The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-10
The site is as flat as a table, and is

The site is as flat as a table, and is
surrounded by some OF the choicest
farming land in the reservation. The
"sooners" began to go there Saturday
night and all day Sunday they went
out in all sorts of conveyances and I'M
began to set up their stakes
and mark out their property.
One enterprising party Of men start
ed out with the firm determination of
getting the choice lots in all the towns.
They stopped first at Herr1ck, staked
out a block, put a barbed-wire fence
around 1t and started out for the next
town, where the same thing was done.
Then they returned to their first love
at Herrick only to find a man camped
upon it and calmly guarding the prem
Uses with a rifle. They decided not to
question his title at that time and I'M
der those conditions.
A party Of Fairfax citizens, with the
sons of Ex-Governor Jackson Of Iowa
at their head, started out to do a lit
They staked out choice bunch of lots
at Herrick, but when they returned
little later, found other "sooners" in
possession.
The cause of all the trouble was
due largely to the fact that no one
lions were under which lots might be
taken. There were those who be-
lieved the "sooner" plan was the only
system, while others argued as strenu-
ously that the sooner" would have no
legal rights. 1t proved that the soon
err" had some gun rights at least, and
now he proposes to prove his legal
rights.
Oklahoma Boomers.
A large party Of Oklahoma boomers
came to .Bonesteel with the firm de-
termination Of working the Oklahoma
schemes on the unsuspecting South
Dakotans and beat them out of theiI
lots. The South Dakotans, however
seemed to have a frmer grip on the
South Dakota laws, which differ from
those which govern In oklahoma, anc
In most cases the Oklahoma boomers
got the worst of it.
The star Oklahoma scheme was tt
perfect an organization Of which al
Oklahoma man would be chosen sec
rotary and treasurer. The admission
fee was 81 or 50, as the case might be
This organization was to go abou
the game regularly, keep everybody
| out in body, and then the member
were to draw for their choice. It wa
| this ideal little scheme which tn,
"sooners' shot all to pieces.
At Herrick they calmly walked
their lots, armed with rifles, shotgun
and revolvers, and defied anybody t,
come and take them away from them
| The regulars muttered, threatened
and in some cases fought, but tn
"sooners" were too strong for them
| Finally the numbers Of the Eaters
were increased, and for a while trou
| BILE doomed ahead. A few shots wer
! fired, but apparently not with the in
| tention of killing, and no one wa
4 hurt.
| IL, 1t
South Dakotans Too Foxy.
The fight for the possession c
Burke was more dramatic. Here
was a pure-quill Oklahoma schem
against a South Dakota article.
The Oklahoma boomers were head
ed by G. J. Conner, while the opposi
4 George letters, formerly Of Siou
Falls, later county attorney of Plyn
outh county, Iowa; then of Sioux Cit
and now of Bonesteel.
The Organization headed by M
Conner was encamped peacefully o
the edge Of the townsite, awaiting de
velopments.
While conferences were being he'll
the letters party took out a party {
surveyors, made survey of tt
town, and before the Organization
really knew what was going on, til
inimitable Bill Peoples had move
his big tent across the line and we
erecting the first saloon in Burke, G
what was laid out as the main sire,
Of the town.
Mr.. Conner didn't know what to d
He called his followers together ar
told them the Jig was up, that it real
) didn't amount to anything; but, no
I withstanding, it would be a good ide
I to stake a few lots.
81 Instantly the rush began. This
) trooped across the line, carrying
I bunch of sticks, which were drive
( | into the ground, hit or miss. Wagon
were arriving all the time and wome
} We'd with the men in their avidity
I secure lots. When the situation w,
{ cleared, it developed that the Jeffe
: party had secured all the choice 10
} along the business street.
Then the Organization BEGAN
{ very sore. There were mutterin
) and threats, followed by a compr
7 mise meeting which compr omist
( nothing and where some hot shot w
{ exchanged Every man slept on
) lot that night, armed to the teeth.
I CARS OFFICIALS SLAIN.
81 Berlin, Aug. 1o.-The vossiche zeitu
I says that M. Tregubenko, head of t
forest department, and Chief of Poll