Lincoln Nebraska State Journal from Lincoln, Nebraska • 1

Journal. nn a rrnm JLU NINETEENTH YEAH LINCOLN TUESDAY APRIL 23, 18S9 NO 245 DAILY I Nebraska REACHED THEIR MECCA. will never lie forgotten by the mothers of at least a score of the future senators of Oklahoma, as be personally carried at least a score of children in his arms over the bridge and helped lead many a refractory mulo team. The cattle are beginning to show the tiresome march over heavy roads much more than the other animals. Several cows will have to be left here with their young calves, dropped since we camped for the night.

Several of the smaller children are sick, but not seriously. The number that merrily trudged along with their mothers and older sisters the first day and a half driving the favorite old "bossy," are steadily diminishing, and by the time we start tomorrow there will probably not be one of them under fourteen that will not prefer the rough jolty wagon to the soft pliable carpet of green they have been treading recently. Probably not more than one-fifth of those now on the was to Oklahoma will be able to get an undisputed claim. Every intelligent man, including the government officials, are of the opinion that the Cherokee strip should be opened without delay. What will become of the four-fifths who won't get claims is a conundrum iio one will attempt to answer.

They have no means to return to their former homes and must be provided for in some way. Arkansas City, April 21. The crowds that have poured in the past few days is not a circumstance to the number coming in today. Every train is behind time, owing to extra cars, heavily laden. There are tons of baggage and personal effects at the depot.

Tomorrow morning is looked forward to with great expectancy. Every man on the street has a pointer that he will get on the first train. The special car for correspondents wiil go on the first train. At a meeting held in front of the opera house it was recommended that lots be made 25 by 125 and 20 foot alleys, streets 150 feet wide, when Oklahoma City is laid out. A good many boomers attended church today.

On the Northern Border. Kansas City, April 22. A Star special from Arkansas City says comparatively few of the wagon men reached the Oklahoma line till last evening, and this morning Salt creek, which runs through the strip and on the banks of which the Ponca reservation is situated, caused the settlers much delay. The rains have made it so high that fording was dangerous, and only a few were foolhardy enough to venture it. Capt.

Hayes, who with his company escorted the settlers to the border, influenced the Santa Fe road to lay planks between the tracks of the railroad bridge to get the emigrants over. In spite of all precautious a woman and two children and a number of cattle were drowned at the bridge. A careful estimate by a Star reporter, who was on the border last evening, is that within a radius of five miles from tho border entrance to the Ponca trail, fully 500 men were at least a mile ovei the line. No soldiers are there to dispute their entrance or tell where tho line was. A great number of people went into Oklahoma as early as Saturday afternoon.

A cattleman at Red Rock said last evening that as he came through regard to the people who will be encamped on tho other three sides of the border getting into Guthrie and filing their claims ahead of those who are approaching the border by this northern trail. I We had the greatest difficulty in getting the people across the improvised railroad bridge near Ponca station today and it was nearly 6 o'clock before the last of the 621 teams and 4,000 souls were 'safely over. The worst trouble was jwith the cattle. The approaches were so steep it frightened causing them to shy after they struck the bridge and saw the waters rushing beneath. A valuable milk cow, the only earthly possession in the shape of stock belonging to an aged couple, was crowded off and went down the stream.

A four ox team dragging a wagorf, containing a palsied, crippled man and woman, with children at the breastj, were with the greatest difficulty kept from capsizing. As I write with lamps and camp fires around me the scene is like a gypsy encampment Many of them were up all nighty fearing cayotes that we can hear distinctly barking in the distance, would attack their stock, although Capt. Hayes and 1 were around among them till 2 o'clock in the morning trying to allay their fears. The lumber used for fiat boats! heretofore is becoming so water soaked that it can't be used with safety and there are fears that the Cimarron river! will prove another bad impediments Some of the people are becoming so childish that they look to Capt. Hayes for everything.

Many are already out of bread and have been supplied from the government stores. Your correspondent is: the only one now with the cavalry. The feeling of neighborly assistance is rapidly giving way to jealousy, as we near -the border, and it is hard to get them' to assist each other any longer. We Would have been in a sad plight last night if the moon had not been out to light 1 up the work at the bridge. The people are beginning to be alarmed now at every sound and every Indian they see.

Some of them, hearing the torn toms of the Indian village four miles off, "came running to Capt. Hayes to see if the Indians had not gonei on the war path. Capt. Hayes is watching some of the desperate men 1 who tried to tear up the track last night, as he fears they cannot be held in check when they get to the border. A runner just returned from Albert station says a number of dead cattle thrown off the cars there have been skinned by the Indians and the carcasses are putrefying.

As our trail goes very close, to that point it is feared this will cause sickness among the people before we get distributed over the bordef and settled. Nearly every one of Capt. Hayes' men is obliged to do picket duty tonight because they fear some of the boomers will break camp and get over the border, which is now only eight miles distant. Thie people are greatly excited this evening over the report that the Medicine "river, three miles distant, is still rising. A scout has gone to ascertain the truth of the report.

Many are trying to dispose of their possessions, intending to turn back. The people are very much dis-heartened as some new ones join the party every day with disheartening The last report is that the Cimarron, which has yet to be crossed, is full of qiiick sands and still so high as to make it dangerous. Many of the new comers say they will start for the railroad" in tho morning and try to get freight cars for the stuff, send their families ahead in passenger trains and swim the stock over the Medicine river. The saddest occurrence of the trip so far Was the drowning of a woman and two children last night trying to cross on a raft, despite Capt. Hayes' protest to keep off the raft and cross on the bridge in tlieir turn.

The man saved himself, but jost his team and everything else, besides his family. He is almost wild with grief We will pass through the Otoe country in the morning. The many mechanics among the boomers praise Capt. Hayes' ingenuity in the highest terms. They say it is the first time in the history: of bridge building that a bridge made out of a trestle in four hours would pass over 1.500 to 2.000 animals.

600 teams and 3,500 to 4,000 people, with so little loss, only one cow being crowded off and drowned almost a Noah's ark performance. The Indian lodges are as plentiful through the Cherokee strip as bees in a hivd. The Otoes and Poncas are a cleaner set of Indians than those we see on the initial portion of the trail. One of our guards had an adventure near nightfall that he will not want repeated. Ridng down the railroad to call in the sargent with the red flag, he had to pass through quite a cut, when he met a freight train that the flagman had slowed up.

Not knowing this and thinking it was a race for fife, he started back for the bridge at breakneck speed, his haii on end, fully believing the engineer had; not seen his "signal to stop; that the flagman had let him pass and the train would run into the people crossing the bridge. We will camp at Red Rock tonight and start by daybreak tomorrow (Sunday!) for the border, only ten miles distant-. As we near the Indian reservation thejr cuteness is apparent. They have selected the best watered portions! where It contained the representatives 0f all the leading newspapers in the country, who were compelled to yield room and comfort for the good of the cause At Arkansas City "there over seventy-live coaches tracked" in the yards awaiting the rush. All of these were lowered into the yards some distance below the depot.

The crowd began gathering on the platform two hours before daylight and long before the first faint streak of dawn of the fateful day the city was awake end stimng. The streets presented a live, picturesque appearance. Hundreds in their impatience to get aboard rushed down en masse to the yards, and attempted to force an entrance into the all of which were securely locked. The excitement may be judged from the fact that a large number of coach windows were broken out by people who were anxious to secure seats. It was in vain for the officials to say that the trains would run in sections fifteen minutes apart.

Every man there wanted to be fifteen minutes ahead of everybody and not fifteen minutes behind anybody. The first section made up consisted of nine coaches, the newspaper coach and one caboose. It pulled out at 8:45, railroad time, drawn by engine 266. It was 9:30 when the line which marks the state line and dividing line from the Cherokee strip was reached. It was greeted with a cheer which rolled from the news car in frontto the rustler's caboose behind.

It marked the departure from state government, toward a country where government is yet to be created and established. Still the Cherokee country lay between them and the rainbow land. Along the Pawnee trail the train also passed caravans of boomers' wagons, many going south, but some returning towards Kansas. Between Willow Springs and the Ponca agency somebody in the newspaper car discovered a man riding on the trucks beneath the coach. WThen the train stopped at Ponca the adventurous boomer on the wheels was taken up into the car and elected an honorary member of the press association.

He gave his name as Harvey Saddler, and he was born in England but had been in this country for nine years and hud come all the way from Seattle. W. to get a foothold in Oklahoma. He wa3 elected as representative of the London Times and also as mascot of the new city of Guthrie. At the last, station outside Oklahoma territory there was a great crowd of boomers, who had forsaken their teams and hoped to net in quicker by rail.

There being no room inside, they climbed to the top of the coaches and the entire train from one end to the other was lined with them. In this way the line was reached about five minutes after 2 o'clock, i Before the late dead line was reached and passed, however, a great transformation scene had begun and was plainly visible to the watchers from the train. First came in view the white topped wagons gathered together in groups on the level prairie or in the little valleys which diversify the face of the country. It was at once noticeable that teams were not to be seen in any of these camps, and it was phi in that they had been taken out of the irarness to be rode across the border by hard riders, who were to locate claims. A little further on and this- couc.luon proved be the correct one, for the entire face of the country, as far as the best field glass could carry sight, was overrun with horsemen galloping to the southward.

The fleetest horses had evidently been picked for the work, and they were carrying their riders rapidly to the longed for goal. Rides of fifteen or twenty miles were made in an incred-able short time by old boomers, familiar with the country, and who knew where the desirable lands were located. The day was cloudless, and far away in the horizon, both to the east and west, i'louds of dust could be seen ascending riom the hoofs of hundreds of horses rushing toward different destinations, in most cases, but some of them toward the same. One race for the goal could be easily distinguished. The riders were apparently evenly mounted.

They were neck and neck for a mile or two along the trail i as far as they could bo seen, and their eager and intense looks and merciless slashing were sufficient evidence of the prize they were running after. One saddled but riderless horse was Been galloping along the trail, an ominous sign of some accident or fatality which had befallen the rider. Some went in charge of horses and were evidently riding toward the goal. Out of the dust which arose toward the east could be seen after the train had reached the summit of the high ridge, a wagon caravan fully two miles in length, and which was being sped to the utmost speed of its horses. These caravans were plainly out distanced by the horseback riders, and aiter several miles of territory had been traversed, it was seen that the best riders were winning the best prizes.

One homesteader, who had secured 5a magnificent quarter of rolling land, dug a hole two or tree feet deep in that corner of it where the surveyor's section was located, and where he had driven his stakes. Not looking upon these evidences of possession as sufficient to confirm his title, he seized a AVinchester as the train ran by and fired out all its contents, and then emptied his revolver, yelling like a cowboy or Commanche Indian all tho time. Not only the yells but the shots were responded to from the train and a volley went up into the air from the entire length of the station, which proved conclusively how well the party was armed in expectancy of what might happen a few miles on the other side of the line. The train stopped at the military post, where the white tents of the soldiers and officers tents, surrounded by the national colors, were a gratifying evidence of powers sufficiently to maintain order. Troop 'TJ" of the Fifth regiment of cavalry of the United States Army was quartered there and the officers said at the sound of the bugle at high noon there had been a movement among the boomers camped along the border which had extended across the entire frontier line and that the riding had been fast and furious ever since, some of the prospectors running to Guthrie to file their entries and others going to locate on land and secure the prior right to possession by actual occupancy.

The scene was one of the most stirring and picturesque ever witnessed. The smoke of a myriad of campHres lighted to cook the first meal in Oklahoma began to assend in all directions, and before the first train of land speculators rushed to the future great city of Guthrie, the farmer had already become in possession of a great deal of the land and more than one furrow of virgin soil was turned over to the sun, which has made the day glorious as well as memoriablc. It was 12:20 when the first section of the great Atchison train reached the line, and its progress from that point on to Guthrie was not rapid enough for the rapid men who wanted to get there in a hurry before all the cream was skimmed the late Chief Justice Waite, started those entering at the Caldwell trail, and Col. Ware, son of 'Bluff old Ben," started those on the Hunnewell trail. He being in charge of the territory, Capt.

Hayes started those entering by the Black Bear trail. It seems like a fairy tale, but there is scarcely a doubt that at least 30,000 to 35,000 people entered by these trails while the six trains that came in from Arkansas City to Guthrie brought at least 6,000 people. The wagon road runs within 100 yards of the railroad all the way. The Cimarron ford, on the Cimarron or Little Arkansas river, is just three-fourths miles from where the railroad crosses that stream near the old site of Camp Russell. The land along the road through the territory is a repetition of that seen in the Cherokee strip.

The soil is lrom three inches to a foot in thickness, but mostly from three to six inches, with a red sand loam or clay strata underneath. Both the skeleton of Ephriam creek as well as the Cim arron river fording were easy to make, and the prairie schooner contingent passed over without trouble. Along the route were to be seen deer, antelope, prairie chicken and quail. Two deer were within one hundred rods of the train and at least fifty shots were tired at them by parties from the car windows, and those on the roof without effect. The prairie chickens and quail that were near enough our train to sight were also treated to a similar salute.

When we crossed the last stream, Cotton creek, just before entering Guthrie, the passengers began jumping off and rushing up the hill on the east side of the track towards the land office, where the townsite will be laid out. One fellow became so excited that he jumped through a car window. When our train stopped at Guthrie station there was an indiscriminate rush, men an1 boys running over each other to get to the land office first or squat on a claim. Our train arrived at Guihrie at 1:25 p. ru.

and five others arrived from the north at 1:33, 1:48, 2, 2:30 and 3 p. m. None of these trains had less than ten coaches, and all were full. As many more trains came in from the south, but those from that direction not having the number of passengers as I far as Guthrie as the trains from the north had. All of those on the first three trains from the north piled off at Guthrie, but on the three latter trains about one-third went on to points further south.

A lady who came north on the through traia from Purcell told your correspondent that the land at Oklahoma City and the southern part of the territory, through which she passed, was better than the northern part and there was a better chance for a city there than at Guthrie. Scr.i-city of water will cause suffering" until wells are dug, unless the water in the Cottonwood creek can be filtered. An enterprising real estate man had a carryall at the depot when we arrived and offered to carry people over on the east side and sell lots at $1 apiece. The crowd around the land office was too great to bd numbered, and those who don't get in to file their claims tonight will sleep wlieie they are in the line to be on hand in qho morning. Two miles each way from Guthrie station town site lots were staked off, and there was not a section between there and Alfred that did not have one or more quarter sections staked off.

The vast army that is already in this newly opened territory is apparently only the nuclues of what is coming. I am afraid to describe this grand rush, as it must seem improbible to those who have not seen it. The people here are just dumbfounded and look at the vast multitudes crowding into the territory in silent wonder. Harper's Weekly's artist is on the spot on the first train, taking views. Returning on the train, hundreds of prairie schooners were passed still wending their way to the promised land, and we passed two more trains of ten coaches at Alfred, i laden fuil nearly 1,000 persons.

As Guthrie was found already staked out when our train arrived, some ugly rumors were at once started reflecting on the United States officials and the officials of the Santa Fe. It is claimed that the directors' car of the Santa Fe has been at Guthrie for several days and they, as well as the government officials, connived with the men hiding in the brush on the west bottoms, shielding them from the scrutiny of the soldiers; that these officials on lth sides had the town all laid out quietly and had an understanding with these brush hiders so they all rushed in and staked off claims before either our train arrived or the one from the south. Although the regular from the south arrived aixut 12:45 p. it was not allowed to carry any boomers. When it reached Edmunds, at it laid there until 12:05 p.

when a party of surveyors got off, said to le railroad men. When the people at Edmund saw this they rushed out and began staking off claims also. These interested parties claim there is positive proof that there was a deal of the kind intimated. Persons who arrived on the regular train from the south at 12:45 say hundreds of claims were staked out at Guthrie when when they arrived there. A sixty room hotel, shipped from Kirby by W.

T. Cannon, wiil be put up and ready af or business at Guthrie by-Saturday, i Another Account. St. Louis, April 22. A Republic's Arkansas City special says Oklahoma is open.

The trials, struggles and sacrifices of years are partially rewarded, but the events of today and those of the days, weeks and months to follow will prove how far the supply is below the demand and necessitate further concessions to avert "disorder, bloodshed and other conditions but little short of anarchy. The history of this day wiil forever be memorial in frontier annals and will Jeave behind a heritage of litigation which will be truitful to land sharks and claim but be destructive to the claims of poor and honest settlers. The Santa Fe; began runuing its sectional trains out of Kansas City last night and picking up cars at almost every station along the route. Hundreds of people were waiting at every depot and if the cars, all of which were filled before tho border line was reached.could be coupled together, they would have made a train miles in length. The crowds were composed of speculators, adventurers, Eight seers, thieves, etc.

The farming element was not largely represented, as all of the homsteaders have gone on before. There were men in the cars from every great city and important point in the country and there was not a state or territory in the country which did not have its representative. The newspaper coach was the first out of Kansas City. off the milk. Nevertheless it lacked but a few minutes of 1 o'clock when the train stopped in front of the Guthrie depot.

Before the train came to a stop it was seen that somebody was already there. In fact, the town was well populated. Tents were numerous on the eastern slope and stakes were sticking up out of the ground like poles in a bean patch. Men could be seen racing in the direction of the valuable holdings and the scene was as busy and animated a one as it is possible to imagine. -The profanity among the Arkansas City, Wichita and, as well as those from other points, Kansas City speculators, were both loud and deep.

If there had "been a prospect of shooting at any time today it was when these men found themselves baffled at the game of freeze out, but they were compelled to swallow their wrath, for according to all technicalities in law the men in possession were the rightful owners, and the men who had been left out were the ones who had been most persistent in their demands for the law's enforcement. There was nothing to do but to take what was left, and it was in the scramble to get these that the most ludicrous scene of the day was presented. Falling over each other in an effort to get out of the cars, every variety of men along the frontier made an army which charged the land office at the top of the knoll, not in a body but in detachments. The land office was not the point of their destination, though it stands at the corner of a section, and is therefore the present centre of the town, but it was to secure lots nearest to it that the rush was made. There was little left near it.

Stakes had already been driven almost to the limit of the half section of 320 acres allowed for a town site. As the law now states there was a small margin and this was being rapidly wiped out by the same men who had already appropriated nearly everything in sight. It was but a few minutes until the line was reached, and a back action movement of taking up lots which nobody had wanted before began. When the second and third sections of the train arrived and found everything cornered, the air was blue for miles around the metropolis. There was nothing to do, however, as every lot was protected by rifles and revolvers, and if shooting began there was no telling where it would stop.

The only recourse left to the disappointed men was to buy out such holders of lots as were willing to sell or run the risk of taking outside the legal limit. Both courses were adopted and a good number of Guthrie city lots changed hands. The first sale was made by a man named Rummels of Mai van, who sold a twenty-five foot front lot near the land office for $5 to an old doctor, resident of one of the Indian reservations adjoining Oklahoma. The purchaser refused $50 for the lot five minutes later. Several transfers were made today and the others who are determined to locate here drove stakes outside of the town line.

This is preparatory to the purchase of homesteaders' rights and the extension of the city limits. No one who has never seen a western town take form and shape can comprehend how quickly a full rigged city with a double deck boom can be put in running motion. Guthrie already has its main street, its Harrison street, its Guthrie avenue, and its Oklahoma avenue, and this morning it was a wilderness where the antelope sported and jack rabbit flapped its ears in the sun. In the afternoon at 4 o'clock the first municipal election occurred. The election notice appeared today in the Oklahoma Herald, a daily paper published at Guthrie on the first day of its existence.

The council will be elected at the same time. Nearly ten thousand votes were polled, as there are about that many men in Guthrie, with the intention of becoming citizens. The leading candidates for mayor were Adjutant General Iteice, of Illinois; William Constantine of Springfield, O. and T. L.

Dumnier of Arkansas City. A strong dark horse is T. Valney Haggatt of Huron, Dak. The bank of Oklahoma opened for business at Guthrie today, with a capital stock of $:50,000. M.

W. Levy, a Wichita banker, is president; George W. Robinson, a banker of Winfield. and Hon. Horace Speed of Indianapolis, directors.

The new city is flooded with business cards of all "descriptions, representing every line of trade and business, every profession and every occupation immag-inable. A mass of mail is expected to reach Guthrie postoffice every day. It is now being run by a postal clerk detailed for that puipose, but Flinn of Kiowa, lately appointed postmaster, will take charge in a day or two. The scheme which resulted in the cornering of town lots today originated, as has been frequently indicated in this correspondence, with the Atchison. To-peka Santa Fe railway, probably in combination with a syndicate who have been hard at work in Arkansas City for a week or more past.

As stated before numbers of men have been going into the territory as deputy marshals, and others under permits as railroad employes. The marshals were simply commissioned and not sworn, and the railroad men were not burdened with official orders. Thev all did their work today, aud did it well. The officials in the Guthrie land office say that the men seemed to spring out of the earth as noon approached, and that it did not take fifteen minutes to occupy half the town site. The land officials have not been greatly rushed today, as a great majority of the hsmesteaders' title by actual occupation and will perfect it at a later date.

The first homestead entry at the Guthrie office was an old soldier claimant named Johnson, a Kansan. The land office at Kingfisher was not opened today, but advices from there by stage to Guthrie reported the orderly colonizing of the town, which is to be the rival of Guthrie in the territory. Kverythinj; is reported quiet along the Canadian. Purcell is a deserted village, and a new little station on the Atchinson road, about eight miles north of it, was laid out as a town site. It is evident that Oklahoma is to be opened peacefully and without bloodshed.

The crisis was passed today. A great number of her citizens are law abiding, and those who are not will be suppressed by the strong hand of frontier justice, aided by military authority, under command of Gen. Merritt, who lias established his headquarters at Oklahoma City. There are now about five hundred troops in the territory, and they will be kept here until order is assured. The I Reforer the Battle.

Headquarters Ponca, Pawxee, Otoe and Oklahoma Agency, April 21, 8 111. We have jut ridden eight miles to Ponca station on the Santa Fe road and find tho wires useless. Will send this by pony express to Arkansas City. Another night like last night would cause an insurrection among the people, as all kinds of stories are being spread in ascertained through the newspapers of the starting of the train. There were many Indians among them who cheered us as lustily as the whites.

Between the Chilloco stock yards a number of deal cattle had been skinned, and the Indians were cutting juicy steaks from the putrid carcasses, too lazy to hunt the plenty of wild game with which the country abounds. The stench along the line was horrible from these dead animals. The train stopped first at "Willow Springs and three times between there and Ponca it slowed up to put off a dozen roughs who had no tickets and refused to pay. did net dare to make trouble, as those on the train who had paid shouted, "Put them off, put them off," and assisted the brakemen to keep thorn from climbing on again. Before reaching Ponca station a fellow was discovered stealing a ride on the trucks underneath our car.

"When the train stopped for water he was hustled out of his perilous position and brought into our car, scared half to death, as he did not know whether he was to be lynched on the spot or sent back to Arkansas City. He would no doubt have preferred the former. The correspondents interceded with Capt. Foulks for him, and he was soon drinking our good whisky and smoking our fragrant Santa Rosas. He has voted the newspaper men the best fellows in the country.

Lucky for him, however, that he was the only one one who attempted the daring trick. Had there been more they would not have fared so well. An interview disclosed the fact that he was a young Englishman, twenty-two years old, of light complexion, from London, England; has been in this country seven years. Being a minor when he came here, he does not have to be naturalized. Ha has ridden on the trucks in this way all over the United States.

He was sketched by the Globe. He will take a claim if he can. As we neared the border the boys began to manufacture all the small pieces of lumber into stakes to mark residence lots, and every eye was wide open when we passed over Salt Creek ford bridge to see the structure where your correspondent, McDonald, "won such high ecomiums for the assistance he gave Capt. Hayes and his men passing the cavalcade of boomers over on Friday night last and for which Mac was promoted to the position of a civilian aide de camp on Capt. Hayes' staff.

Postmaster Flynn was found on the train and brought into the correspondents' car, where he received congratulations and remained our guest till we reached Guthrie. Red Rock station was reached at 11:05 a. m. and the engine again took water. There are as splendid springs here as anywhere, and the many boomers slacked their thirst while the train halted.

A number of boomers from the camp near by were at the train to meet us, but none attempted to get on. There is plenty of timber through the Cherokee strip useful tor building purposes and fuel. There is a chance for lots of saw mills on the streams of water at little expenso to dam. An invitation was extended to the members of the press to attend a banquet in the near future, tendered by the board of trade of Arkansas City in "their honor, to be held at such time as would suit the correspondents en route. This is to be decided on later on.

A meeting was held eu route, after passing lied Rock station, and a committee appointed to draft resolutions expressing the sense of thecorresjiondentsfor favors received from the hands of the Santa Fe road. The committee resolved in a few minutes, extending thanks for the courtesies extended to the management of the Santa Fe in general, and to Superintendent Avery Turner, Claim Agent C. M. Foulks and E. S.

Emery, station agent at Arkansas City, in particular. A resolution was then passed unanimously thanking Col. Eckert of the Arkansas City Traveler, who acted as chairman of the transportation press committee, for his efficiency and the many favors he has shown. We reached Wharton at 11:50, where we passed two Union Pacific and nearly two hundred cowboys boarded the train, jumping from the tops of the freight cars along the side of the train to the roofs of our cars. As this is only five miles from Oklahoma the conductor was unable to get on top of the cars to collect fare, and they rode through free.

The sight that greeted our eyes when we reached the Oklahoma border at 12:06 p. m. was one never to be forgotten. Lieut. Foster, company Fiftieth cavalry, boarded the train at the border, accompanied by the surgeon of his detachment, Dr.

Dewey. He says the boomers from the north entered the territory at the Hunnewell, Caldwell, Arkansas City and Black Bar trails, the latter branching off from the Arkansas City trail about five miles north of the border. Here was where the lieutenant, with his detachment, had trouble last night with a band of sixty desperate characters, who insisted on breaking up the line of march of the cavalcade. They went so far as to form a line and openly defy his authority, drawing their when he promptlv called his troops in action. When the recalcitrauts saw the glittering carbines the regulars leveled at their heads, they promptlv threw up their hands, 'just after the command, "Make ready," "take aim," had leen given.

They were promptly marched to the rear, which position they kept until they reached the border. It is reported ofiicially that the trouble anticipated at Pureed is not without foundation, and a conflict took place last night between the two gambling i actions that the police had to quell. As I must return from Guthrie on the only train today after we arrive to get this matter to the telegraph office I cannot go on there to ascertain aud report. Capt. Hayes is at Stillwater, known as Wild Horse trail, to assist the late comers among the boomers, who from any cause are delayed.

The start over the boundrary line was made in answer to a bugle sounding the call for dinner by an officer or soldier detailed for that purpose by the commanding officer of the post, whose territory covered the trail into Oklahoma. Lieut. Foster, who started the li'rims coming via the Arkansas City trail, estimates that at least 40,000 outfits and 10.OO0 people ranged along the border of his trail, started at the sound of the bugle Lieut, Waite, nephew of T'lE PROMISED Jj A ST. LAND AT The Oklahoma Boomers at Length Allowed to Go in and Occupy the Country. Fiftr Thoasand People Cross the orthern Border at the Blast of the Bagle.

Thoy Get la to Guthrlo and Find the Town Already Staked Off la Liberal Proportions Grave Charge of Crookedness on the Fart of the Gov ernment and Santa Fe Officials A Great Kufth for the Land OtUco A. few Disturbances Keported. In the Promised Land. Arkansas City, April 22, en fiute for Oklahoma. i Special.

This memorable day has at last been ushered in with a cloudless sky old Sol's genial rays bringing gladness to thousands of liearts, as many feared the unfavorable weather of a week ago would be re-jH-ated, owing to a slight rain during the night long before daybreak. At least 10,000 people are on the move, wondering if the Santa Fe would keep good its word to its patrons and furnish adequate facilities to transport the thousands in the city to Oklahoma. The cene at the depot was indescribable. The entire town turned out in vehicles or on foot to see the boomers start. Tiiey mingled freely with the vast concourse of strangers.

The best; of good foelhjg prevailed, and the only caso of pocket jacking reported the rascal was caught in tho act and severely pummeled before let go. An industrious photographer clambered to the top of a building and secured elegant views of the crowd. Every timo an engine moved up and down the tracks -from a. ru. until 8 the crowds clambered on, only to get off in disgust, when they found they were switching into the side tracks.j Not a man was to be found who did not have a pointer liow to get on the train.

Some enterprising bucket shop proprietors tried to 6ell options on the privelege, but gave it up after they found no buyers. Too much praise cannot be accorded to the management of the Santa Fe for the excellent arrangements for the comfort end convenience of the press. Promptly at 8 o'clock a first class baggage car was run up on the main track opposite the dispatcher's office for their use. The front platform was quickly filled by- tho VooTtier Vmfr. rhft door wn ted I A grand rush was made for the front door, but Superintendent Turner stood on the steps on one side and Claim Agent C.

3d. Foulks on the other, while a trusty brake-man stoxl at the middle entrance of the platform who demanded to see the credentials of every one claiming to be a correspondent, None were allowed to enter without such passports. It was during this rush that the daring pickpocket mentioned attempted to ply his vocation, and was dealt with summarily. Supt. Turner was untiring in his efforts to furnish accommodations' to everyoue, and having not seen his bed for three nights, did not accompany us, but placed us in charge of Claim Agent Foulks, who did everything possible for our comfort.

The crowd took no offense at not getting in our car, not even an oath or imprecation being heard. When they found first come first served, they began piling into the fifty or sixty empty cars on the side tracks, and they were soon tilled and then they began to climb in the open freight cars to the number of seventy-five, still further down the yard. These had been fitted up with good comfortable seats, arranged lengthwise. Promptly at 8:44 the first train, composed of one baggage car, eight coaches and one caboose in the rear, started slowly out of the yard amidst cheers from the throats of men and women. Those who failed to get aboard, although evidentlv much disappointed, took the matter good naturedly and joined the inhabitants of Arkansas City, congregated all along the line, to see us pflf, shouting a hearty for Oklahoma." Our car was placed next to the engiue, and no one was allowed on the front platform but correspondents.

The rear platform of our car, and all the platforms of the other cars, were soon crowded to their utmost capacity. Oar train was pulled by engine No. 260, managed by Kngineer Harry Livingstone, Fireman B. O. I Rogers and Conductor C.

E. Heck. The members of the press appointed to arrange for transportation were: Col. Eckcrt of Ithe Arkansas City Tra velttr, II. N.

Preston of the Kansas City Star, J. S. Cox of the St. Louis Globe-Denuxrat, F. E.

Sullivan of the Chicago Herald, W. C. Long and H. N. Preston, enterprising correspondents respectively of tho Omaha World and the Kansas City Slar, had a cowboy runner with a fleet while pony at the Oklahoma border, who galloped back to the telegraph office at Arkansas City with the incidents of the trip to that point.

The correspondents are all in nigh glee, and when not making notes, divided their time drawing sketches of their fellows who were obliged to as-6unie grotesque positions. Ledrue Gothrie, who assisted the conductor to take up tickets, estimated that there were over 1,000 persons on the first train. The road along the whole route was lined with, people, all having evidently Oklahoma from Galveston he counted over 100 men in the bushes along through Oklahoma. DpTture, from Wichita. Wichita, April22.

Three train loads of boomers, numbering about 1,500 people, left here for Oklahoma this morning over the Santa Fe. A large number also 'eft over the Rock Island. Another train has been wired for. Every passenger car on the Santa Fe is in use. Extras will be made up of cattle cars.

Division Superintendent Turner of the Santa re roau says it win De nignt net ore tna special trains reach Guthrie. The number of persons going from all the railroad towns in southern Kansas is far greater than was anticipated. Many hundred will go down merely to see the scramble and with hb idea of remaining. It is be- lieved that the stage line at 1'ond Creek, on the Rock Island, wiil be today totally unable to accommodate the crowds who will want transportation across the sixty miles lying between the railroad terminus and Lisbon. All Excitement.

St. Louis, April 22. Dispatches from the Oklahoma country say that everybody is on the qui vive to make a grand rush across the river at noon today. Large sums are being paid for swift horses that purchasers may reach choice sites first. There is as much, if not more, struggling for town sites as for sections.

It is said thirty-two town companies are going for Guthrie, about half that number for Oklahoma City and about twenty for Kingfisher, while there are applicants for sites on almost'every section. 'The trouble between town site companies promises to be as dangerous as among claim hunters. A bold scheme has been concocted. It is evideut that there is not room in Oklahoma for all the boomers, so sworn bands have leen formed that those who are left out will make a united rush and occupy the Cherokee strip, hoping to get so many on it that the government will not think it wise to drive them off. Still They Come.

Newton, April 22. Three train loads of people bound for Oklahoma left this morning over the Santa Fe. Among them was a number of capitalists who will organize a bank and open stores aud be ready for business in Guthrie tomorrow morning. Two hundred dwellings were shipped ready to put up ia a couple of hours. At Kingfisher.

Kansas City, April 22. A Times special via Fort Reno says the Kingfisher land office was not opened today, as the buildings and other preparations for business were not completed. AN IMPERATIVE NECESSITY. What pure air is to an unhealthy locality, what spring cleaning is to the neat housekeeper, so is Hood's Sarsa-parilla to everybody at this season. The body needs to be thoroughly renovattd, the blood purified and vitalized, tho germs of disease destroyed, Scrofula, salt rheum, and all other blood disorders are cured by Hood's Sarsaparilla, the most popular and successful spring medicine.

SYRUP OF FIGS Is Nature's own true laxative. It is tho most easily taken aud the most effective remedy known to Cleanse the System when Bilious or Costive; to dispel Headaches, Colds, and Fevers; to Cure Habitual Constipation, Indigestion, Piies, etc. Manufactured only by the California Fig Syrup Company. For sale in 50 cU and 1.00 bottles by" H. W.

Brown. is the finest prairie grass ever seen. If Oklahoma is as good a country as this, no wonder the boomers want it. It is lik4 a great undulating sea of green, dotted here and there with just enough prairie nowers to vary the monotony. Uapt.

Hayes has Jbeen untiring in doing all possible to make the people comfortable, and divided some of his camp stores with them today. He has been up? and in the saddle around among mem, every morning at daybreak, inquiring personally about their welfare. The only malcontents are those who played him false at the ferry and tried to get away from the main body of the cavalcade and try to reach the line today, slipping into the territory unobserved. They are so much in tho minority that their influence goes for naught. He.