The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-06
SOUTH DAKoTA's DARK ISLAND.
Magical Area Astounding With
Many Criminal Mysteries
from the Minneapolis jour


large wooded island in the Missouri
River, near the Lyman County line this
State, that has been the scene of MANY
bloody deeds during the last three quar-
tiers OF century, is about to be con-
verted to the use of civilized man by
having large sawmill erected upon it.
In early days it was known TO the whites
as Dark Island" The history of this
name is not definitely known. but it is
thought by old settlers that ii may ave
acquired the name from the fact either
that it is heavily wooded and. therefore.
dark and gloomy as compared with the
open plains on either side OF the river
or, more probably. that it was the scene
of many dark deed. For nearly twenty
years preceding 1890 it's only occupant was
a man by the name of Frank Phelps, a
man around whose history there clustered
many doubtful acts. Since the beginning
of his occupancy ii has been known as
Phelps Island
1t was on this island that two Jesuit
missionaries lost their lives il 1915. They
had come out to work among the Indians,
and had crossed over 20 the island to CON-
suit White Eagle. a powerful Sioux chief
who lived there This was the last seen of
them. Some years afterward the Indians
OF this tribe used to display two white
mems scalps with long black hair. and 1t
is thought they were taken from the two
Frenchmen few years afterward a
party of emigrants found this convenient
place to cross the Missouri. but nothing
was ever heard OF them after they reached
the island.
In 1898. at the time when the Federal
Government was converting the Rosebud
Indian reservation into organized coun-
ties. Phelps occupied the island. At this
time Mot Matson, a Swede, who lived on
the west bank of the river, directly oppo-
site Phelps shanty. was murdered in front
OF his own door Henry Shredder. who
was at that time employed by Phelps in
cutting wood for the steamboats,, was ac-
cused of the crime. He was arrested and
confessed his part in the murder. but i'm
plicated Phelps as the instigator of the
crime. Shredder is now serving the sew
enth year of a life sentence in the State
penitentiary at Sioux Falls.
Phelps was arrested. and in the long |
trial that followed spent all that he was |
worth including the island. in trying to |
secure his freedom. He was found guilty. |
however. and was sentenced to life i'm
prisonment. He appealed his case to the
Supreme Court. and on the very day on
which the opinion of that court was
handed down affirming the decision Of the
lower court, he suddenly died in his cell |
in the Jail at Alexandria.
Many other dark deeds have been con-
nected with the island, but it has re-
Gently passed into the possession of a
that has commenced the erection
Of sawmill for the purpose of cutting the
timber and clearing the land and putting
it under cultivation. Much interest is
manifested in this work as 1t goes on. for
II is thought that, In cutting down the
giant trees and in clearing off the land.
where SO many dark deeds have been COM
mitted. evidence Will appear that will
throw light upon many mysteries which
surround the SPOT.