The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-04-25
FIGHTING FOR LAND.

Trouble Over Valuable Property in
the City Limits of Spokane Falls.
SPoKANElFALLs, Wash. special Telegram,
The recent decision Of Secretary
Noble thatthe,would hear testimony in the
case of the Indian Enoch, who claims to
have taken mp homestead on land now
nearly in the oenter of the city, from which
he was inveigled by one Crowley and the
Northern Pacific, has caused great excite
ment. All last night Lots were jumped in
the disputed tract, and hundreds of shan
ties erected Invaluable. property in the Sec
ton of the city where the best residents are.
This morning property owners tore down a
number, but in some cases resistance with
firearms was oEered, andsshanty owners re-
maiu masters. Insome i.houses families of
squatters had'moved. These weren't touched.
In the excitement some,houses were pulled
down that werenet in the disputed prop
erty involved an Enoch's claim. This
caused great e1crtementaand talk of lynch
ing, but no serious disorders occurred.
Many owners protected their property with
arms, and small crowds roamed aimlessly
over disputed land watching rival factions.
Some property holders hsd Jumpers arrest
ed for trespass. Among the jumpers ar
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City Clerk Prendergast OF st, Paul. The
property involved is worth five OF six mill
ion dollars, including the finest residences
in the city, some worth $4,000. Teleg1 ans
have been sent to Secretary Noble and the
Washington congressional delegation, ask
ing them to hurry up the hearing Of the
case.
GREAT DEAL OF BLISTER
The situation is changed for the better
fn-niOhf and il 10 hOna6 fh at No mr.
serious results will ocenr than has already
happened. There was a great deal of blus-
tering talk among the squatters, but it is
s1ot thought that they will resist the au-
liberties to the extent of precipitating a
riot but the ind5gn property holders do
Their 'hs very 'he EYES, OF A ssPsF s Ga hem
have already destroyed the shanties
on their property and threaten dire
vengeance on any one who dares. to set
foot on their property in the future.
Being determined men they are taken at
their word by the squatters, who do not like
to face the Winchesters that are ready for
them. There are three classes of claimants
for the property and for some of it -four.
These claimants are as follows: First, the
government. represented by the squatters;
second, the Northern Pacific Railroad com
pany; third. the Indian who had possession
OA%AN4QtkA az VIC tlAiC VI VIC OCAlL1LC 4OCdtAOA
of the railroad and who had titled It, and
made Improvements thereon; fourth, a Mr..
Coaley, who has claim against the railroad
company for a portion OF the land. The
excitement will doubtless quiet down in a
few days, and the contest be left to the de-
cision of the interior department and the
courts. A long siege of litigation will doubt
less result. The property owners held a
meeting tonight which resulted in the ap-
pointment of g large force of special police
who have orders to disperse all crowds on
the premises.
A MOTION FOR REVIEW.
WASHINGTON, Special Telegram
Word has been rzeceived in this city that
the recent order of Secretary Noble for
hearing to determine the status of valu-
able tract of land in Spokone Falls, has
been followed by a. good deal of excite
ment, and rush to get in on the ground
floor. The property which was once old
Indian Enoch's garden spot now claimed
by the Northern Pacific and others is said
to be worth from 5000, 600 to 81, 600, 900. A
motion for review will be made in day or
two. This will stop any proceedings
80 far as the secretary is concerned until an
argument can be heard on the secretary's
order for hearing. Should he override
tie motion, the hearing would be had to
determine the facts asto Enoch's settlement
and improvement and whether he had sew
cred his tribal relations at the time of filing
definite location by the NoEthern Pacific.