Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-03
In rI4E nooNrERs, CANIP.
Capt. Couch Confident that COlonists
VIII Take Up Claims In the Indian
Territory.

Mr.. sam Smith, who is acting editor Of
the Oklahoma Var Cbjef while the editor
Of the paper, Mr.. Crocker, Is confined in
iau some 90 miles from here, having been
arrested by the United States authorities,
charged with high treason and seditious
conduct--a serious charge ifltcan be sEs-
tanned
The "boomers' camp at present does
not represent more than small fraction
Of the entire community OF Oklahoma
pilgrims. There were probably hfty or
sixty tents scattered over an area OF ten
acres, and the camp in most respects re-
sembled q small military encampment.
The Oklahoma people had been pictured
to me in various Lights BY some ] was
told that they were IMPLY lot Of thiev-
ing, g0o0-iornothing fellows, whose
sole purpose was 10 OBTAIN some
thing for nothing, and who would
not cultivate the claims they seek
10 obtain, even if they were allowed to
locate on them. On the other hand, l WAS
told that the community, as whole, was
composed of honest, weli-dispoaed citi-
gems. most of whom had attested their
LOYALTY to the government by years OF ser
vice in it's armies, and the only object
they had in view was the founding OF
settlement OF homesteaders on a great
tract Of land located IN the heart OF the
Indian territory. belonging 20 the govern
ment. Crossing little ravine, through
which flowed a sparkling stream, we
drove up on little billOck, aud the
boomer camp was spread before Is.
We stopped in front of the store tent ana
found a dozen or 50 Of men clustered
around under the awning. The absorb
ing theme WIS the pending settlement OF
the Indian troubles and cattle leases.
Capt. Couch, Mr.. Blackburn, ana other
notables OF the community were present,
and the opportunity was good one for
me TO get the views OF the boomers. l
found them to be an unusually intelligent
set OF men. especially when the condi-
tions they were living under were con-
Eidered, and a more enthusiastic, ernest,
hopeful set l never before met. HJ.t&A
"Are we going 20 OklRbOmaW said
Capt. Couch in answer to my query
t'Nhy, of course we are: not In the face
of any official decree, however, not
against the law, but we are going with
the fun approval Of the government, and
before long, 100. We are confident that
such will be the case. We know our
caase is a just one, and all that we want
Is 10 have a fair-minded, unprejudiced
commission appointed 10 look into
the status OF the case. They will
I'nd that about 100000 acres Of the
anest government land is locked up
tory just to accommodate a few cattle
men who use il at pasture for their cat
Tie, and pay no rent OF taxes. They are
waxing rich, while the poor fellows who
desire 10 go in there, take up clam OF
100 acres, cultivate it, and build thereon
RsboHse, are driven out like so many
Wild beasts, abused without reason, and
arrested FOR no cause whatsoever. ldefy
any one TO prove that those members who
have been arrested ever did anything 20
justify their being arrested in the way
they have BEEN"
The great majority of the Oklahoma
Boomers are native-born citizens. Capt.
Payne estimates that not over One-tentn
are foreign born. So far as can be learned
they are a remarkably sober and orderly
community, very little drunkenness or
dlsoi der being noticeable among them.
They seem to consider that Oklahoma is
land Of unusual promise, overlooking
with milk and honey. and that as it has
been purchased by the government they
are entitled to go there and settle. They
Look upon the attempts made to keep them
ont 10 have been inspired solely by
The cattlemen, who hold Unauthorized
possession of the land, and who would
have to go if the settler once came in.
Iapg. Couch said that there we're more
than ten thousand persons who belonged
TO the association, and who proposed go
ing into the country just as soon as it was
opened. They were most Of them scat
tered over Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and
Kansas, and they would come f0cking
down m short order when the glad tldings
IS sent out that the government has
changed its attitude and permits them to
enter upon their beloved territory, The
little camp at Caldwell numbers about
800 souls, all told, and is the vanguard,
waiting for developments, keeping up the
organization, and agitation. The men are
most all employed as freighters and make
a comfortable living. There are nogleg~
gars or strikers in the camp, l am told,
and every person has something to occupy
his or her time. To be sure the tented
households do not call for much expense
or care, but the fact tn at the community
Is selt-supporting, in spite of the sneers
OF those who oppose their progress into
the Territory, speaks in their favor, The
boomers all appeared much Interested in
the order driving the cattlemen from the
Cheyenne and ArapahOe agency, and feh
that It was partial victory fUIg them.
"When we get these cattle kings OF we
can get honest settlers inn said Mr..
Blackburn. The boomers claimed that
they had been wllfully or ign0rantly mis-
represented by a large portion of the
press Of America, and felt sure that they
would have much more sympathy h their
movement when all the facts were
known.
The town Of Caldwell, Kan, is. located
within couple Of miles from the bound
airy line Of tbs Indian Territory, and il
Inc southern terminal OF branch of the
Atchison, Topeka aud santa Fe road. II
Is one Of the two northern terminals OF
the great national cattle trail through In
dian Territory, aud is the headquarters of
the Cherokee strip Livestock Associa-
ton. All troops, travellers and merchan-
disc bound south into the territory in the
vicinity OF Fort Reno and 10 the Cherokee
strip pass through here. The Indi-
ans come here In large numbers
10 trade, and, rs a result. the
town has grown into an active,
busting place of five or six thousand in
habitants. 1t Is one of the most enter
prieiug OF the border towns. Virtually
this has been the seat OF operations for
the settlement of the Indian troubles. the
Oklahoma movement, the cattle-lease
light, and the cathedral difficulty. Large
numbers Of stockmen and soldiers have
been gathered here for some time. and one
has an opportunity Of learning every
phase Of thuse Issues which have been 0c-
cupying so much public attention OF late.
Never was selElnterest more the con-
trolling motive IN all statements than
here, and, with all due respect 20 the diff
ipraut gentlemen " no favored me- with