The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-16
THROUGH MUD AND ST. USH
Three Thousand Boomers Madly
Rush for Land in the Sisseton
Reservation.
On Horse. in Wagon, by Boat
and on Foot They Plunged
Forward.

Pnndemonium ReiRnod for Awhilo--No
serions Trouble Experienced or Antic-
5-M@ ipnted--Land for All.
ST.. PAUL, April 15.-Reports from thu
Slsseton reservation indicate that the
weather was all that could be desired for
the opening to-day. but the conditions
under foot were most unfavorable. The
whole country is senaof mud and water,
and the race for the choice selections was
to the atrong instead of the swift. Several
townships are submerged. Daylight found
lines of tilers at Fargo and Watertown.
Sunrise also disclosed long lines OF home
seekers and townste boomers stretched
along the boundaries of the reservation,
held back only bv the guns Of the soldiers
and the fear that their claim would
be thrown out if they crossed in ad-
vance. So thick were they that the
long lines OF restless people seemed
living marks set to show tho boundaries.
Major Bernard laid the plans we'll to give
all an equal chance. Various officers COM
pared time pieces and promptly at noon the
signal gun gave the word Go" Major
Bernard's bugler announced it at Browns
Valley, and as the notes resounded from
tho hilltop rapid firing of musketry along
the line carried the word to this eager null
titude, who started off at break neck pace
for the promised land through the mud
and slush. The mud had no terrors for
them and pools Of water, even small lakes,
did not deter them, if by driving through
them they could reach, the coveted quarter
section sooner. .M.
Last night party of nearly two hun
dred. under the leadership of Oklahoma
Charlie, attempted to cross Lake Traverse
in tho darkness and gain the reservation.
A drunken member of the party, however,
let the matter out. detachment of SOL
diers met them as thsy landed, confscated
their boats and drove them from the reser-
walton. There were rumors at Browns
Valley of trouble at the Wheaton bridge.
1t 10 impossible to obtain facts at present.
It is known that several hundred men went
there yesterday determined to CROSS Capt.
Ellis, with fifty cavalrymen, were dis
patched to the scene and ordered to allow
no one to cross. It has been discovered
that therewas 81 scheme on foot to secure
the consent of land owners along the east
lin5t tfof the reservation aonth of Lake
Traverse and Browns Valley, whose lands
adjoin Ine reservation, to allow the fol-
lowers OF the combination to cross their
land into the reservation, and not permit
any body else to do SO. 1t is not KNOWN to
what extent this combination worked.
Towns near the border, 80 full of life all
the week, are now almost deserted. Even
those who have no interest in land have
gone to watch the hustling crowd. AT
Watertown all land lovers have gone. ex-
cept thousand who felt secure i'll the val
idity of filings over the claims of squat
ters. It is believed there will be trouble
between filler and squatters over claims to
tho same land. Filers at Watertown lined
up early and made filings promptly but
the work was sslow. All were good -natured,
however.
citement in dozen towns bordering on The
reservation. To-day these towns are
nearly deserted. During the night there
| were continual scenes of activity and be-
fore 10 o'clock the muddy streets were
jammed with vehicles of every character
At IL o'clock fully 5000 persons were col
lected along the reservation at the head o
cnlty in keeping the impatient crowd il
check, as they were becoming decidedly
uneasy. Some settlers outfits were unique
and interesting. A large claim shanty
with red window blinds on wheels wal
drawn up in line, 81 family living IN it
Covered wagons in large numbers drew vi
and prepared for the race. sack of feed,
bunch of hay, ana spade composed the
outfit of some. while others had wagon
| loaded with lumber for shnnty, sur
mounted by a small stove. blankets, chairs
pans and kettles. The ubiquitous countr,
editor, DOCTOR clergyman, and county seat
policeman were all in line, waiting for the
signal.
The sharp, clear note of a bugle at noon
the almost Simultaneous crack of a car
bine, then volley from the whole far
reaching line OF cavalry, as the signal wa!
taken up and Garfield on in reverberatn1
report to thousands of waiting ears, aue
the Sisseton reservation was open. Fiv,
hundred teams dashed madly forward
across the prairie, with drivers regardless
OF direction. Horseback riders soon tool
the lead. Far up the lake large rarty
crossed i'll boats and succeeeded in enter
ing tho reservation five miles ahead of th,
crowd, but even others got in before them
1t is estimated that 1000 people made TIL,
rush from Browns Valley. about 500 from
Traverse, some 600 from Wheaton. II
spite of the efforts of the owner of a private
bridge in the into est of q land company
| the police force was overwhelmed and los
in the struggle for the bridge. A larg,
crowd also set out from Ladgerwood. ant
| there was Wlld fuBn fLOm HanklnaOu
There was solid line south of there await
ing the opening, and in several instances
half dozen nude for the same claim ant
trouble is feared.
At Waubay, on the southweat some tiv.
or SIX hundred people joined in tho rush
| From Wilmot there WAS a great rush, anc
Il train on tho Milwaukee road pulled to til,
end of the track at the signal, whence thu
| boomers rushed to lands on fast mustang
which were provided by Indians at bls
prices. In fact the Indian was grea
man all over the reservation to-day. Th.
on rushing boomers from the northwes
and east met III the reservation und ii thor,
is any trouble it will come from ditfioultie
| over tho choice of sections to which set
tiers raced from different sections. Gov
Mellette, of South Dakota. with ~
deputy sheritfs heavily armed md instructed
to maintain order, IL or the reservation
{ Every section in Darlington county, q
which Watertown ls the county seat, wa
occupied by from one to five squatters be-
| fore ono o'clo0k. Numerous altercation
ensuea, but no bloodshod is reported. 1t il
believed the deputy sheritfs and militi,
| will be able to maintain order. Man,
squatters huva already begun section
houses, but majority oornered their settle
ment by digging wells and cellars. or b,
pl owing the soil. Al Fargo l04 filings wer
made in the course of the afternoon, Rev
Van Horn, of tho Baptist church, Presidin,
Elder Cooper, of the METHODIST church, ant
lady being among the number. A mum
ber Of iilors will probably lose their claim
through squatters reaching the land first.
AI.a.Ha II r..