St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-16
Gov. MelIette Gets a View Of
the Flying Thousands From
Browns Valley.
gpecial to the Globe.

epeci0l 10 the Globe
Browns VALLEY. Mimi, April b.
The rush is over The Sisseton reserya-
ton is open and no blood shed or serious
accidents reported at this point. Five
thousand people were in line on the
border on mile west of Browns Valley
at noon today, many having secured po-
sitlOns as early as o'clock. Cavalry
men patrollcd the line, but fOand no
difficulty in keeping back the crowd. At
l20'cloclf, standard time, soldiers fired
pistols, receiving the signal from Col.
Bernard in the city, and the mighty
rush was on. A great shout went up
from the hundreds Of spectators cheer
ing the boomers on. The point Of start
ing was on hill overlooking the valley,
and as the great crowd rushed on 10 the
reserve, the majority in wagons, many
on lleet-fOoted horses and dozens on
foot.
The Sight Was a Grand One
TO behold and one never to be forgotten
by those who Witnessed it. The ma
jority of the boomers made in north
casterly direction, in the vicinity where
new town has been located by the
Ssseton Land company, about eighteen
miles from this city. The majority car
ried tents with them, ana tonight the
much-boomcd lands Of Sisseton reserva-
ton arc dotted with white canvas.
Heavily loaded wagons are following
the boomers with lumber, and before
twenty-four hours typical claim shan
ties will take the place OF tents.
Many claims are yet vacant, but prin-
cipally surrounded by Indian allot-
ments. Settlers are now anxious to
learn the result of filings at the land
office. as none feel sure Of their claims,
for those who flied prior to settlement
will doubtless hold the land; otherwise
settlers will be safe. The majority Of
the claims were settled upon prior to l
o'clock. GOV. Mellette, of South Da-
k0ta, was in the city and witnessed the
rush. He expressed himself as well
pleased with the start.
The start.
Just before noon the ubiquitous coun-
cry editor was right in line on a white
mustang pony ready to ride for a claim
near town. The doctor, the clergyman
who wanted TO take a farm for his
health and the county seat policeman
were ell to be seen in the crowd waiting
for the signal. Suddenly a yolley of
shots rang out from the crest Of the
hill, the valley echoed and the
reverberations were sent back 10y the
startled bulls across the lake. The
SissetOn reservation was open to settle
ment. Five hundred teams plunged
forward. Horses Snorted and started
madly across the prairie with their rid
ers regardless of trail or direction. A
cayalryman fell from his horse and his
revolver discharged at random. The
horseback riders soon took the lead.
Then came a powerful team Of black
horses which seemed good for ten
mile run. The crowd was soon
left in the rear. In this buggy
was Miss Burnett, young lady gradu-
ate Of the university OF Minnesota. She
ana her brother were off for the new
townsite, and as the long caYalcade of
plunging horses disappeared over the
hill in the distance, the swift black
team was still ahead, and far un the
lake alarge party was crossing in boats.
Indian teams were waiting on the bank
above the water. They succeeded in en-
tering the reserve five miles
Ahead of the Crowd
scattered along the ROAD from Browns
Valley. Liberal estimates place the
crowd starting from here at 1000 PEG
ple. About 500 started from the little
town called Travare, four miles from
here. Six hundred people went across
the bridge at Weaton regardless of the
order of the owners of the bridge, and
the whole police force of the
town was lost in the struggle. Re
ports from Waubay, Wilmot, Brit
ton, and the towns OF Hank
inson and LedgerwOod along the north
ern border indicate that the crowd at
Browns Valley was about equal TO the
combined rush from all other points
about the reservation. The best eSti'
mates place the number of settlers here
at eco or 200, though some think LOCO
nearer correct. With those who started
from other points, it is PROBABLY about
correct TO say that
Two Thousand Men Took Claims
on the reservation this afternoon. This,
however. does not complete the list, as
hundreds of men are known to have
skipped across the border last night, anC
there were some already on the reserve
in various capacities ready to jump OF
claims. These sooners will probabl.
raise the numbers of occupied
claims to 2,5C0. There ar
only about 5000 claims suitable
to cultivation outside the Indian allot
ment, so the margin remaining for TN
filings at the land office is very small