Evening journal., 1889-03-18
ONE CENT
A RAID ON THE BOOMERS.
They Are Driven from the
Oklahoma Territory.
THEIR HUTs DESTROYED BY FIRE


Government Troops Pounce Upon the IIle-
gal settlers and ARE Driving Them Like
sheep to the Kansas Line-waltinr for
President Harrison's Proclamation.
OKLAHOMA CRY, T. r., March IS. Nest
ling quietly on the north hank Of the North
Canadian river is the boomers Mecca, Okla
honn. Saturday morning the warm sun
shone gayly upon the bright new tents Of five
hundred boomers To-day not one remains.
The transformation Of Oklahoma from a
boomers village into a soldiers camp was
wrought by the arrival Of Lieut.. Carson, OF
inc Firth cavalry, with detachment OF
troops and squad Of Indian scouts from
Fort Reno They are driving the set
tiers ont and burning tho houses.
They are also burning the prairie grass.
ana at night the skies are aglow from the red
hames which sweep across the levels and de-
vour everything before them. Another do
taehmont Of troops is securing the northern
part Of Oklahoma. The arrival Of the milf
tary here had been anticipated, and most of
the boomers had scattered 70 the four winds.
sosne left ON the trains but most Of them
took to the woods and the adjoining reserva-
tions, and when the troops leave these no
masLs will return 30 their claims
Tho scouts are flying over the flame Iit
pfairies IN pursuit Of fngitives along the line
Of the Santa Fe railway. Some Of the boom
eis still remain at the station, and say they
VIII not leave unless they are taken out by
force. Lieut. Carson warned all without
teams or baggage 20 leave yesterday and
those with teams are notified TO start today.
All boomers win be rounded up here and
marched l20 miles to the Kansas state line.
Tia eolonizers hardly know what action TO
take. Groups of men could be seen IN all
directions huIriedly discussing the situation.
bat IN one hour after the first Indian scouts
made their appearance two-thirds Of the
boomers had silently folded their tents and
disappeared. Those remaining wired Capt
Couch at Topeka, Kan, asking what they
had better do. In his reply he stated that
the prospects for the president issuing a
proclamation declaring Oklahoma open TO
settlement were bright and advised thern To
peaoeably quit the country and await the
proclamation.
An old soldier was heard to exclnim as he
stood on the hin watching the flames lick up
the last vestige OF his possessions: II fought
four years for the preservation Of the Union.
hut wouldn't fight fifteen minutes again.
10 be driven of the public domain by tho
troops Of a government which 1 helped To
maintain and 70 perpetnate is too much for
me to standn
The settlers are very indignant at having
their houses burned and their propertv de-
stroyed. Th-y attach no blame to Lieut. Car
son, who Is treating them with all the con-
sideratioq possible under the circumstances
He Is under orders from the post command
ant az Fort Reno, and refuses to state whether
on not he Is working under new orders from
the war depa' tment or the old orders OF 1885
II is understood that the instructions Of 1885
still rule the situation.
Adv'ees from Purcell thirty miles south OF
mere, NJ the Chickasaw Nation, are TO the ef-
feet that the boomers from the south ara con-
centrating there by the thousand ana ara
ready for any kind Of a move.
The Pottawatomie country cast Of here in
also swarming with boomers awaiting some
action II is intimated that :. 900 people ara
camped along the Kansas line and troops ara
patrolling It day and night to keep the IN
vaders out OF Oklahoma. Despite the efforts
Of the military hundreds OF boomers evade
them and steal through during the night. "A
company Of soldiers Is ON its way from Fort
Reno 70 Arkansas City to relieve the COM
pany now ON duty there and along the line
Of the Santa l'e road Feed for the soldiers,
horses has been sent, aud il is evident the
regulars viii take their time and clear tina
country Il possible
Oklahoma" Harry Hill, Paynes old scout
has just passed through this country and
everywhere met with an enthusiastic r,cen-
tion among the boomers. If President Har-
rison fails % issue proclamation by April [.
declaring Oklahoma open 70 settlement. Hui
will lead the boomers into the country. Ar
rangements have been made with colonies at
Arkansas City, Caldwell, Wichita, Omaha.
Purcell and other points by which they aeree
20 move into the territory upon Hilrs order.
They desire to settle the country lawfully.
and viii give tho president a reasonable
length Of time to act, but ii he fails to author
ize them they win move in by the thousands.
60 ON their claims and pul ID crops. They
think now that President Harrison is int,s-
enccd by the cattle barons who are trying
70 delay the opening until the Cherokee
strip is purchased from the Indians. The
boomers have no faith in the immediate pur-
chase Of the Cherokee strip. They believe it
TO be only pretext for one or two years
delay.
Il is hard TO tell how long the wanderers
who are here win be able 10 hold out, as they
will not dare to shoot game, for fear the
noise viii attract the attention Of the sol
diers 1t is said that the settlers Of Deem
Fort win not depart except by force, and
trouble is likely 10 ensue. Everything is at
fever heat, and it is hard telling what to-mor-
row viii bring FORTH