Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-14


TIoN-A TALK BY ONE WHO HAS JUST RETURNED.
Special Agents Mcbride, Manly and Lewis,
OF the Department of Justice, have returned
from their official trip to Oklahoma, where
they have been for the past month watching
certain government interests. Mr.. Mcbride 8
travels over the territory have given him a
fund Of good-humored incidents and interest
ing observations, some of which he related to
STAR reporter. He SAYS that the dust is the
only Objectionable feature of the country in
praise OF which he grows enthusiastic. But
the DUST Is hne, penetrating and everywhere.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE.
'The people who entered Oklahoma" he
said, ''are remarkable for their superior inteli-
gence. The best of feeling prevailed
from the first, and Notwithstanding the
disadvantages of the first few days
the people were good humored and
patient. / think the opening of the territory
IN such order and peace. and the immediate at
tention of the thousands of strangers to the
development of the country and the building
up OF Its towns Is greater and more
FAVORABLE COMMENTARY ON AMERICAN CIVIL
IzATIoN
than was the centennial pageant in New York
recently. Some of the newspaper correspond
ents sent out sensational stories of killing, but
they were imaginary.
There was no bloodshed in Oklahoma and
after the first two days there was no display of
fire arms or weapons. A few tenderfeet from
the east came with their armor buckled on, but
they were laughed out of it after few days,
and there is now no more display of weapons
IN Oklahoma than there is in Washington.
THERE WAS ONE FUNNY INCIDENT
at Guthrie, where fellow was telling the folks
gathered around him how dangerous he was,
l. I. L L
folks had better not cross his purposes.
While the crowd were admiring him
an urchin called out: Say, mister.
where did you get SO bad?' in a small shrill
voice that brought down the house and turned
the laugh on the would-be ruffian. That say
ing is now an Oklahoma classic. 1t will de-
scend into history.
Guthrie and Oklahoma station" he con-
tinued. 'are good cities, well poiiced, with
good citizens, lots of houses going up, stores
hourishing everywhere. There are bath houses
barber shops, a tent-church, accommodating
1000 people. Also. an opera house of similar
construction and capacity. where a company of
opera singers have already appeared, and
many
OTHER SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION.
Many of the folks, having settled their claims,
have gone off for their families. OF course
there will be good many contests over claims
Ex-Representative Weaver was one of
the men in the territory be-
fore - o'clock on the opening day. He
got claim and some town lots. l think that
it was wonderful how so many people could go
into such territory without more friction
than actually occurred, and in my belief there
never was more orderly settlement
of new lands. There were some very funny
and interesting things occurred within nv OBJ
servation things that made one feel the force
of the adage that truth is stranger than fiction
indeed"
THE REPORT OF MARSHAL JONES.
The Attorney-General has received the re-
port of Marshal W. C. Jones, Of the district
of Kansas. in regard to the actions of the
United States marshals in Oklahoma,
concerning which there was considerable
rather sensational talk Immediately after
the opening OF the territory last month. He
states that he attempted, and he thought sue
cessfully, to organize force of marshals at
where it was supposed there would
be concentration of population,
sufficient to protect them from the lawless acts
and bloodshed that were predicted. There
were nineteen deputies thus appointed. He
remarks: Il believe that few of nav depu-
ties have attempted to file on as many
tracts of land in the territory, but know many
OF them have not, and while instructed them
not to so, when they saw themselves sur
rounded by about 500 to 700 persons at
Gutnrle, ana at least 0ne-haH that number
at Oklahoma waiting for the hour of IL to
come. l do not wonder that some of the depu-
ties. who were serving without pay and only
there in the interest OF good order, took the
fever and attempted to get them homes. Inever
attempted to homestead foot of land either
In Oklahoma or any other territory or state.
The country is absolutely quiet in Okla
homa, and L am astonished at the false
reports of bloodshed circulated by the
papers. There has not been a single person
killed by violence in that territory since the
22d of April" The report was dated May 9.
WHAT THE LAND OFFICE CLERKS SAY.
The clerks employed in the general land
Office, who were sent to Oklahoma to assist the
land officers in that territory to handle the
business which the great rush of settlers caused,
returned home last evening.
Like everybody else who went in with the
crowd they complain of the dust which per-
vaded all things in the new territory. At KING
Fishers station 800 land entries have been made
out of a possible 5000. At Guthrie 1000
entries had been made out of
possible 5,000 1t is said that while there
will be great many contests, yet there are in
stances where cases are being settled by compro-
mise between the settlers. The local officers can
now easily attend to the current business,
which is likely to be quite large, as only 1900
entries have been made out of a possible 10, :
900 in the territory.
The land officials occupied tents until houses
could be erected. and lived on a rather
limited bill of fare which con-
tanned no vegetables.