Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-02
ABILENEITEs ABROAD.
Their Adventures as Pilgrims to the
Modern Mecca-All In Camp IN
Guthrie, Oklahoma-Amusing Incl
denis

QeuLS.
Special to the REFLECTOR
GUTHRIE, Oklahoma, April give
who came to Oklahoma 1.-THE country
for to see" are seeing it in all its pris-
tine freshness. We are also seeing a
vast amount of discomfort, fun and
deviltry, mixed in about equal quantl-
ties. The Abilene party was exceed
ingly fortunate in having a coach to
start in for we would have been COM
PEELED to stand up from Strong City
otherwise. The country from Abilene
southwark looks very fine. The south
ern part of the state had more rain
than the central and in consequence is
somewhat in advance. Wheat through
the southern tiers of counties is ready
to head out and will be harvested by
the LIST day of June.
We were side-tracked at Arkansas
City for over an hour Monday morning,
the other trains passing US. However,
we arrived here lin Guthriel at 4:3O
D. M. We did lot have much of a
choice of locations though for We
found some
$4,000 PEOPLE AHEAD
of US, the town laid out and land COB
bled for miles around the proposed
town site. The crowd was very good
natured and jolly. Only one drunken
man was seen during the day. lie
was from Concordia.)
The crowd as it poured out of Ar
kansas City was sight worth going
miles to see, for it can never be wit
messed again. Ten long trains, loaded
and crowded to the edges Of the steps,
pulled out close together and went roll
ing southwark to the promised land,
Here at Guthrie is another scene fully
as remarkable. Guthrie is located on
a hill that sweeps back from the river,
unduIating slightly, but visible for
miles as one stands at the base. At
least two miles square is the block of
prairie covered with tents, shanties,
dug outs-anything by which the squat
ters think they can hold their lots. AT
night with the thousands of camp fires
burning, the scene is one never to be
forgotten. Our camp is located
ON CAPITAL HILL
and the party is made up of A. S. Sher-
wood, L. L. Parker, G. G. Newcomb,
Harrison Bonebrake, NJ. NJ. Shipe, DR..
Steelsmith, Jas. Spear, y. Lenze, W.
F. Coole, Joe Sexton, J. G. Walker and
the writer. Shipe has just been i'll
structing the party how to vote in a
mass meeting which is to be held to-
day. OF course he pleads for the good
old Democratic way.
One of the Abilene boys who slept
alongside our tent last night and put
his boots inside to keep them dry, sup
posing this morning when he arose
that his boots had been stolen off his
feet during the night, had a terrible
time hunting another pair-and there
were no snakes in them either. Joe
Sexton has kept his camera busy and
has secured some fine views.
A large public meeting was held last
evening to decide upon line of policy
for the future great" Senator Kelley,
of Mcpherson, is prominent figure in
all the deliberations. Last nights
meeting adjourned until this morning
and We expect to have fun.
THE SOIL OF OKLAHOMA
like that of all other countries varies in
quality. Thele is some as fine land as
l ever saw and some l think as poor.
Taken as a whole L do not much
wonder that the boomers have gone
wild over it. The soil is very bright
red and is very light. 1 think it will
drift very badly when plowed. VIM.
Murphy ought to be here with his we'll
drilling machine, he could make his
fortune in short time as every body
wants well and are willing to pay
good price for one. Already it is
growing dusty, the dust being as fine
as flour.
The country is we'll watered with
clear running streams, but notwith-
standing all that we had to pay cents
for drink of water last night, the
Santa Fe r. r. refusing to let the
boomers have any more water from the
tank.
The best claims and town lots are all
taken by cowboys and deputy U. S.
marshals for speculative purposes.
There is more schem!ng on the part of
the officials to gobble everything that is
good, than is consistent with good
judgment land they are being very
severely condemned by the people.
There is beautiful piece of ground
across the river from the city that two
men got to disputing over, when one
shot the other dead; and this is only
the beginning as there is not ten acres
of good land for every claimant here,
although the people are all as good
natured as l ever saw any place.
The city is full of land office attor-