The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-04-16

and interesting. large claim shanty
with red window blinds on wheels was
drawn up in line, a family living in it.
covered wagons IN large numbers drew up
and prepared for the race. Sack feed.
punch hay and spade composed the outfit
OF some, while others had wagon
loaded with lumber fer a shanty,
surmounted by small stove, blankets,
chairs, pans and kettles. A ubiquitous
country editor doctor, clergyman and a
county seat policeman were all in line
awaiting for the signal. The shrill clear
famous crack of the carbiue, then q yolley
from the whole far-reaching line Of
cavalry. The signal was taken up and
carried up in reyerberating sport to the
thousands OF waiting ears and the Sisseton
reservation was open. Five hundred teams
plunged madly forward across the prairie,
with drivers regardless of direction. The
up the lake large party crossed in boats
and succeeded in entering the reservation
i've miles ahead of the crowd, but even
others got in before them
LII is estimated thousand people made a
rush from Browns Valley, about 500 from
Traverse, some 600 from Wheaton. In spite
OF the efforts of the owner of private
bridge to stem the flood OF boomers across
tne bridge in the interest of land COM
pany, the police force was overwhelmed
and lost IN the struggle for the bridge A
large crowd also set out from LedgerWood
There was wild rush from Hankinson.
There was solid line south of there await
Ing the opening and in some instances half
dozen made for the same claim and
trouble is feared At Waubay, on the
| southwest, some five or six hundred people
joined In the rush, and train On the Mil
waukee road pulled to the end Of the track
at the signal, from whence boomers rushed
10 the lands as fast as mustangs Whicn were
provided by the Indians at big prices, could
carry them. In fact, the Indian is a great
man all over tho reservation to-day.
The on-rushing boomers from the north
west and east met in the reservation, and
II there is any trouble, it will come from
difficulties over choice sections to which
settlers raced from different sections
Governor Mellette, of South Dakota, with
9,5OO deputy sheriffs, heavily armed, is in
structed to maintain order on the reserve.
Every section of Coddington county, of
which Watertown is the county seat, was
occupied by from one to five squatters be-
lore o'clock. Numerous alterations en-
sued but 10 bloodshed is reported 1t is
believed the deputy sheriffs aud military
Will be able TO maintain order. Many
squatters have already begun the erection
or houses, but majority have commenced
settlement by digging wells and cellars, Or
by blowing the SOIL
At Fargo, 100 filings were made in the
course of the afternoon, Rev. Van Horn,
OF the Baptist church, Presiding Elder
Cooper, of the Methodist church, and a
lady being among the number. A number
OF filers will probably lose their claims
through squatters reachins the land first.
There are thousand men in line before
the laud office at WATERFOWL The first
place in the line sold for $1,000, and the
l26th for $500. Everything passed
off quietly. Lee Slower, 3 local attorney.
who purchased the first place at exactly
noon, filed one declaratory statement and
rendered ITO others, which were rejected.
The filing proceeded rapidly, aud it is
Thought the line will be exhausted by night.
There is an unconfrmed report of the
killing OF sQuatter in Grant county, but
no particulars of this or any other serious
trouble have been received. Estimates
place the number of settlers who went on
the reservation to-day at from twenty-five
hundred to three thousand. Every person
that wanted claim got one, and there
seems to De plenty of vacant land left.