The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-16
An Exciting Contest in the Land Of the Ssse-
tons, in Which the "SOoners," as Usual, Had
the Advantage Over the Law-0beying.
Scenes at Various Points When the Blu.
gle and Rifle Sounded the Signal.
One Girl Who Was Bound Not to Get Left-The
Country Dotted with Squatters Last Night
Spirited Rivalry but No BlOodshed.
SCRAMBLE FOR HOMES.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, April l5.-Yesterday in
the northwest corner of the State of South
Dakota. the triangular piece of land,
woods and lakes. known as the Sisseton
Indian reservation. which for the past
thirty years has been sacred to the wild
man of the pralries. was sea of mud.
frowned on by o threatening sky, and sur
rounded on all of its three sides by hun
dreds-yea thousands-whO had for months
anticipated this time. They had gathered
together from all quarters of the globe, and
were anxIously. almost sleepily. watching
the lands from which q thin line of blue
coated soldiers and the law under which
they were all content to abide by alone
separated them. Across an imaginary line
that the soldiers were guarding there was
the promise of homes. and the .home-seeker
was there to accept that promise and fulfill
it's conditions. The day closed with q
break in the clouds. and during the night
colder winds blew and chilled the bones
but not the enthusiasm of the waiting
multitude.
This morning the sun shone down on
groups of ready and eager settlers. They
were girding themselves for race for
homes. and tonight thousands are sleep
ing under the blue sky, but on the soil of
their new homes. Only few hours be-
tween the mud and anticipation of yester-
day, and the weary rest after the race and
the requirement. of home to-day. and yet
how many incidents and how much impor-
tance to the homes and future of the State
has happened. 1t had been a week of ex-
citement In the dozens of towns and cities
that are near the boundaries of the reser-
yation. Incoming hundreds attempted to
evade the vigilance of the soldiers. and
scheming to secure the choice claims Ocou-
pied the attention of all. To-day the
towns were early deserted. and the crowds
focked to the line, there to await the sig
nal gun that was to be heard around the
reservation.
THE START FROM BROWNS VALLEY.
One of the greatest crowds was at Browns
Valley, Mlnn.. at the lower end of Lake
Traverse and within a few miles of the
line. 1t had been scene of activity all
week, and the settlers and town-site boom
ers were TOO excited to sleep last night.
During the night in ntermittent shouts. yells,
laughter and snatches of songs came from
the various camps around the village, and
u
mented by the neighing of hOrsed hItcEed
10 the trees. barking of dogs and the crow
ing of the festive chanticler IN the barn
yards of the valley farms. Before 10 O'Clock
the muddy streets were jammed with We:
hicles of every character. Horses stamped
in the puddles, and men. women and chill
dren crossed and recrOssed the sloppy
streets in never-ending lines. Out OF town
they streamed, and were soon strung along
the boundary.
At IL o'clock fully three thousand per-
sons had collected along the reservation
where it runs southward along the high
bluff which rises abruptly from the iron
monument at the head of Lake Traverse.
Many in the crowd were spectators from
the village and surrounding country. The
cavalry patrols g0lloped back and forth
along the line keeping the impatient crowd
in check. At 11:45 o'clock the crowd be.
came decidedly uneasy. Good nature pre-
vailed in the crowd. although there wac
something cropping out In every conversa'
tion from wagon to wagon which plainly
indicated general belief that the devil
might take the hind one.
Some of the settlers outfits were unique
and interesting. A large claim shanty on
wheels. drawn by two horses. pulled NJ
the muddy hill to the line 1t had red
window blinds and at the side was q glass
door. tho upper part OF which also boasted
of red curtains AS the door would
swing open with the lunges of the wagon
from side to side glimpses could be caught
of tho industrious housewife within nurs
ing her baby. which emitted spasmOdie
cries from tlme TO time. Covered wagons
in large numbers crawled along with lnnu.
merable frOwsy heads peeping from tine
canvas in open-eyed wonder at the wheel.
ing soldiers and the many people. A large
woman with arms like man pulled G
rearing team down to business. sack o.
feed, bunch of hay and spade comprised
the outfit of some of those who wanted tG
get there" Lumber for shanty, sur
mounted by q small stove. bed-quilt bun
dies. q couple of chairs, pans and skillets
which ratified with the wagon, and u rusty
shotgun made up the kits of some W hi
We're going to stay the night thete. The
ubiquitous country editor was right in lin
on a white mustang pony. ready to ride fo
a claim near town. The doctor. the cler
gyman. who wanted TO take farm for hi
were all to be seen in the crowd waitinl
for the signal.
THE RUSH OVER THE LINE.
The sharp. clear note of bugle at noon
the almost simultaneous crack of carbine
then a volley from the whole far-reachini
| line of cavalry as the signal was taken u
and carried in a reverberating report t.
thousands of waiting cars, few NOR
hai,ing shots becoming fainter as the dis
| tance increased, and tho SlssetOn reserya
tiOi was OpcHCus no IllbdIy
| from the border and rejoined their respec
| tive companies. Five hundred team
| plunged forward. Horses snorted an
| started madly across the prairie with thei
| riders. regardless OF trail or direction.
cevalryman fell from his horse and his re
volver was discharged at random.
The horseback riders soon took the lead
| Then came q powerful team OF black horse
| which seemed good for a ten-mile run. III
crowd was soon left behind. In this bugg
4 III
| University of Minnesota. She and he
brother were off for the new town site. an
| as the long cavalcade of plunging horee
| disappeared over the hill IN the distance
| the swift black team was st.ll ahead. Fa
| boats. Indian teams were waiting on tn
| entering the reservation five miles ahea,
of the crowd scattered along the road fror
Browns Valley.
Yet even others got better start tba
those on the lake. The cavalry had sconre
the country yesterday. and many wer
! driven off the reservation. but during tn
night they had returned. and others wit
them. When the iong-awaited signs
came. from the brush all along the cours
of the Minnesota river. from ravines hitl
erto held TO be appropriated, from ever
spot bordering on the reserve that coul
/ shelter a man. horse or wagon. there spran
hordes of home seekers, and they led th
race for homes.
1t Is estimated that about one thousan
made the rush from Browns valley. Abou
five hundred started from the little tow