Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-04-29
WILD RUSH FOR LAND.
Opening of the Sisseton Indian
Reservation.
Thousands of Home-seekers Cross
the Line at the Bugle Signal.

The Sisseton Indian Reservation, in South
Dakota, has been opened to settlement in
accordance with the proclamation made by
President Harrison.
A dispatch from Ledgerwood, South Da-
kota, gives the following description of the
mad rush for the new land: At five minutes
to noon a United States cavalry bugler,
with long yellow plume streaming from
his helmet and a brand new bugle sus-
pended from his shoulder by bright yell
low cord, rode to the crest of the hills
which separate Browns Valley from the
Sisseton reservation. Scattered along in
an uneven line to the north and south
of him were three companies OF cavalry,
each man fully armed with sabre, revolver,
and carbine. Back of these were grouped.
or rather herded, a heterogeneous mass of
men-white yellow, and black-all national
tiles of the Caucasian race, with liberal
mixture of half breeds and colored people.
There were women in the crowd, too,
and here and there could be seen
a baby held in the arms of
its mother as she sat on her horse, deter
mined to be one of the first to enter the prom
ised land which was to be opened. splen-
did Kentucky thoroughbred carried man
who had thrown aside everything which
could impede him in the ride for the reser-
walton. Next to him, on wiry bronco was
a half breed who sat his horse as if part of
it. Further down the line was big cOOred
man astride a diminutlve mule. All were
impatient for the race to begin.
AS the sun neared the meridian Major
Bernard glanced as his watch. The bugler
lifted his instrument TO his lips and the
crowd Of land seekers gathered up their reins
and awaited the signal. At last Major
Bernard, watch in hand, nodded to the
bugIer, who began to sound the reveille. At
the first note there a crack from the
carbine of the soldier next to him, which
was quickly echoed by one further down the
line. The shots rang out clear IN the crisp
air, and as the voley ratified down the line
on either side it was answered by the hoof
beats of hundreds of horses spurred on by
riders reckless OF life or limb.
A cloud of alkali dust rose as the motley
army charged for the line of the reservation
and soon all that could be seen from the
crest of the ridge was a black mass of
huddled horsemen closely pursued by whirl
of YellOwiSh dust. The man on the Ken
lucky thoroughbred got good start, and
when the line was reached he was ten
lengths i'll advance of the next rider a
tall cowboy. who rode like a cantaur, but
who was at a disadvantage as to his
mount. Behind the two leaders strung out
a long line of hOrsemen, men In buggleS,
others in spring wagons and others still IN
huge prairie schoOners, the rear being
brought up by man from Pike County,
fects were contained in a COnestoga wagon
drawn by yoke of oxen. Within half an
hour the last man and vehicle had Hanished
from sight beyond the foothills, and the
soldiers ut the word, wheeled and returned
to camp, their duty in opening the reserva-
ton being finished.
There are now fully 5000 settlers on the
reservation. They are pretty we'll divided
between the northern and eastern borders
The squatter is monarch of all he sur
the running. Governor Mellette had
$50 deputy sheriffs on the reserve
heavily armed and instructed to maintain
order. They checked several rows. Wells
are being dug everywhere and all the squat
tiers apparently intend TO live on their land.
In a couple Of weeks breaking plows will
be at work everywhere. There will be
good lands open to settlement for weeks, for
not half has yet been taken up.
Ida Burnett handsome graduate of the
University of Minnesota, is now the posses
sor of the choicest quarter section about the
town site. Mss Burnett has Indian blood
in her veins Behind the fastest team OBJ
tainable she was drawn to the town site from
the agency.
The start was made at gunfre, AID the
girl was first on the field. She straightaway
went to work building her shanty, assisted
by her driver.
lands just opened to settlement are located
in the northeastern corner of South Dakota,
covering the most of Robert County, lap
ping over on the edge of Mar
shall and Oar Counties, crossing
the panhandle of Grant and the sharp
point of the triangular-shaped reservation,
extending down to the centre of Coddington,
a few miles from Watertown. The north
ern base OF the triangle extends over into
Sargent and Richland Counties in North
Dakota, and for that reason filings may be
made at Fargo The reservation is the
source of the Red River of the North,
which flows ultimately into Hudson's
Bay; of the Minnesota River,
and of the Big Sioux River, which flows
south and joins the Missouri. The lands are
rich, and numerous lakes covers the entire
extent of the reservation. good portion of
of which is wooded and OF hilly character
In fact, the character of the lands reflects
much credit on the judgment of the SisSeton
Indians who chose this land as their reward
for their help to the settlers in the Indian
war of 1862. For nearly thirty years they
held the reservation intact, but finally con-
Guided they would prefer to have their lands
in severalty and live like whites. The In
dams have selected many of the best lands
on the reservation, but it is estimated that
enough for about 1000 Gains of 100 acres
each still remained up to the time OF open
ing. The reservation is forty-five miles
across the northern side, and seventy miles
on the southeastern and southwestern
sides of the triangle respectively. This
reservation is right in the heart
OF we'll settled country, and small
towns and cities are within easy reach
of the settler on whatever part of the reser-
walton he may make his home. The Great
Northern and Milwaukee railroads run all
around the reservation, while ether roads are
within easy reach, running to some of the
many nearby towns.