The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-30
WAS A BIG FRAUD
Opening Of the Walker Lake
Indian Reservation
To Settlement characterized by
All Sorts Of Skulduggery.
SOONERS SWARMED IN
And Squatted on All the Good
Claims Early.
The Guards We're Few and We're
Easily Bought Up.
SWARMED IN

Thorne, New. Oct. S0.-With the fir
ing of mighty blast Of dynamite from
the top of Grant Peak, the highest point
in the adjacent mountains, the Walker
Lake sIndian reservation was formally
opened to settlement.
At the given signal. thousands OF
searchers for gold hurried helter-skelter
over the boundary lines of plain and
mountain, and before the great cloud of
smoke which rose into the air from the
dynamite, race of automobiles, race
horses and vehicles was on SO great
was the rush across the desert from the
line nearest Hawthorne that number
of persons narrowly escaped being
trampled over. and in numerous IN
stances, injuries were reported.
Horses were ridden until they dropped
and men recounted their i'll fortune
when their automobiles became stalled
in the deep sands. Jaded and overcome
by thirst. numbers of prospectOrs barely
summoned enough strength to make
their locations.
Those who had waited for the signal
from the top of Mount Grant BEFORE
rushing into the reservation found that
all the most valuable claims IN the VI
cinity of the rich Duthmans, Cotton
wood and numerous other creeks emp
tying into the southwestern section OF
Walker lake had been taken up by
men who had rushed in the night pc
fore.
Even men who employed Launches to
take them across Walker lake from the
eastern side found that their efforts
were of no avail, as they were mueh toe
late to be on an equal footing Win the
men who had disregarded the law
The opening of the reservation was
not as imposing as it promised 70 ss, pe,
OF. account of the fact that countess
numbers of miners had focked into II
during the night and early morning,
completely overwhelming the 1nolah
uolice of whom there we're out =1oni teen
to guard -seventy-hve miles OF territory-
While the Opening was taxing pas +,s
Snecfal Agent Frank Parks OF me
general land office, was waiting LOT
an answer TO his dispatch sent TO tne
general land office at Washin gtoh las1
night. urging that the opening Dc
r,cstpopad on account Of the Irregular
ifies tfaf he had discovered. Parks
nainted out that the Indian police who
had been named to guard the lines
we're not only Inadequate and lneffl-
cient but they had taken money ana
liquor as bribes and were intoxicated
most of the time.
count of the lax methods observed,
hundreds of prospectors had PAID no
attention to the time set Tor Ihe
onenf1g. This news soon spread
through the camps WnSIG IOtaS AA-S
prospectors had gathered to make
r1sh. and as a result there was a great
deal Of discomfort.
Reports have reached here OF nu-
nerous shooting ARRAYS in the vicinity
Of the old Arastra gold mine, which
was the objective point for hundreds
Of fortune seekers who had arrived
only to find that the land had already
been taken up. They then attempted
tn get small sections. with the result
that blood was shed in numerous in
stances. although no fatalities have
been reported
Special Land Agent Parks deplores
the fact that the rush was allowed to
take place. when it was known that
the laws of the United States in re-
gard to the opening Of a reservation
had been evaded. He says that there
is vet a possibility that the present
opening may be declared invalid, and
a new one called for.
Sub-Indian Agent Robert Love
grove made the sensational statement
that the United States engineers who
were sent here for the purpose of car
rving out reclamation work on a por-
ton of the Walker reservation that
has been allotted to the Indians. had
occupied their time in placing
launches on the edge Of Walker lake
for the purpose of participating in the
rush. contrary to the law. which states
that all persons shall keep off a reser-
walton until the time fxed for its open
ing