The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-23
A Fleet Of Prairie SehOOners Sailing
Along Behind Them.
While a Train With Cars Crowded to
the RO0fs Passes Both
EnterpriSiug Settlers kVade the Law
and Camp in Guthrie
But the Day Passes Without Fulfilling
Many Dire Prophecies

ST. LOUIS, April 22.-A Republic special
from Arkansas City, Kansas, says the Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad began run
ming sectional trains out of Kansas City last
night, picking up cars at almost every station
along the route. Hundreds Of people were
waiting at every depot and II all the cars
filled before the border line was reached,
could have been coupled, they would have
made train miles in length. The crowds
were composed Of spectators, adyenturers,
sight-seers, thieves, gamblers and a sprink-
ling Of the demi monde. The farming ele-
ment was not largely represented. as all the
homesteaders have gone on before. There is
not State or territory In the country which
did not have its representatives. At Arkan-
sas City over 75 coaches were tracked In the
yards awaiting the rush. The crowd began
gathering on the platform two hours before
daylight. and long before dawn the city was
awake and stirring. The streets presented a
live and picturesque appearance after the
sun rose. Crowds were rushing toward the
centre of action from all parts Of the city.
Hundreds of boomers and rustlers, in their
impatience to get abroad, rushed down TO
the yards, and attempted to force an entrance
into the cars, all OF which were securely
locked. A large number Of coach windows
were broken out by people anxious to secure
seats. The crowd was panic striked.
The first section, made up of nine coaches,
a newspaper coach, and one caboose. ran slow
ly. There was great danger Of misplaced rails
and switches, or distractions Of various
kinds placed by those gone before, who
wanted a corner ON the best lands. The $40
sign which marks the State and dividing line
from a Cherokee strip was reached and
greeted with loud cheer. No Indians were
seen until after Willow Springs was passed,
when wagon load Of bucks of the Poncha
tribe passed up the trail who responded to
the shouts and cheers of those ON board the
train with sullen looks and gesticulations of
defiance. Along the Pawnee trail the train
passed caravans of boomers wagons, many
going South and some returning to Kansas.
At the last station outside Of Oklahoma Ter
ritory a crowd of boomers was encounted
who had forsaken their teams and hoped to
get in quicker by rail.
The line was reached about four minutes
after II. Before the last dead line was
reached, the great transformation scene had
begun and was plainly visible to the
watchers from the train. First came in
view tne white topped wagons, gatnereu In
groups. Teams had been taken out of har
ness to be ridden across the border by hard
riders, who were to locate claims. A little
further on the entire face Of the country, as
far as the best field glass could carry, was
overrun with horsemen galloping to the
southwark. Rides of 10 or 20 miles were
made in an incredibly short time by old
boomers familiar with the country who
knew where desirable lands are located.
After the train reached the summit of high
rtd full txnrA nil
length was seen being sped to the utmost
speed of the horses. These caravans were
plainly outdistanced by the horse
back riders. One homesteader had
secured magnificent quarters on rolling land,
and had dug hole two or three feet deep on
the corner Of 1t, where surveyors section
was located and where he had driven his
stakes. Not looking upon these evidences
of possession as sufficient to confirm his title
he fired his Winchester as the train ran by,
and then emptied his revolver, yelling like
cowboy. Not only the yells, but the shots
were responded TO from the train, and a vol
ley went up into the air from the entire
length OF the section, which proved how
well the party were armed In expectancy Of
what might, happen a few miles the other
side of the line.
Before the first train of land spectators
rushed to the future great city Of Guthrie,
the former had already become the possess
or of great deal Of land. Ii lacked but q
few minutes Of one when the train stopped
in front of Guthrie depot. Before the train
came to 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 thedi-
dection of valuable holdings. The scene
was busy and animated. Profanity among
the Arkansas City. Wichita. Kansas City
and other Spectators was loud and deep. Ii
there has been prospect Of shooting at any
themselves baffied at the game Of freeze-out.
They were compelled to swallow their
wrath and bad nothing to do but take what
was left, falling over each other in their ef-
fort to get out Of the cars. Every variety of
man along the frontier made an army which
charged the land Office in strong detach-
ments.