The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-04-24
IN POSSESSION.
Oklahoma Fnied with Thousands
Of Settlers.
One or More Claimants for Each Farm
in the Territory.

Terrific Rush Mt the Land Omoes to
File Entries.
GUTHRIE, I. T., April 23.-The gates OF
Oklahoma were swung open OF noon Mon
day and resistless torrents Of humanity be-
gan to pour over Its soil From the Chero-
kee strip came the great feet OF prairie
schooners across the Canadian; from the
Chickasaw Nation came troop after troop
of sturdy ponies, each one carrying boom
or; from the Arapahoe and Cheyenne reser-
yations on the west came yelling mob OF
horsemen who fired volley after volley to
celebrate their final victory. The Kiowa OF
the southwest, and the Cherokee and Creek
nations on the east, also furnished their con-
tingent of boomers. At the starting signal
they moved all together, great waves Of
cheering breaking upon the air. =.
The wagons continued on over the level
green plain until they were about half way
across the northern tier Of claims and then
upward of hundred of them were brought
to a standstill. The others rolled on to the
lower tiers. Men, women and children
poured from the stationary schooners, and
In an incredibly short time the foundations
for the pioneer homes Of Oklahoma had been
laid by willing hands. Every farm had more
| than one claimant; all ready to swear that
| they crossed the border first and that theirs
were the first improvements. SO II is all
over the Territory, and especially on the
sections adjoining Guthrie and Oklahoma
City.
| Between 10000 and $4,000 people were
dumped here yesterday by the Santa Fe
road, which ran twenty immense trains
from Arkansas City. The trains moved
across the Cherokee strip cautiously and
slowly and arrived here scarcely more than
Ave minutes apart. As they approached the
land Of promise thousands OF heads pro
truded from the windows and curious eyes
feasted on the green panorama that lay be-
fore them There was much fighting to get
out Of the cars when the little building
which answers for station was reached.
Nobody was hurt however, and the coaches
were soon emptied.
II was a curious sight To watch the boom
ers after they had got fairly on foot. The
majority Of them seemed to be dazed by the
yastness of their surroundings. Many OF
them gazed stupidity to the north, southeast
and west, and then moved ahead like men
who were lost. Others started for the hills
and still others bent themselves TO the task
of raising tents, which they brought with
them TO open various kinds Of business.
Those who won't for the hills are after
claims. Just how well their explorations
succeeded is not known, for very few OF
them have returned.
II Is safe TO say that to-day every farm in
the Territory Is In possession OF one or more
claimants, and that besides there are 20, 0,oOO
10 30 1000 more wandering aimlessly about In
search Of land The rush at the land ofttce
here is terrific. The building Is surrounded
by mob Of bowling men which Is being
constantly augmented by horseEen, who
are galloping In from every quarter. Land
Agent Dilley and his force Of assistants are
unable 70 give attention 70 hundredth part
Of the business that 10 being forced upor
them. The detachment Of troopers which
has been detailed around the building with
a view TO keeping the mob In an orderly lin'
Is completely worn out
+. A dispatch fIom Oklahoma City state
that the rush there Is even greater thai
here. Over at King Fisher, or Lisbon
where the crowds brought In on the Rocl
, Island are gathering, there has been nj
trouble as yet.
r WICHITA, Kan, April 23.-A special dis
. patch dated Pond Creek, via Caldwell, Kan.
/ says that about 1900 people participated II
the race from there for slice Of the ''prom
ised land"OA great number scattered to
wards claims, but the majority moved rapid
, ly towards the lands The high water ol
: the Cimarron has subsidized and no furthe
I trouble is anticipated.
, WAsHISoToS, April 3.-Acting Adiutan
, General Kelton late yesterday afternoon re
ceived the following dispatch bearing on tn
. | situation In Oklahoma from Major Genera
/ Crook, dated Chicagoi "The Assistant Ad
> tutant General Of the Department OF tn
0 Missouri telegraphs under date Of the 2ls
A that he Is Just in receipt Of q dispatch fror
. General Merritt at Oklahoma Station, II
r which he says he will probably need NOR
0 troops forwarded; that he is sure the shov
+ Of force viii prevent trouble and that news
r paper accounts are probably exaggerate
e and will continue TO beso. Hereports muc
n confusion on line Of railroad, but he has Is
Q tablished q line Of couriers between Okla
r homa Station and Fort Reno, so that here
after communication can be had with Gel
4 tainty and fair rapidity."