Wichita eagle., 1888-12-23
Up AGAIN.
THE OKLAHOMA C0L0NISTS RE-
ORGANIZED.
over Ten Thousand HOme-Seekers
Waiting for the Word.
PaHnee Biz in the CITY and Given
Charge Of the Proposed Invasion
Full Particulars Of
the Movement.


/ .eading observation on the streets yester-
I lay. It commenced at early morn and
continued until the long dreary hours set
| in this morning. Many of rhe old time
! agitators seemed 10 think the outburst Of
enthusiasm on the question even sent TO
| the deep shade the famous days when ''on
! % Oklahoma was the watchword As
| most things are not without a cause the
! origin OF the recurrence Of the agitation
! and interest taken conforms to the COM
! mon rule. For over four months It has
/ been known 10 the EAGLE that an organi-
/ zatiOn Of considerable strength was being
/ Effected in quiet way for furthering the
| interests Of the Oklahoma question. This
movement, while active and energetic,
! was kept quiet and the newspaper man
/ lucky enough to catch on was most ear
nestly requested 10 keep quiet until the
! proper time
The scheme had It's origin in Wichita
! and was worked from headquarters, taking
II all the leading southern Kansas towns
northern Texas. western Arkansas, parts
! OF Missouri and qualifications went as tar
as Denver and into Missouri, Iowa and
Illinois. The gentlemen having the scheme
on foot have on hand many thousand let
/ tiers as evidence Of earnesCness and con-
slant work
The burst out of enthusiasm yesterday
was due to the arrival OF the commander
in-chief ofthe movement, Pawnee Bill, ''or
less commonly known as Major Gordon
William Lille. from Philadelphia, where
he had expected 20 remain during the
winter. The famous gentleman was seen
last evening at the Carey and permission
given for allowing the public to know the
facts concerning the movement
He was the same 'Pawnee Bur' known
to hansans, his appearance not in the least
! changed, with possibly his hair little
longer. Concerning the movement he
said that when he was in this city last year
nc was asked by some leading citizens Of
the town if b. would lead an invasion into
the Oklahoma country, provided the nee
eSsary legislation was not secured. He
replied that he would, but greatly hoped
that congress would act fayorably, and
the future wonld not find any need Of such
procedure. During the last few months
there had been a great agitation and So
HdltlcaCiOn n favor of another invasion.
He had been constantly informed Of the
movement, and in answer would insist on
waiting for action OF the Springer bill by
congress before any invasion was at
tempted. On the 18th inst he received
from one Of the gentlemen in this city
connected with the movement
the following dispatch: Colony viii
start next week. Be sure and come.
This, together with the information he
had on hand from others. was sufficient to
cause him to leave that evening. arriving
Friday night. Yesterday morning he was
visited by the gentlemen in the city con-
nected with the movement, and it seemed
10 be desire on tie part OF some to make
an invasion at an early date lie himself
had positive opinions Il the question
thinking it not best 20 be so hasty He
would favor waiting for action by con-
gress on the present Oklahoma bill under
consideration. II favorable action should
be taken the organized colonies could wait
with the people in general and join IN the
universal rush. If unfayorable action Is
taken there would certainly be another in
vasion much stronger and more persistent
than all the others put together from the
days of - to ST. The colony in Wichita
i reported to be about eleven hundred
strong; Arkansas Cry eight hundred
strong, with several hundred ready for the
command at Caldwell, Anthony, Yelling
ton, Winfield and scarcely a town in the
southwestern part OF the state that was
not represented in the moy-m mt There
Is large colony at IT. Smith. Arkausas.
which has branches III western Arkansas
while the organization Is several hundred
strong in northern Texas There are
-,E,.
into Iowa. The organization will have
headquarters in this city awaiting the in
formation that VIII call forth the concert
action.
Il an invasion Is found necessary tie
Kansas colonies VII repair to CaldwsN
and eater the territory at that point
= ing down the ct. sill and Ch-v-
enue trail TO the Cimarron river
then take the old Oklahoma trail
u a point on the Ciu.arrCu river near Ok
lahoma City. The Texas colonies will
march TO that point as viii also the Arkan-
sas colonies which VIII assemble at Ft.
Smith and march in an almost direct line
To that point. They Will 90 provided with
provisions, wagons. horses and farming
implements all prepared TO locate there
and make it their home. II would be an
effort a. gettin-a home and the colon.Sts
would be farmers mainly il search OF
homes. Having reached the point desiS-
mated they would proceed 70 locate on
quarter sections and 20 70 work at making
Ing an honest living from the sweat Of the
brow
In answer 70 the question if the various
colonies or lines Of march would be inter
fered with he said they would not be dis
turbed in the least by them He can speak
all the languages Of the southern tribes
and knows ali the chiefs and on friendly
relations with them. He has speur fifteen
years with the Indians WIS al interpreter
for three years Tor the government aud
knows all the rerritory, having Travelled
ever all OF Il on horseback Many years
ago he had charge Of the frs train Of
wire for fencing thar went down into the
territory. His intimate acquaintance
with the Indians lie had no fears would
enable him to make arrangements for
the colonies march without hindrcnce.
He made special effort 10 impress the
fact that no effort would be made TO occupy
lands owned " the indians but thier efforts
strictly 70 settling Oklahoma
proper which were generally believed to
belong to the government ana sLoGid Dc
occupied by the people.
''Eiu you s ShCs' was asked.
Don't want 70 fight was the imIedi-
ate reply. We are lot going there for
that purpose ba1 10 peaceably take pos
session Of the lands that belong TO the gov
eminent L : supposed. however, thzS
We viii act in accordance with the law Of
self preservation, but really don't anV.ci-