Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-22
HO, FOR OKLAHOMA!
The Promised Land Will Be
Invaded To-day.
AVERY MOTLEY CROWD EN- ROUTE
Measures Taken by the Authorities
to Preserve Order and Pre-
vent BlOOdshed.
IAssociatea Press Dispatches to the HERALD

hANbAB OIrNj ApTll El.--A ItHteS al
kansasCity special says isreported ther'
that Gen. Merritt has issued orders to th'
troops to take possession Of all guns ant
pistols carried by the boomers. The.
are not to be confscated, but the idea il
to hold them until the excitement il
over as precautionary measure agains
bloodshed.
KANSAS CRY, April 21.-To.night be
ing the last chance for persons bound fol
Oklahoma to leave in time to reach the
country by noon tomorrow, The depot
was thronged by as motley crowd al
was ever assembled in it. The Sants
Fe, in addition to its two regular trains
sent out special of eleven coaches. The
Rock Island also sent out an immense
train. Innumerable cases of pocket
picking have occurred during the past
week in the depot and on the trains. Nc
arrests have been made as yet.
Dispatches to the Times tonight report
no change in the situation as to Okla
homa affairs. The excitement is intense.
but no trouble has occurred. The streams
are now falling, and indications point to
fine weather for tomorrow.
The Emporia colony, 500 strong, left
this afternoon for the promised land,
under command OF Captain George
Cooper. The report that the settlers are
to be disarmed is only q rumor tele-
graphed from Arkansas City, and has
not yet been confirmed.
CHICAGO, April 21.-A Times special
from Purcell, telling OF the last day in
Indian Territory prior to the final inva-
sion of Oklahoma says: The final
preparations were made to-day for the
exodus which begins tomorrow. Wagons
were overhauled. supplies purchased,
and guns and tools given careful inspec-
tion. The day was lovely, but there was
no suggestion of Sunday in the street
scenes. From the hill overlooking the
beautiful valley on the Canadian river, a
soft-toned bell called those religiously
inclined to worship in the Catholic Mis-
sion of st. Augustine. In the town itself
there are two Insignificant church struc-
lures, but they were not centers of at
traction to-dsy. The supreme moment
is so near at hand that the thousands
who have spent weary months in wait
ing can hardly contain themselves.
At 8 O'Clock this morning the public
square contained large assemblage, and
by 10 O'Clock the throng had swelled to
such an extent that passage was exceed
ingly difficult.
Several prominent men were induced
to mount an improvised platform and
harangue the people on the great issue of
the day. Judge Green, Of Kentucky,
spoke for half an hour. The people
wanted light on the townsite, school land
and other questions connected with the
opening of Oklahoma. He discussed it
with apparent knowledge of the sit
uation.
The Judge is charged by many with
being mixed up in townste schemes,
and is not therefore deemed above giving
advice, which, If followed, would result
to his personal advantage. He and others
were surprised to discover this morning
placards posted about the town, bearing
this inscription regarding the late order
made at the regular meeting of the Okla
homa Legion:
"Resolued, That we again pledge our
selves to protect our brother members in
their long respected rights on claims ,and
that all town rights placed on selected
claims, and all townsite-sharks and
aim-jumpers shall be dealt with in a
summary manner.
OKLAHOMA LEGION"
AS the town is full of the gentry named
in the notice, much uneasiness has been
caused. There have been any mum ber
of attempts to discredit the existence of
the Oklahoma legion, but that it does ex-
ist, and will WELD tremendous power in
the near future, is conceded by many.
Tonight, in Purcell, the strain on the
waiting thousands of boomers seemed al
most uubearable. The situation in Pur-
cell tells the story for the southern bor-
der of Oklahoma, of which Purcell is on
the edge. Along the entire north line of
the Promised Land the latest advices
show that the conditions there tonight
are even more exciting than in the south.
It is estimated that on the north side of
Oklahoma tonight over 10000 people
are encamped in the darkness, waiting
for to-morrow's permission to "go up and
possess the land"
ST.. LOUIS, April 2l.-The Republics
Wichita, Kas., special says: The first
train south on the Santa Fe, consisting
of fifteen coaches, arrived to-day, and
there was not standing room in the
coaches. The people filed the spaces
between the cars and crowded the steps.
One enterprising boomer rode in on the
cowcatcher. There were about j 400
passengers on the train.
The arrivals to day number at least
5000. OF this number, about one-third
went south to reach the line of Oklahome
in order to be ready for the word $50"
Others left for Purcell.
The railroad officials are greatly wor-
ried over the prospect of moving 30 many
people tomorrow. The side-tracks are
filled with fat-cars, cattle-cars, and o
gravel train is also in the collection
none of which will be below the demand
Everything on wheels will be utilized i
necessary.
Thieves are busy at work on trains, ,anC
many poor boomer has been heeced o
his all. The Crescent Townsite Com
pany, with most OF its members from
Iowa, had representative at work OIL
each train this morning in the interes
OF the scheme. About 1900 boomers
listened this morning to sermon deliv
cred by preacher from Kansas.
To night the people are prepared Il
enter the promised land along the line
John Murphy, a member of the I'm
provement Company, met John Horton
q member of the League, at 2 o'clocl
this morning, and quarrel followed. /
was stopped by a party Of friends o
each, but revolvers and Winchester
we're called into requisition and firin
was kept up in the main streets of Pur
cell until daylight. The contendin