The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-17

Holding Down Land Claims with Only a
Hermit and Indians for Neighbors.

Hermit and Indians for NeighbOFs.
Two brave Minneapolis women ana stout
hearted sixteen-y ear-old lad al alone in the
wilderness, with no neighbors but an Old
! hermit and a rum-frenzied band of ghost.
! dancing Chlppewas that was the rather IN
/ usual state Of affairs which Or. j. H. Sand
/ berg, the Government bOtanst ran across in
his latest w0nderlngs through tho wds OF
/ northern Minnesota The women were hold
Ing down valuable pine claims for their hus-
bands, and were 'roughing it, III all that the
term implies. II Is q wild pine country.
almost unnhabited by man. and Dr. Sand
berg's surprise can be imagined when he
found on tho further lake shore two Mime
apOlls matrOns. one accompanied by her SIX
teen year-old boy, holding down claims OF 100
acres Of pine land each. The ladies are Mrs
John H. Whitman. of y Fifth street. ~ f. and
Mrs Frank Thomas, Mrs. Wllmans neigh
Dor Mr.. Whitman is miller in the Pillsbury
mill.
Last spring the men went to Lake Poke
CANA and staked out their claims. Not being
able personally to occupy them for the six
months necessary before q title can be Sc
cured, they left their wives as deputies. with
young Whitman as guardian for them A
couple Of rough shanties were hastily con-
structed. not far apart on the lake shore and
rudely furnished. Here the women and boy
have been since spring and here they will
remain till late In the fall DR.. Sandberg
found an old hermit who, until the advent Of
the Minneapolis people. was the only human
being within radius of ten miles At the
hermit's house he by accident met young
Whitman who promptly took him across the
lake TO his mothers cabin. The Doctors sur
prise was complete when he saw the ladies'
and heard their story.
The Indians from Leech Lake reservation
spend portion of each summer on the shore
IL ID 4
the country around the lake formerly belonged
10 them. but was bought by the Goyernm emit
The Indians in reality have no right at the
lake. but as they had always been peaceable
and quiet and there were no white people for
them to annoy. they were tolerated 6y the au-
thoritles Messrs. Whitman and Thomas. il
seems. remained at the lake several weeks.
building and furnishing the cabins and laying
in provisions. The Indians wore canned
only short distance from the shanties and as
long as the men were on the ground were "a
friendly and agreeable as could be desired
The night following the departure IF the men
for Minneapolis. however, the Indians inau-
gurated ghost dance and all got glorioIsly
drunk. In frenZed state they visited the
Two cabins. fourshing and recklesslv dis
charging firearms, aud notified thelon women
% leave within three days or be killed All !
night they kept up their orgies near the house
md their loud cries eifectually drove sleep /
rom the squatters' eyes.
In the darkness the sen put off in boat /
nd made his way first 10 the hermit house /
nd then 10 Grand Rapids. where he told his !
tory. The sheriff. half breed. collected a |
,Osse of citizens and went 10 the cabins
where they remained for almost a week on
uard night and day with Winchester rifles.
The Indians in the mean time had become So
er. and the sight Of the armed men called
hem to their senses. They humby admitted
heir fault, pitfully begged forgiveness. and
aithfully promised III the future To behave
themselves and not to modest Mrs. Whitman
nd Mrs. Thomas With this understanding
hey were permitted 20 remain and were not
rdered back to the reservation. Tho Indians
al a final ghost dance the night the sheriff
nj his men arrived before they knew of their
rival.
Or. Sandberg remained as the guest of tho
Minneapolis ladies during his two weeks stay.
nd on his return was the first one 10 bring
ews of their adventures 10 Minneapolis.
heir husbands, rs may be imagined. were
orror stricken. and prepared 10 leave for
axe Pokegama az once. The Doctor, how
FER. assured them that all danger was past.
ld they will defer their trip.
The feelings of the two women during the
ldian uprising can be better imagined than
.scribed. The women think the danger is
'er. and are resolved 10 stay until the six
onths are up. having stayed this long.
hen they went to the lake both were in poor
alth, and the 'roughing it, has worked
onders for them. much to the Joy of both
miles. Minneapolis Journal.