
to live there, are not allowed to leave the
mile square except to come to Pierre by a
permit from the officer in charge, but thew
are holding a big jubilee there and bonfres
and guns can be seen and heard. A nun.
Der of them tried to evade the guard and
get into the reservation when the news first
came, but We're corralled by the Indian
police. Fred w. P%ettigrew. a brother of
United States Senator Pettigrew, is one
of the leading boomers and is at the head
OF one of the strongest organized bands
who will occupy the land there. Capt. w.
D. hhannan, ex-inember Of the Ohio lenis-
latures is another prominent leader. Sew
eral large bands of boomers have gone up
ana down the river far enough in hopes to
get around the line Of guards strung along.
and there is no doubt but that many will
succeed IN crossing and getting q foothold,
lG2gh the troops will scorr tha lapJc viii