The Red Cloud chief., 1892-04-22
"a BUCLE'S NOTE
And Then q Rush For the Sissetcn
Reservation.
THOUSANDS OF WAITING MEN.
From the Brush and From Every Conceiv-
able Spot Bordering on the Reservation
That Could Shelter Anything
Sprang Homeseekers.

Browns VALLEY, Mimi. April 49,
The sharp, clear note of a bugle at noon
yesterday, the almost simultaneous
click of a carbine. then a volley from
the whole far reaching line of cavalry
as the signal was taken up and carried
in a reverberating report to thousands
OF waiting men, a few more hating
shots becoming fainter as the distance
increased and the Sisseton reservation
was at last open.
The military withdrew from the Dor
der and rejoined their companies. From
the brush all along the shore of the
Minnesota river, from ~ravines hitherto
held to be appropriated. from every con-
ceivable spot bordering on the reserva-
ton that could shelter a man, horse or
wagon there sprang hordes of home
seekers.
There were numerous alterations be-
tween rival claimants, but no blood has
been shed so far as is known, and it is
believed the deputy sheriffs and militia
will be able to preserve order. In that
locality many of the squatters began
the erection of houses at once. A large
number had houses already constructed
on wagons but the majority commenced
settlement by digging excavations for
wells and cellars or by blowing.
At Fargo. about 100 filings were made
in the course of the afternoon. The
first filing was by Rev. Mr.. Van Horne,
of the Baptist church. One lady had
filed. She had hired a man to keep her
place in line and was the fifth from the
front. Presiding Elder Cooper, of the
Methodist church, was also one of the
applicants. The applicants are good
natured and have respected the system
of numbering applicants in line, and the
filers all got their applications in yes
terday afternoon.
Watertown was deserted early in the
day by all but the 1000 men who had
places in the line of filers. A rush was
made early in the day to crowd out the
head of the line, but it was unsuccess-
full. Three thousand dollars was paid
yesterday morning for the first place IN
the line. The party holding it has re-
manned at the door of the land Office
since last Saturday evening.
The 1o6th place sold for 900. The
opening occurred without a slip and
without disturbance. Shortly before IL
Il rope was stretched beside the line and
squad of militia and twenty police
men were stationed in a position to
command the entire line. At exactly IL,
Lee Slower, a local attorney, having
purchased first place, was admitted and
filed n declaratory statement and ten
dered the filing of ITO others, which
Were rejected. His business was COM
pleted in q minute and a half and No. 2
a4 nitted.
~At l o'clock 102 filings had been made
and the speed was being constantly ac-
celebrated, SO il is thought the entire
line was through by night. Most of the
attorneys are following Stover's plan
and rendering all of their declaratories
simultaneously, but a few tender only
and are found again in line at the
rear. From first to last there has been
no breach of the peace-a fact which
indicates the splendid character of the
new settlers.
There is an as yet unconfirmed report
of the killing of a squatter in Grant
county, but no particulars of this or
any other serious trouble nave been yet
received.
Conservative estimates of settlers who
went on the reservation yesterday are
placed at $500, while others insist hat
5000 have located.
At 1855 Capt. Ellis announced to the
crowd of over 500 at Wheaton that he
would fire the signal in precisely five
minutes by his watch, and advised all
to be careful and not run into each
other.
AT precisely 10 he fired the shot and
the rush was on. From the boundary
line to the bluffs, a mile distant, the
land is level as a floor, with gradual
rise toward the west, and it was across
this plane that the pretty race took
place. OF course those on horses soon
left the others in the rear. One party
WAS thrown out of his buggy at the
start. and the team raj away but a
cavalryman caught the horses and the
occupants were soon following the
crowd.
BY o'clock nearly every landseeker
that had made the start from Wheaton
was holding a quarter section. 1t is
claimed that n great gumber of those
on horses that started from that point
broke SOC on their claims from fifteen
t. twenty minutes from the time the
signal was given. Every person that
wanted a claim got one and there seems
To be plenty of vacant land left.
a Hanging at Tahlequah.