Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-04-18
INPATIENT BOOMERS
Prepared to Strike Camp and Inter
Into the Promised Land.
OALDWELIs MOTLEY CONTINGENT.

The yarieEafed Army That win Move
Up TO okIahoma's borders ON Friday to
1se in Readiness for Mondays Grand
1EusI-Wagon Loads Of Collins Join the
Caravan.
CALDWELL, Kan, April 1s.-Here at
Ialdwell, which has from the first con-
iained the most vehement boomers and
Inc bitterest Of their foes, the cattlemen.
nre certainly what might be called the
western contingent nf the boomers army.
Their number Is difficult 20 state. scat
tered as they are through the valleys for
len miles On each side Of the place, but
Il IS estimated from 900 to 5 700.
Their objective point is the country
around Kingfishar, the western land Of
flee, which Is reached from here by the
old Caldwell train. The Rock Island has
Inilt q road twenty miles south to Pond
greek The remainder Of the distance,
sixty miles, they will stage. !.
Tie number of boomers is constantly
Increased By new arrivals, and represen-
iatives are 20 be found from every state.
Many have with them their wives and
families, and what hardships these may
suffer can be imagined. The majority
are very poor, and have only vague
idea Of their journey object.
Cargoes of Collins.
One man has in his wagon a stock Of
groceries, another of drugs. In half
tiuzen wagons are cofiins-plain, UNI
trimmed. unvarnished boxes-for which
The dealer evidently thinks there may be
D good demand
a banker, II. w. Lewis, says that
number of persons fresh from the east
have dep0sIted their wills, valuables or
sums of money in his institution, to be
Forwarded TO relatives in case of their
failure 10 return.
a party of cyclists are camped near
Hnnnewell. They are young men, bent
mostly on seeing the movements.
among the number is an English gem
eman calling himself Lord Harris.
Iapt Woodson will start with the set
tiers for the northern border of Okla
homa Friday, April 10, with his com
rany Of soldiers. He will lead not less
than 900 wagons down the trail and
hold them in check upon the line until
noon OF the 22d.
Capt Hall, of G.. Troop, will assist him
in guarding the crossings of the Cimar-
ron. The officers think that the journey
could be made IN three days.
The other night q train of twenty -niEe
wagons broke across the line, and the
soldiers are now upon their trail.
Lieut.. Jenkins has just returned from
kingdsher, where he found a party Of
boomers had taken up claims and con-
etTucted dugouts. The improvements
were torn down, the men themselv
photographed by an artist in the govern
Inent surveyors corps, their names taken
and they themselves brought back to the
Kansas line.
trouble Feared at OIslahoma's Opening.
BALTIMORE, April lS.-The Suns spe-
cial from Washington says: It Is feared
that the opening up of Oklahoma may
be attended with serious disturbances.
The United States marshal at Muskazee
viii be charged with preservation of
order and will be backed up by Gen.
Wesley Merritt, commanding depart
ment of Missouri. Gen. Merritt had
some doubt as to what his course of ac-
ton would properly be in the case of
disturbance, and telegraphed to the war
department asking for special instruc-
tons. Secretary Proctor and Gen. Scho-
field had a conference over the matter
but finally concluded 70 consult with the
president and Secretary Noble before is
suing the order requested. Accordingly
prolonged conference ON the subject
took place at the White House, at which
President Harrison. Secretaries Proctor
aud Noble, and Attorney General Miller
were present, after which an order was
Immediately forwarded by telegraph to
Gen. Merritt. Secretary Proctor declined
70 give the order to the public, but it is
understood that it gives Gen. Merritt ex-
traordinary powers and authorizes him
to exercise his own judgement as to when
and how to use the troops of his COM
mand.