The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-27
S|))NERS, EVERY ONE
Are ProSpectorS Now in the
Wichita Mountains.
ORDERED To CLEAR OUT
Opening Bill Said to Have
Been Tempered With.

Fort Worth, Tex. June 2s-The situa-
ton in the Kiowa and Co1nanche reser-
walton is becoming serious on account OF
hundreds Of prospectors focking to the
Wichita mountains, searching for valua-
BILE minerals Five hundred are already
there The Indian police have orders
from the interior department to eject in
vaders on the reservations, and if this is
attempted bloodshed is feared. Rich de-
posts Of ore have recently been discov-
cred in the mountains Excitement is
running high and clash between the
prospectors and the authorities is ex-
pected.
Guthrie, o. T, June 26.-Horace Speed
United States district attorney. said to-
day that persons now going to the K owa
and Comanche and Apache Indian reser-
vations for the purpose Of acquiring min
eral lands would be elected as "sooners'
and kept off the reservation until it was
formally declared open 10 settlement by
presidential proclamation. It is the opin-
ion Of Mr.. Speed, as it is that Of the sec
rotary Of the interior. that the mineral
lands must be first allotted to Indians or
opened to settlement before they can be
entered for mining purposes.
Guthrie, o. T., June 25.-The hundreds CT
miners, prospectors and spectators who
poured into the Kiowa and Commanche
country Immediately after the signing Of
the bill to provide for the opening Of the
reservation to settlement are to be forci-
bly, elected unless they take their depart
TIRE peaceabiy. When the bill had been
sent to the president for his signature
a tip was received by various persons
in the territory that it contained a clause
which provided for the opening to settle
ment CT the mineral lands upon the pas
sage Of this act" and hundreds rushed
into the reservation and commenced stalk
ing out mining claims. It now appears
that this clause was serreptitiouglv
inserted in the bin after it had
left the conference committee and
this coming to the knowledge Of Sscre-
tary Hitchcock, decided that Official to
take immediate steps to stop the influx
of spectators. A full explanation Of the
secretarys action and the causes leading
thereto, appears in the following dis
patch from Washington:
After conference with a number Of
members Of congress and others who are
interested in the indian lands in Okla
homa, Secretary Of the Interior Hitch
cock has decided TO take immediate steps
to stop the influx of miners and specu-
lators to the lands of the Indians in the
territory, which it is proposed to open
xx-ifh n n,
under an act passed al the last session OF
congress. a letter, which he addressed
today TO the Commissioner Of Indian Al
fairs, indicated this iz no uncertain term
and the invaders of the Indian lands will
be given TO understand at once that the
This is the only possible justification
their remaining on the lands.
kilograms received from the south
west to the effect that scores of miners
and prosoectors are invading the lands
OF the Comanches, KiOwas and Apacbes
have caused much annoyance. The mat
Ter mas been brought to the attention Of
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. and II !
was discovered that all that has been tele-
sraphed here has basis in fact This ac- |
ten has the effect Of p1e-empting the |
reservations, which are to be opened TO I
settlement under the act passed in the
closing hours OF congress. While the
lanqs in Oklahoma will eventually be |
thrown open by the government. it viii |
be done in the usual way. by proclama- /
ton Of the president, and under reguIal |
lions which VIII be made by Secretary |
hitchcock. Unfortunately, clause was
allowed to creep into the act which gives
a semblsnce OF authority to the "soopers'
10 go onto the lands where minerals ave
found. This section of the act reads:
That should any of said lands allotted /
to said Indians. or opened to settlement
under this act. contain valuable mineral
deposits shall be open to location and
entry under the existing mining laws OF
the United States u25n the uasssce of
This act, and the mineral laws of tho
United States are hereby extended aver
said lands
This Is the only possible justification,
that can be found for the miners entaring
the land AZ this time.
Members Of congress who served on ,t,
committee have the bill in charge IN the
House and Senate say that the c,auSa ~
question creDt into the bill without tbatr
knowledge, or without any OF them rss,-
.zing the import which might he given IL
j aeY took the matter un and vester7a,-