Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-11-09
DAKOTA LAND DRAWING
Two Little Girls Draw Numbers Nix.
ed With ShOVelS.
CLAIM NO. | WORTH $4,000
Great Crowd Witnesses the Drawing at Gregory
South Dak0Ia


lands by the government in Dakota
last week, the St Louis Globe Demo-
crat said: "The final climax in one
of the last great land openings in the
West was enacted in Gregory with
the commencement of the drawing
OF the names of the winners in the
Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservation
land lottery Preparations for this
event have been going on since the
close of the registrations under the
personal supervision of Judge James
w. Witten.
THE Grand opera house was Sc
lected for the final staging OF this
event, and workmen have been busy
during the last three days on the in
terror of the building, completing
the Judges plans of the drawing. A
large platform was erected in one
end of the main floor and there was
placed a twelvefoot fence OF woven
wire. The metal containers holding
the registration slips were then taken
to this platform and the seals broken
and the thousands Of envelopes
dumped in heap. Several men with
scoop shovels were set 10 work
shoveling and mixing these envel-
opes until the whole pile had been
turned over again and again and
thoroughly mixed.
After the shovelers had finished
their work, the envelopes were strewn
over the entire floor of the platform
two feet in depth. ready for the draw
ing to begin. OF the thousands of
envelopes that lay on the platform
none differed in the slightest manner
from any of its fellows, in color, ad-
dress, stamping or in cancellation.
They were alike in every respect
and no man, even after the closest
inspection. could say which was his.
AT an early hour it was evident
that the opera house. although the
largest building in the city, would be
entirely too small to hold the inn
mense throng that wished TO attend
the drawing. The main body of the
house. the balconies and the aisles
were packed, and as the hour ap-
preached for the drawing of the first
number. the thousands on the outside
of the building who were unable to
gain admission, fought for places of
vantage from which to catch a
glimpse of the exercises Hereto
fore it has been customary to open
the drawing with an elaborate pro-
gram. during which several promin-
ent speakers would deliver addresses.
but on this occasion the only oration
of the day was delivered by Judge
Witten.
After the cheering at the close of
the judges address had quieted down,
the two little girls. Virginia Foster
of Dallas and Dorothy Slaughter of
Gregory who were to draw the first
100 names fro mthe pile of envelopes,
were introduced to the crowd. and
they received an ovation. The Judge
announced that they would select
the first number together.
'Impassively, and without concern.
the fact that their hands were open
ing the golden portals to some one
in the multitude. but unknown, they
approached the great heap of envel-
opes. Seemingly by chance they
picked one out and handed it to the
equally impassive Judge. who was
waiting. He opened the envelope
and announced the name of Mary ].
Kendall Rapid City, S. d., who had
drawn the capital prize in Uncle
Sans lottery. conservatively esti-
mated worth $4,000, and the an
nouncement OF the name broke the
spell that had held the crowd in
breathless silence. After quiet had
once more been restored the drawing
went on rapidly, each one of the girls
drawing an envelope from the pile
alternately, and after the first 1OO
names had been drawn the throne
began to disperse.
THE drawing will take three days
1000 names being drawn the first day
and 5000 each the last two days, max
ing a total of 5000 Any claims that
are not filed on after the 5000 have
been given an opportunity will be
thrown open for settlement under the
squatter's right plan