Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-21

iltH hdiillB w llt On lbluNhiiUlfs
There were ladies there, one so old that
she had TO be assisted over from The
depot The ladies represented some Of
the old-time settlers on Marsh creek.
near McCammon, Ever since the fall Of
1897 they have virtually owned the
property that has been fenced In and
duly improved at stated intervals. On
Tuesday they found many who were
eager to deprive them OF the land Some
OF the men who filed in Marsh V/cy
never We're on the ground and conse,
quently had no legal right 10 take up
the property Old Mrs. Marley who is
81 years ~ age. declared that none OF
them were legally entitled 20 the prop
arty. Her friends ayerred that the
soonera' went out into the sage brush
he night before and when the appoint
ed time came popped mp and rode for
Backfoot picking up the relays at fire.
luent intervals This they claim Is
the secret OF the wonderful riding that
went on record on the day Of the open
ing Of the strip on the Fort Hall reser-
vation one and all Of the g settlers
on the coyertCd strip say that the on
IS man that made the ride from the
valley was William llillman. and then
the men who beat him In on the spec
lal train from McCammon did not go
on the ground they fled upon that day,
The matter will be straightenei ont
within few days and If all that IL
alleged by the settlers is found TO be
substantiated the Marsh Valley colony
viii remain unbrokep.
BITTER AGAINST sOONERS.
The men who have been temporarily
ousted are exceedingly bitter against
the "sooncrs," although they do not as
sumo an attitude calculated 10
preciptate any serious trouble.
They are content to let the
investigation proceed and are conf
dent of the ultimate outcome None at
Blackfoot on Tuesday and Wednesday
was backward In saying harsh words
regarding that Salt Lake outfit" which
Is said TO have equipped men with
horses In order 20 take up the lands.
Those residents of southeastern Idaho
who have been acquainted with the
original settlers for years and are con-
versant with the things that led up
TO the settlement OF that rich part OF
the reservation, say that they would
scorn to do trick OF the kind they de-
clare that those people who have held
the land for so many years are entitled
to IL, especially IN the face Of the fact
that they have fenced and otherwise
improved the property
ONLY ONE OUT OF SIX.
Indications are that there was plenty
Of land for all--of kind. However.
everyone wanted the best that could
be obtained, with the natural result
that when a man walked up to the
counter In the land office and presented
his location papers 20 Register Lorenzo
r. Thomas he generally was Informed
that there had been others, several In
fact, who had made the same bqueS
before him. In this way II came about
that towards the last possibly one out
OF six was able TO file on land.
CREDIT Is DUE.
The manner In which the AFFAIR al
the Blackfoot end of the proposition
was handled reflected great credit on
all who had a hand In H.. The clerks
In the land office were competent and
oecasioned no unnecessary delay. One
man was admitted at a time and as
soon as he had transacted his business
he passed the barrier and left the build
ing by the rear entrance. The matter
OF controlling the crowd and settling
| disputes as 10 position was In the
hands OF the special government agent.
Col, II " A. Ferguson. No one enyied
him his position and II can be sal ID
| that he earned every cent that Mas
| coming to him ten times over. His
| deputies also established a record aor
| fairness in the enforcement Of the
rules that had been laid down
AN ANXIOUS MOMENT.
As a character study a few hours
| spent in the land office at Rlackfo 4 on
| Tuesday and Wednesday were decided
| ~ productive of edlfying results. There
was fascination attached to he
| watching of the faces of the applicants
~ they filed In and awaited breathless-
| ~ the verdict on their location. "sten
| right over aud pay your filing fees,
| was always productive of broad
| smile. No matter how stoical that face
| was a minute before the smile would
| break through. on the other Y~i
| when Il had been demonstrated beyond
| any doubt that the land in question had
been already filed upon there was a
| different story. We'll, I thought
would just try on the Off chance said
one typical homesteader with the un-
easy smile OF the man who had made