Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-04-25
THE MAD RUSH.
Thrilling Scenes in the Oklahoma Ooun.
try-The Lands Practically
Settled.
Magic Cities Guthrie with a Populatiou
Of i5,000-A Wonderful
Record.

+thhANsAs Cllf, April 24.-NO such
stlrrng or extraordinary scenes have eve,
before been witnessed in the history Of
the republic as those by which the inva.
SION OF the Oklahoma strip OF the Indian
territory has been characterized, Not
withstanding the vigilance OF the troops,
the possession OF the 2 900, 900 OF acres of
lands belonging to the government has
deffaee ddefa .aAS 81 tie 4 military. Tie booee
appeared to well understand the TACT that
the number of United States troops at the
disposal of Gen. Merritt was altogether
inadequate to cope with the exigencies of
the occasion. There are now within the
new country's borders fourteen companies
Of infantry and twenty troops of cavalry.
The military department had estab-
lished telegraphic communication points,
to which it was supposed the intending
settlers would gravitate, but as to the To-
calities which it was conjectured would
form the nudei Of the settling population
the government authorities have been
disappointed and the miles OF caravans
already entered upon the lands have
chosen pathways OF their own.
The objective point of many OF these
gypsylike hordes is as yet obviously un-
known to themselves, and they will
doubtless squat at the first inviting terri
tory they discover along their line OF
march. Many have been already disap-
pointed in securing land, and there is talk
of invading the Cherokee strip. Gen.
Merritt has telegraphed to the war de-
partment asking that at least 900 adj
ditional troops be added to his command.
1t is impossible to even approximately
estimate the number OF people crowding
into the promised land, J." but the reports
as to the number OF boomers who have
been living outside the border line Of the
Cherokee territory for the past few
months, every day adding to their mum.
bers, waiting for the sun of posses.
sion to dawn upon them, would seem tc
have been in no degree exaggerated
SPRING OUT OF THE EARTH
Guthrie.-The officials in the Guthrie
land office say that men seemed to spring
out of the earth and that it didn't take
fifteen minutes to occupy half the town
site.
Theland officials were not greatly rushed
yesterday, as great majority Of the
homesteaders are making title by actua
occupation and they will perfect at a later
date. The first homestead entry at the
Guthrie office was by an old soldiers
claim.
The land office at Kingfsher was open
ed yesterday, but advces from there by
stage to Guthrie reported an orderly
colonizing of the the town which is to bt
a rival OF Guthrie in the territory.
Everything is reported quiet along tht
! Canadian.
Deserted Village, little station on thu
Atchison road about eight miles north o
it, was laid out as townsite.
THE NEW TowNsITEs.
| VIM. johnson, an old soldier, filed tn,
first townsite plat for Gutherie, and shu
out the Kansas spectators, who after
ward went to buying lots. Six townsite
have been filed.
MURDER AND NO WATER.
At Gutherie S. T. Comps was shot an,
killed by rival for a claim. The mur
derer escaped on horseback.
There is great suffering for lack o
water. The water in the river is red will
mud and water famine is expected.
There is great indignation at the fac
that large numbers, including man,
prominent people, got in before nooi
yesterday ana made selections, also mucl
indignation over 100 or more deputy mar
shals who used their authority as a cloal
to get on the ground and resigned at noon
They all have lot each. They are to b
singled out and complaints lodged agains
them. A resolution was adopted tina
every invader be complained of and tina
efforts be made to drive them out.
A MAGIC CITY.
At Guthrie the first lot sale was bv
man named Rummells, of Kansas, VIII
sold q 25-foot front lot near the land oftic
for $5. The purchaser refused $50 for th
lot five minutes later. Several transfe,
were made yesterday, and others VIII
. we're determined to locate here droy
stakes outside the town line, This DR.,