The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1906-11-03
INDIAN POLICE WERE EASY
Opening of the Walker Indian
Reservation Proves Some
thing of a Farce

Hawthorne, New, Oct. 29.-With the
firing of a mighty blast of dynamite
from the top of Grant Peak, the highest
point in the adjacent mountains, the
Walker Lake Indian Reservation was
opened at noon to-day. At the given
signal hundred of searchers for gold
hurried helter-skelter over the boundary
lines Of plain aud mountain, and before
the great cloud of smoke which rose in
to the air from the dynamite explosion
had drifted away, a spectacular race OF
automobiles, race-horses and vehicles
was on. So great was the rush across
the desert from the line nearest Haw-
thorne that a number of persons narrow
ly escaped being trampled, and in nu-
merous instances injuries were reported.
Horses were ridden until they dropped
and men recounted their ill-fortune
when their autos became stalled in the
deep sands. faded and overcome by
thirst, numbers of prospectors barely
summoned enough strength to make
their locations.
Richest Ground Stolen
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 Dutchman, Cotton
wood and numerous other creeks empty
ing into the southwestern portion OF
Walker Like, had been taken up by men
who had rushed in the night before.
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 much too
late TO he Oh an equal footing with the
men who had disregarded all law.
Indian Police We're Bribed
The opening of the resei walton was
not as imposing as it promised 10 be, on
account of the fact that countless num-
bers of miners had beer attracted into
it during the night and early morning,
| COllpitbCi1 ONti hCAihAhS VAC hNi
police, of whom there were but IA to
guard rs miles of territory. While the
opening was taking pl zee, Special
Agent Frank Parker of the general land
Office was waiting for an answer to hi:
dispatch sent to the land office at Wash
ington last night, urging that the open
ing be postponed on account of the ir
regu arities that he had discovered
Parks pointed out that the Indian police
who had been named to guard the liue
were not only inadequate and inefficient
but they hal taken money and liquo
as brides and were intoxicated most o
the time,
Much Discomfort ShoWn
He stated in his dispatch hat Oh
account of the lax methods observed
hundreds of prospectors had paid N
attention to the time set for the open
ing. This news had spread through
the camps where bona fde ~prospector
had gathered to make a rush and a
a result there was a great deal OF dis
satisfaction.
Reports have reached here Of thu
; shooting ARRAYS in the vicinity Of thu
7 old Arasta gold mine, which was tb'
objective point for hundreds of fortune
S seekers who had arrived only to fnC
= that the land had already been takeI
= up. They then attempted to get small
sections With the result that blood wa
! shed in numerous instances, although
= no fatalities have been reported.
May Be Declared LnUaLid
y Special Land Agent Parks deplore
the fact that the rush was allowed t
take place, when it was known that tn
laws of the United States in regard t
opening a reservation had been evadec
.e He says that there is yet a possibilit
that the present opening may be d.
olared invalid and a new one called fol
%Sub-Indian Agent Robert Lovegrov
81 made the sensational statement tn
Is morning hat United States Engineer
who were sent here for the purpose
~ carrying ont reclamation work on tn
portion of the Walker Lake Reservation
: that had been allotted the Indians ha
occupied their time in placing launcht
on the edge Of Walker Lake for tn
purpose of participating in the rush
contrary to the law. which states tina
all persons shall keep off a r~eservatio
until the time fixed for its opening.