The Alaska prospector., 1902-07-31
ANOTHER RU5H
FREE-FOR-ALL RACE FOR
 LAND.
All kiRd5 Of Excitement
Is Created by the Opening of the Reservation. No Deaths,
 But There May Be.

On July 25th one of the greatest rushes of modern times occurred at Valdez, a rush in which men, wo- men and children took part. Even digniiied lawyers could be seen in the crowd.
 When Captain Wilson declared the reservation aban doned, the mad rush began. Everyone was loaded with stakes, axes, pencils and paper. In a short time every- thing was staked, even to the right of-wav just laid out by the railroad surveyors. Everyone was land hungry and no ones appetite was satisfied. Those who got most looked for more and those who got none fought for some. There were threats of violence but the pistols were only shown, not used.
 A city of tents was soon erected, and no one would leave their new possessions without an occupant. Some sent messengers for lumber for fences. Those who left their ground to secure lumber or q tent. returned to find another occupant and their rights disputed.
 Most of the squatting has been done on land that has been paid for with script and patent applied for. The original locators are doing nothing now, but they say when the patent is allowed, they will take possession of every struc- ture that is placed on their lands.
 The stalking began on the contin- uation of Mckinley street. One gentleman who has long since ceased to be a boy, was seen with an armful of stakes and hatchet, running down the line, driving stakes at regular intervals. His feet finally got tangled and he fell. He gathered himself and the stakes up and continued with his work, only to wind up at the point from which he had started. He got turned around by his fall and thereby lost an unlimited number of corner lots, for several others took advantage of his confusion and he lost first place.
 Some of the rushers were quite massive, but their sprinting quali- ties were excellent, and the race was kept up till the big Judge called a halt, saying, Boys, We had better stop here, as this Is an h. dian reservation" The other Judge thought it would stand investigation, and finding that it was onl y the grave of Siwash Mol lie and few of the early settlers who had settled for good, the two Judges told the Fire Commissioner, (note the dignitaries) to come along, and the stalking continued till they ran out of stakes.
 We who were serenely looking on when this party reached the cemetery, noticed d peculiar move ment of the earth. At first We thought it an earthquake, but later decided it was not. Following the example of other large papers, We put d special on the case, and he being d medium, called up the spirit of Siwash Mollie, who in- formed him that tho upi.eaval was caused by few spirits that hap pened to be lowering above the graves, and seeing two judges, de- elded that the resurrection day had come, and hurried down to collect their bones, but while thus en- gagged they heard a few adjeelives which savored of another region, so they again settled down to rest, that is, if the courts will protect them.
 One tall lanky Missourian, who 2, had evidently travelled some, seeing a woman rushing through the streets with an axe, threw up both hands and eXclaimed: Good God, am l back in Kansas? There goes Carrie Nation"
 The race was hard on fat people,
 Continued on Fourth Page