The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-05-02
OKLAHOMA, I. T.
After staying at Purcell,

After staying at Purcell, l. L
until Saturday, the Goth of April,
and investing three hundred doll
lars in 81 wagon and team and
camping outfit, we left to cross
over the Canadian River into the
Pottowotomy country up TO the
North Canadian River to what was
said to be the best part of Oklaho-
ma. 1t was rough trip of forty
five miles. We camped on the
night of the 21st, within one mile OF
the Oklahoma line. litter break
fast we drove up as close to the
line as we could get, but found
about twenty wagons ahead of us
formed in line. Some of them had
been standing there two hours, and
stood there from 6 until II o'clock.
The line of wagons contin ued to
grow until it was one mile long.
There were large numbers on their
Texas and Indian ponies, and some
on foot. Every one eager for the
hour OF II to arrive. Men looked
at their watches every five minutes
and as the time drew near they held
their watches in their hands. FL
nally some one at the head of the
line gave the Gig nal TO start.
There was grand rush, the men
on horseback taking the lead.
The men in wagons keeping up as
best they could. AS the teams
would flag out the next best would
move around and take their place
1t was a scene that would have to
be witnessed and cannot be de-
scribed. A race all for nothing
| don't think there was q quarter
section worth having that was not
taken by 10 o'clock. A great deal
of the land is too poor to raise dis
turbance on. | will cay here thai
| was greatly disappointed in the
lands. / will not say acres bat
miles OF the land will never be set
tied because people cannot make q
living on it. But on the rivers
and creeks there is some as good
land as can be found anywhere and
was we'll worth making race for
The original boomers, cattle men
and cowboys that knew the coun
try had decidedly the advantage
over strangers that knew nothing Of
where the good lands lay. Some
of these parties have been hiding
on these lands for several days anG
nights, sleeping in the bushes, anc
at II o'clock Monday showed them
selves If any one made their ap
pearance on the land with a Win
chester rifle, warned them to move
on and they generally moved with
out the second warning.
Every man here has Winches
ter or Smith d Wesson pistol ant
lots have both.
For good natured people | dom
think / ever saw their equal. Fol
profanity they can not be beat
For push and energy you wou.t
have to come and see, | coniC
give you but little idea.
Our party was little too late al
along the line for the good lands
so we pushed on to Oklahoma city
A city only in name. Up to IL
O'Clock, April 22nd, :here was a
depot, section house and three OIL
four other shsnties. But to-day
there are, | suppose, 1000 people
living in tents. Some say 5000
and by night there will be fifty
houses on the ground. think
there would have been three times
as many, but for the contest and
squaollng over the lots.
Our party arrived here about 4
O'Clock Monday evening. We found
about 1900 or 1000 people and 3 or
4 surveying parties who soon got to
laying off lots, and getting things
terribly mixed. Two or three town
site companies con tending over lots
until finally there was citizens
meeting called who took the mat
ter in hand and went on with the
work of laying off lots. There are
from two to three parties claim in
each lot
The crowd is composed of men
of all nationalities and from all
parts of the United States. Men of
culture and refinement. Men born
aud raised among the frontier
scenes, and half breeds from the
different Indian tribes. look
more like an Indian every day /
stay here. In one months time l
will be taken for d froltier man.
/ have slept on the ground since
last Saturday night without even a
grabbing hoe to m axe up my bed
with. Ii. ARRowsMITH.