The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-16
A Mad Rush for The SisSetOn Indian
Lands.
EXCITING SCENES on THE BORDER.
Eeemers Started at NoOn by Bugle BlaSt-Strange
Sights in a Sea Of MHd-MaBy Claimants
for the Same Tracts.
sreeihlto THE MORNING CAII.

stead of the swift. Large tracts in several
townships are submerged.
Last night party of nearly two hundred,
under the leadership Of Oklahoma
Charlie" attempted TO cross Lake Traverse
in the darkness and gain the reservation
4 drunken member of the party, however,
let the matter out and detachment OF SOL
diers met them as they landed, confiscated
the boats and drove them from the reser-
walton.
Sunrise also disclosed LONG lines of home
seekers and tOwnsite boomers stretched
along the boundaries of the reservation,
held back only by the guns of the soldiers
and the fear that their claims would be
thrown out if they crossed in advance. So
thick were they that the long line of restless
people seemed living marks set to show the
boundaries.
The past week has been one of the most
intense excitement in the dozen towns bor-
dering on the reservation. To-day the
towns are nearly deserted. During the
night there were continual scenes of activity
and before 10 O'clock this morning the mud
DIV streets were damned with vehicles of
every character. At II O'clock fully 5000
persons had collected along the reservation
at the head Of Lake Traverse, and the cav
airy had great difficulty In keeping the i'm
patient crowd in check as they were becom-
ing decidedly uneasy. Some OF the settlers
outfits were UNIQUE and interesting.
A Portable Residence.
4 large claim shanty, with red window
blinds, on wheels was drawn up 10 the line.
and there was family living in it. Covered
wagons in large numbers also drew up and
prepared for the race. sack of feed, a
bunch of hay and spade composed the out
fit of some, while others had wagon loaded
with lumber for the shantY, surmounted by
q small stove, blankets, chairs. pans and
kettles. The ubiquitous country editor,
doctor, clergyman and cOuDty-seat con-
stable were all In line awaiting the signal.
Tho sharp clear note of bugle sounded
at noon almost simultaneously with the
crack of n carDine, then a volley from the
whole far-reaching line OF cavalry. as the
signal was taken up ana carried along in a
Teverberating report to the thousands of
waiting ears, and the SisSeton reservation
was open.
Five hundred teams plunged madly for
ward across the prairie with their driver
regardless of the direction The horseback
riders soon took the lead. Far up the lake
large party crossed In boats and sue
ceeded IN entering the reservation five miles
ahead Of the crowd, but even others got in
ahead Of them.
The Grand Rush.
It is estimated that 1000 people made
rush from Browns Valley about 500 from
Traverse. and some eco from Wheaton In
spite of the efforts of the owners of the pTi-
yate bridge to stem the flood Of boomers
across the bridge in the interest of a land
company. the police force was over
whelmed and lost in the struggle for
the bridge. A large crowd also set out
for Ledgerw0od, and there was a
wild rush from Hankinson. a solid line
south OF there was awaiting the opening,
and in several instances half dozen made
for the same claim. and trouble is feared.
At Waubay, on the southwest, 300 to 600
people Joined in the rush. From Wilmat
there was great rush, and a train on the
Milwaukee road was pulled to the end Of
the track, at the signal from which the
boomers rushed 70 the lands on fast mus
tangs, which were provided by Indians at
big prices. In fact, the Indian was great
man all over the reservation to-day. The
on-rushing boomers from the north west
and east met in the reservation, and if there
is any trouble it will come from the diff
eulties over the choice sections to which the
settlers raced from different directions.
NJ ajOr Bernard laid his plans we'll 10 give
ali an equal chance. Tie various officers
compared their timepeces and promptly
at noon the signal guns & ave the word go"
Major Bernard's bugler announced it at
Browns Valley, and as the notes resOunded
from the hilltop the rapid firing Uf musketry
along the line carried the word TO the eager
multitude, who started off at breakneck
pace for the promised land through mud
and slush. Mud had no terrors for them,
aUU pUOls O1 VALET, even SDdll ldkeS, QI1
not deter them, If by driving through them
they could reach the coveted quarter-sec-
ton the sooner.
Rumors OF Trouble.
There are rumors at Browns Valley of
tronbe ct Wheaton Bridge. 1t is impossible
to obtain the facts at present. 1t is known
several hundred men went there yesterday
determined to cross. Captain Ellis, with
fifty cavalrymen, has been dispatched to
the scene and ordered to allow no one to
cross.
1t has been discovered that scheme was
on foot to secure the consent Of landowners
along the east lire of the reservation. south
OF Lake Traverse and Browns Valley,
whose lands adjoin the reservation, to al
low The followers of combination to cross
their land into the reservation and not per-
nit anybody else to do so. IL Is not known
TO what extent this combination has
worked.
The towns near the border, so full OF life
all the week, are now almost deserted.
Even those who have no interest in the
lands have gone 10 watch the hustling
crowd.
At Watertown all the land-lovers have
gone except 1000. who felt secure in the
validity Of the filings over the claims Of
squatters.
There is believed to be trouble between
the filers and squaters over claims TO the
same lands.
The filers at Watertown lined up early,
made hilngs promptly, but worked slow.
All are good Datured, however.
Fight for Ownership.
Every section Of Coddington County, of
which Watertown Is the county seat, was
occupied by from one to five squatters be-
fore i O'Clock. NCmerous alterations en-
sued. but no boodshed is reported. II IS
believed that the deputy Sherlffs and the
militia viii be able to maintain order
Many squatters have already begun the
erection of houses, but the majority CON-
menced the settlement by digging wells and
cellars, or by plowing the soil.
At Fargo 100 filings were made in the
the Baptist church. Presiding Elder Cooper
of the Methodist church and lady being
among the number. A number of the
hlers will probably lose their claims through
The squatters reaching the land first. There
were 1900 men in line before the land offc,
WatertowD. The firstpace in the line sold at
tor 5000 and the one hundred and twenty
sixth place for $500. Everything passed off
quietly Lee Stoyer, local attorney, who
purchased the first place at exactly noon,
lled one dcclaratory application and ten
dered ITO others. which were rejected The
filing proceeded rapidly, and it is thought
tnat The line Will be exhausted by midnight.
Inere Is an unconirmed report of The
killing OF squater In Grant County. hnt
no particulars of this or any other serions
trouble nave been received Estimates
place the number of settlers who went IN
the reservation to-day at from $500 10 5000.
Every person who wanted a claim got one
and there seems to be plenty Of vacant land
left.
FARGO. n. D.. April 15-One hundred
applicants are Ia line here for the Sisseton
lands. Applications are being taken at the
rate of % per hour. Every body is good
natured.
The Signal to Start.
WHEATON. Mimi, April f5.-At noon the
guns fired for the opening of the land. An
anxious crowd of 1000 men, women and
children made a rush. The greatest race
seemed to be for the extension OF the Mil