Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-16
THE PROMISED LAND.
MANY THOUSANDS WAITING TO
ENTER THE INDIAN COUNTRY.
Not as Many Boomers, However. as In the
Case OF okiahoma-why This IL So.
No Trouble Expected.
tBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l

Ell RENO. o. t.. April l5.-The excite
ment over the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
lands is quieting down, principally on ac-
count of the fact that the number of new
arrivals is materially decreasing. Boom
ers in wagons continue to pour all along
the border. but the crowd coming in by
rail is not as large as that which moved on
the Oklahoma country three years ago,
and as the time for the opening draws
near 1t begins to look as though the
crowd that will 60 in will not be
nearly as great as that which entered
Oklahoma. This IL due to the fact that
three years ago thousands of people who
were not farmers rushed to Guthrie, Okla
homa City, and the other towns. thinking
that they would secure town lots that In
few years would make them rich. while the
new towns In the Arapahoe and Cheyenne
country will all be miles from any railroad,
and do not invite this sort Of immigration.
Many of the boomers, even those who have
horses aud wagons, do not seem to have
any cash, though most Of them have Hour
and bacon.
HopEs OF sPECULAToRs.
Hundreds realize that they are not in
condition to hold down claim, and have
no intention of doing so. They hope to
secure good piece of land and then sell
out TO some one within two or three days.
If they cannot do this they will be re-
duced almost to starvation. The soldiers
stationed along the northern border esti-
mate that there are $500 people on the
limo east of the cantonment and about
1000 west. There are perhaps 10000
or 5000 from the Washita coun-
try. while about 5000 Texans are drawn up
along the south line. There are not many
people on the west line. On the north
line, about ten miles east OF the canton
ment, there are 800 people from western
Kansas camp In one bunch. The troops
which had been camped in the interior OF
the country marched to the line yester-
day.
ported TO Colonel Wade, who commands
the troops, and none Is looked for.
THE RACE FOR HOMES.
The sharp, clear note of bugle at noon,
the almost simultaneous crack OF car
bine, then yolley from the whole. far
reaching line of cavalry as the signal was
taken up and carried in reverberating
report to thousands of waiting ears, few
more hating shots became fainter as the
distance increased, and the SissetoD reser-
vatlon was opened. The military with
drew from the border and reJolned their
respective companies. and the race for
homes began helter-skelter.
Governor Mellette, of South Dakota, and
2.500 deputy sheriffs are on the reserve, the
latter heavily armed and instructed TO
maintain order-peacetully II possible,
forcibly il necessary. They checked sey-
eral rows before serious results ensued.
Wells are being dug on all the claims -
far taken up. The squatters apparently
intend to live on their land, and In
couple of weeks breaking plows will be at
work everywhere.
LANDS ENTERED YESTERDAY.
Sr. PAUL, MINI, April 15.-The Sisseton
Indian reservation surplus lands that were
opened 10 settlement at noon to-day are
located in the northeastern corner OF
South Dakota, covering the most OF
Robert county. tapping over on the
edce of Marshall and Day counties, and
crossing the Panhandle of Grant. the
sharp point of the triangular-shaped
reservation extending down to the CEN
ire OF Coddingtou, few miles from Water
town. where filings may be made and where
much of the crowd of eager seekers after
lands have been awaiting this day: Inc
reservation is the source of the Red rlver
of the North, the Minnesota river, and the
Bie Sioux river. The lands are rich, and
numerous lakes cover the entire ex-
tent of the reservation. a good por-.
ton of which is wooded and of
a hilly character. The Indians have Sc
lected many of the best lands on the reser-
walton, but it is estimated that enough for
about 1000 claims of 100 acres each stlll
remained up to noon to-day. BY tonight
there was very little, If any, lett.