The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-04-23
One of the Greatest Rushes for Free
Homes i'm the Annals of the
Country.
Ida Burnett. a Graduate of the Min.
nesOta State University. the
First on the Ground.
of Good Land Can be Taken
Up for Weeks to COme-Not
Half of 1t Yet Filed On.
The Reservation Opened.


BEowNs VALLEY, MINI April 1l.-!Tbe
sharp, clear note of the buglo at noon to-
day almost simultaneously with the crack
of a carbine. then a volley from the whole
far reaching line of cavalry.as the signal,
was taken up and carried in a reverberat-
ing report to the thousands of waiting
ears, and the SissetOn reservation was
opened. The military Withdrew from the
border and rejoined their respective com
panies. When the long awaited signal
came the estimates giving only IA few
hundred settlers in the vicinity of
Browns Valley were knocked out. From
the brush all along the course of the
Minnesota river, from "ravines hitherto
held to be unpopulatcd. from every spot
bordering on the reserve that could
shelter Il man, horse or wagon, there
sprang hOrdes of homeseekers. On We'd
ncsday night the town was filled with
men. Last night only a few were to be
seen. No n seemed to know definitely
where all the people had gone. 1t was
not Il difficult problem to solve,
however. Yesterday morning mel in
threcs and fours carrying la len sacks.
sledgc hammers. stakes, axes and spades
were TO be seen standing away up %ravines.
Several hundred slipped quietly out of
town in this way and all last night the
borders of the reserve were lined with
them. They were all sorts and condi
tons Of men. Some who had never
passed Il night out of doors IN their
lives before slept on the damp ground
last night with naught but the starry
sky above them. The west shore OF
lake Traverse is the border line OF the
reservation for its entire length. The
fleet of hastily imprOyised craft loaded
with men and implements so that the
water came within six inches Of their
gunwalcs lay along shore awaiting the
stroke Of T.. Many of the men had not
tasted a morscl of food for twenty hours.
There they sat stoical as Indians and
more determined. They had been there
all night.
Hundreds of campers lined the way all
along the border from Hankinson south.
Wheaton is the nearest point to the best
land in the reserve and fully 800 people
were in line ready to make IA rush. There
are now fully 1000 settlers on the reser-
walton. They are pretty well divided be-
tween the northern and eastern borders.
The squattcr is monarch of all he sur
vcys; the filler is literally out of the run
ming. With the crack of carbincs 100
horses dashed madly forward. urged to
desperate speed by their excited riders.
They were bound for the Sisscton city
townsitc. Struggling along to the rear
the loaded wagons with from two
to SIX horses on each. They were dashed
numerically by their drivers. The
cracking Of whips. duh thunder of
the hoofs in the damp sod and
the yells of the drivers as they
struggle for the lead filled the air with
unwontcd DIN. Still further to the rear
those without ~cOnvcyanccs strug-
Cling forward with their kits of tools
until the reserve was dotted with them.
The mounted crowd was sOOn beyond
the range of vision, and as they disap-
peared they were seen considerably
strung out. the leaders evidently saving
strength for Il hard run at the
Ida Burnett. Il graduate Of the Uni
OF Minnesota, a strikingly hand
girl, is the pOssessor of the choicest
quarter section about the townsite to the
northwest. She has q Just suspicion of
Indian blood in her veins and is a de-
scendant of the Sioux race. She has
been allotted land on the reserve. Be
hind the fastest team Obtainable she was
drawn to the tOwnsite from the agency.
start was made at the gun-fire and
the girl WAS the first on the field. She
out her claim and straightway
went to work on the erection of "A shanty,
by the driver.
Gov. Mellette had 80 deputy sheritIs
IN the reserve, heavily armed and in
'tructed to maintain order peaceably, if
possible, fOrcibly if necessary. They
several rOws before serious re-
'ults ensued. Wells are being dug every
where aud all squatters apparently in
end to live on their land. In a couple
If weeks breaking plows will be at work
There will be good lands
'pen to settlement for weeks as no
lalf the land has been taken up at this
,our. Col. Bernard received orders to
lold the troops here until Monday, but
hey are not needed.