The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-04-19
THE START MADE.
Thousands of Settlers and Hundreds
of Prairie Sehooners on the
Way TO Oklahoma.
Roads Bad and Streams High. But
Nothing Deters the Eager Seek
ers for Homes.


ARKANSAS CITY, Kansas, April lS.-At
O'clock this morning the boomers were
alive getting ready to cross the Cherokee
strip. Nearly $4,000 are here. They have
been ordered 10 move In an orderly manner
along established trails. IL any depTeda-
lions are committed the whole line will be
stopped and the guilty ones turned back.
The procession will be accompanied by
twenty 10 thirty reporters ON ponies
United States Commissioner Bensell al
lowed two men 20 construct bridges at
Salt creek and Chilllcc0o creek and 10
charge the boomers twenty-five cents 10
cross. The old ferry boat on Salt Fork,
which has lain idle for wears, will be
brought into service.
Capt. Hays yesterday received instruc-
tiOns from the war department 30 permit
entries into the strip at : So'clOck this morn
ing. The south bridge across the Arkan-
sas river Is the most direct route 10 the
Strip, being just three miles from the Dor.
der. The road Is narrow, with hedge ON
one side and wire fence on the other Rain
made the mud hdb deep. Before dark last
night this three miles of road was block
AIDED with wagons and was impossible
either way. Many families slept In their
wagons, which stood up to the hubs in
mud. A large party from Wellington has
constructed pont0on bridge, which 10
portable, and they will cross the stream on
II. This morning fully 400 wagons were
along the line and strung all the way TO
the limits Of Arkansas City, where there
were 600 more. There was d hesitancy
about the start. Orders were gwen by
Capt Hays to wait till O'Clock, when
an orderly would give warning. IL lacked
few minutes before o'clock when
q Kansas City man called out: "Why
should we wait any longerp follow me-"
and drove across the line upon the reserya'
tion. A tremendous shout went up from
the boomers and they went forward and
over the line. The shout was taken up
along the line and the entire eavalcade
moved forward. Williams. from Chatta-
qua county, Kansas, with his wife and five
children, were the first settlers 10 follow
the Kansas City man. Soon 1000 white
covered wagons were In motion. From an
elevation five solid miles Of wagons could
be seen and as the caravan went
over the undulating prairie II pre-
sented sight probably never TO be
seen again. Perched on a cracker box
In the first of ten wagons from Bingham,
Kansas, Dan Skies flung the American
flag 10 the breeze and as far as IL could be
seen ID was hailed with patriotic shouts.
For three hours the wagons crossed the
Strip line and moved toward the promised
land. On the outside Of almost every
wagon were strapped plows. household
kbtur nIu nlbk LhtIn
horses and lunches OF cattle followed the
wagons, often driven by women and chill
dreD. One farmer had built a house from
the bed of his wagon IL was shingled,
and stovepipe leading from modern cook
stove made II complete.
From the Cherokee Strip line 10 Salt
creek fork is fourteen miles. This fork 10
a swollen stream and crossing II Is danger
Gus business A temporary bridge has
been erected but II is not safe. Ii is be-
lieved majority Of the settlers will camp
tonight beside this stream. Capt. Hays
broke up Camp Price at noon and Ia follow
ing with his cavalry. His orders are TO
camp TO night at Salt creek fork and then
TO take the line OF march tomorrow for
Oklahoma. Camp Will be struck by the
soldiers inst across the line and Capt Hays
will picket his men along the Oklahoma
line as far as they will reach. His picket
line will be joined by soldiers from Cald
| well and the boomers will be- kept at bay
until the hour of noon has arrived. The
three miles of road from the Arkansas
river along the Ponca trail is In frightiul
condition and IL was most discouraging for
settlers; but these men are not made OF
the stuff to turn back. Difficulties of
all kinds are met and overcome.
The most neghborly feeling exists and
each renders the other all the assistance e
possible. Capt. Hays who has kept the
boomers at bay, says he never saw n more
orderly set Of men. The Indian mission
school, half mile from the P0nca TRAIL
came ina body 10 witness the start and
men and women on horseback from
Arkansas City galloped along the line Of
wagons and waved their handkerchiefs 10
the farmers. Prospective merchants,
| townsiteTs, bankers aud spectators will
take the trains on Monday. Wagons from
the north continue to pour In, but In no
| such numbers as witnessed In the last
three days. Parts OF wagon passed under
the temporary bridge over Salt Creek fork
| this morning and the suppOsition Is that a
| family of boomers has been lost In the
stream. IL is reported two persons were
| drowned.
| Alto o'clock this morning the start across
/ the Cherokee strip was made by the boom.
ers at Caldwell. The intention had
been to start tomorrow morning, but
owing 20 the condition Of the trail because
of heavy rains the last few days Capt
WO0dson, commanding the company sta
toned there 10 repel Invaders determined
| 10 give the cOlonlsts another day 10 cross
the strip. BY 10 o'clock the wagons were
drawn up on either side of the little bridge
where the old Reno trail crosses the line
At Just 10 o'clock they were permitted t0
start. The troops rode slowly In front, tn,
wagons stringlnR out In single file, making
the start OF the long procession that vii
continue 10 pour over the little bridge int
the land of the CherOkees all day long
About 700 wagons left to-day.