The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-02
RACING FOR HOMES.

1t must haYe been picturesque and
inspiring sight, when at noon April %,
the commanders of Uncle Sans military
Gordon gave the word, and all along the
Oklahoma border the great rush into the
promised land begun. Few countries
have ever seen such a wild and feverish
invasion. For the next few days there
is sure to be plenty of confusion, and
probably good deal of more or less seri-
GUS strife. The regular troopers and in
fantry, men who have been concentrated
in the region to preserve the peace will
have their hands full, and if they sue
coed in maintaining any semblance Of
order they will accomplish wonders. 1t
is unquestionable true that the mass of
the immigrants are we'll disposed and
intelligent individuals, but the hunger
for land has been known to induce even
the mildest tempered and most peace
able people to do some highha ded
things. And mixed in with the honest,
well meaning settlers Is the inevitable
contingent of thieves, gamblers and out
laws which is always attracted to a new
country by prospect of popular excite.
ment and disorder. These gentry will
probably hold high carnival for brief
period, but if they are prudent they will
not tarry in the region long, for it will
not be many weeks before some form
of civil government is established, and
the short shift of frontier justice is prov
erbial. Meanwhile, however, the army
officers will have to rule the Territory
with an IRON hand, and if in the tumult
attending the location and holding of
claims Oklahoma escapes a long series
of atfrays and tragedies which will give
its soil bloody baptism it will be fortu.
nate.
The scene is described by the "press
gang" or guild Of reporters, when they
reached the line by rail at 2,05 P, NJ, in
I these words: Before the late dead line
was reached and passed, however, the
great transformation scene had begun
and was plainly visible to the watchers
from the train.
First came in view the white topped
wagons, gathered together in groups in
the level prairie or in the little valleys
which diversity the face of the country.
1t was at once noticeable that the teams
were not to seen in any OF these camps,
and it was plain that they had been
taken out of the harnefs to be ridden
across the border by the hard riders who
were to locate the claims.
"A little further on this conclusion
was proven to be the correct one, for
the entire face of the country, as far as
the best fieldgrass could carry the sight
was overrun with hOrsemen galloping &
to the southwark, Their fleetest horses
had evidently been picked for the work
and they were carrying their riders rapid
ly to the longed for goal.
"The ride of Paul Revere dwindIes in
to obscurity besides the feats of horse
manship performed in Oklahoma today.
Rides of fifteen to twenty miles were
made in an incredibly short space OF
time by old boomers familiar with
the country, who knew where the desir-
able lands were located.
THE caravans were plainly out dis
tanced by the horseback riders, and
after several miles of the Territory had
been travelled it was seen that the best
riders were winning the best prizes.
One hOmesteader who had secured a
magnificent quarter section Of rolling
land had dug hole two or three feet
deep at that corner of it where the sur
veyer's section mark was located, and
where he had driven his stakes.
mot looking upon these evidences OF
possession as sufficient to confirm his
titles, he seized a Winchester as the
train ran by and fired out all of its con-
tents and then emptied bis revolver,
yelling like cowboy or Comanche In
dian all the time"