The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-04-21
EAGER FOR HOMES.

EAGER FOR HOMES.
lrOvsr 5000 waiting Settlers Crossed the
Line Into tho sisseton Reservation ct
Noon Friday--A Wild Scramble for Lands.
BRowN's VALLEY, Mimi, April 10. ~
Under warm and glorious sun the
great Sisseton reservation was thrown
open to the public at IL o'clock Friday,
and though the rush over the line was
milder than most people expected, it
was sufficiently exciting and pictur-
esque to please anybody. In fact, It was
wildly exciting, and one of the strong
est pictures ever expressed to mortal
eyes. Over 1000 eager home-seekers
were scattered and strung out for miles,
the line Of human beings disappearing
in the distance. Many were mounted
on broncos, others on livery horses,
many in wagons, all anxious for the
signal for the race. Many were on
foot, waiting, hoping and devoured by
nervousness. {
Men stood with one foot almost on
the line with their bodies bent forward
as sprinter awaits signal. Twelve
o'clock came. Up went Col. Barnard's
right hand. The bugle pealed forth
the order. Firing began instantly.
The guards along the line took up the
signal, the roar of the carbiues sound
ing fainter and fainter till it died
away.
A wild scene followed. The long line
of human beings crossed the reservation
line like fash. 1t was mad race of
man against animal. Through the long
line shot the Indian guides and their
charges mounted on fleet-footed broncos
and riding as if for their lives. They
were soon mere speclzs on the plain.
Then came others on livery horses, lash
ing them cruelty and speeding along like
wind, though the gait could not last.
Away off to the north the horses ap-
peared Us if out of the ground and for
miles could be seen that wild chase
over the plains, the specks finally
soon disappearing: Down the de-
clines, over ruts, stones and every
thing in their way rushed buck
boards, spring and heavy wagons, in
each case the driver standing up and
flashing the team like one possessed. In
some were seated women hanging
tenaciously to the vehicle as it bounded
into the air and crashed to earth again.
A young woman dashed by on bronco
and by her side rode Sioux Where
they had come from no one knew. They
were late but they were going at rail-
road speed. Those who had FASTENED
at the first signal were rapidly coming
to halt Their steeds were exhausted,
and those who started slowly at first
now began to appear and forge ahead.
At least half dozen became utterly
discouraged and turned back towards
Browns Valley. They had been de.
ceived in the horses and many We're
ready to drop dead with fatigue.
Between $500 and 5000 settlements
will be made. An Indian courier who
has just arrived states that already Ger.
tain parts of the reservation show a
surprising change.
It is now believed that not over 2, SOC
persons have located claims and that
there will be good lands vacant for a
week to come. Many are trusting to
this, and d large crowd will leave here
with guides to-day on the search. Most
of the people in the great rush at noon
carried compasses Army officers
assert that there were over 500 people
located in the reservation in In.
dian huts in the brush to the west and
in the ravines, where the eye of the
soldier as he sped along could not reach
them.
At the long bridge. Is miles from
here, and on the border line, 8 miles
from Wheaton, there was a great clash.
The crowds from Wheaton, those from
the lake basin and the border line
northeast of there, all came together
in a confused mass, all striving
to reach the coveted lands near
| the town site in township 1877,
range 81. There We're several fierce
brawls, in which many men were
roughly handled, but no blood was
she'd Lieut. Crabbs thinks there will
be some mean fighting in the north
ern sections. Hundreds Of men are
crowdiug there from Browns Valley,
| Wheaton, White Rock, Hankinson and
other points, and, as these are the best
| lands, all will make desperate effort
to secure them.
Miss Stanfer, of North Dakota; Miss
Dehart, Mrs. Osborne and Mrs. Bur
nett, of Minneapolis, and Miss Sharp,
all returned Friday night, happy in the
fact that they located good claims close
to the town site. They sat up all night
in tent, and it was a merry party
throughout. Though determined to
locate they were materially assisted by
the men, who had pledged their assist
ance and protection.
1.-The Sisseton Indian reservation surplus
| lands that were opened to settlement at noon
| Friday are located in the northeastern corner
OF South Dakota, covering most of Robert
| county, tapping over on the edge of Mar
Shall and Day counties, crossing the pan.
handle of Grant and the sharp point OF
| the triangular-shaped reservation ex-
| tending down to the center Of Coddington, q
few miles from Watertown. The northern
base OF the triangle extends over into Sargent
and Rlchland counties in North Dakota, and
| for that reason Filings may be made at Fargo.
The lands are rich and numerous lakes cover
the entire extent OF the reservation, good
portion of which is wooded and of billy
character. In fact the character of the lands
reflects much credit on the judgment of the Sis
seton Indians, who chose this land as their re-
ward for their help to the settlers in the Indian
war OF 1852. For nearly thirty years they held
the reservation intact but finally con-
cluded that they would prefer to have their
lands In severalty and live like whites, so
the matter was soon arranged with the aid OF a
commission and Fridays scramble for lands is
the result. The Indians have selected MANY of
the best lands on the reservation, but it is esti-
mated that enough for about 1, 900 claims OF 1859
acres each still remained up to noon Friday.J
METHODlSTS WANT MONEY.
"A Great University, National in Charac-
ter, to BE Built at Washington.
WASHINGTON, April 16. - Bishop
Hurst, of the Methodist church and
chancellor of the American university
which it is proposed to establish in
Washington, has issued an appeal to the
Methodists of the country for fund of
Sic, 100000 with which to establish and
endow the institution in a manner that