The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-08-16

Oklahoma Payne and His Companions Un'
ceremonously Elected from The Settle-
ment at Rock Falls, I. T., and the Build
ings Burned-The Ringleaders Sent to
Fort Smith-A Braggart Completely
Cowed.
CALDWELL, KAS., Augusta.
Wednesday General Hatch, in company
with Adjutant- General Finley and In
spector Greene, of the Interior Depart
ment, visited Payne's camp at R OK
Falls, in the Indian Territory, and after
reading the Presidents proclamation to
him and his assembled followers, direct
ed them to leave the Territory before the
following morning, or they would be
elected. This tlok place in small board
shanty, occupied by the. Oklahoma Chief
made up at the time. Payne at
first attempted to discuss the le-
gal aspects of the case, but
soon became angry and very abusive
in his language, calling all the officers Of
the Government, from the highest to the
lowest, pack of thieves. Cooper, the
editor, chimed in with vtuperatlon aud
threats, falling to provoke the officers
into quarrel, Payne said he had a valiSe
full of money and he would give 81 900
to be tried by a United States Court, and
in order to assure the officers of case
against him would then and there sell
them liquor or cigars without license or
permit. He urged the officers to dine with
him, and Offered: them plenty of liquor
If they would do so. BY this time
a large crowd had assembled from tents
and shanties along the river, and the otii-
GERS again admonished them to leave and
not return, the only reply was torrent
Of abusive epithets that can not be pub
lished. The officers then returned to
camp, ten miles distant.
Early yesterday morning two squadron
of the Ninth United States Cavalry, COM
manded by Captain Moore, appeared In
the boomers camp, and under direction
of Indian Agent Rogers arrested the Whole
community and took charge of the print
ing office. All women and children
and men who were new offenders were
escorted to Kansas, together with their
personal prope rty. Six old offenders
ID. L. Payne, j. b. Cooper, ID. G. Great
house, T. w. Eckleberger, Jno. McGrew
and s. L. Mosely-were loaded into six
mule wagons aud started under escort of
Lieutenant Jackson and fifteen men for
Fort Smith, Ark, 800 miles distant. The
paper was ready to go to press, and upon
inquiry number of printers were found
in the command, who soon printed an edi-
ton of one hundred copies. The press was
then carefully packed and loaded into a
wagon and started under escort for Mus
kogee, it being confiscated property,
and under the law unrepleyihable. The
printing Office and other buildings, in
Guiding two boarding houses, a drug
store, cigar store, and restaurant, and
some dwellings were then burned to the
ground, and the last vestige of Rock
Falls had disappeared
The deluded squatters now realize that
they have paid Payne many thousands
of dollars without any equivalent. The
number elected from this camp was
about $50 people. A large crowd of
citizens was present. They came from
Hunnewell as spectators, and heartily
approved the course adopted to rid
the Territory of the intruders. 1t is
believed this will cure the boomers
of trying to force settlement of the
Indian lands. Other attachments of
troops have been sent to the remain
ing settlements, and will in like man
ner arrest the ring leaders. and take
them to Fort Smith.