New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-21
SELFISH BOOMERS BEATEN.
CUTTING A FERRY ROPE TO KEEP BACK
THEIR RIVALS.
oAPTAIN HAYS AND HIS TROOPERS FIT UP A
RAILROAD BRIDGE FOR WAGONS - NO
TIME, LosT-ANoTHER SWOLLEN
>APTAIN HAY


In Camp, Salt Fork Of the Arkansas River,
April lo.-Late at night on Thursday the Northern
boomers struck the Salt Fork of tho Arkansas
River. AZ ordinary times an easily fordable
stream, they found 1t SO high that night as to
make crossing dangerous Nothing daunted, how
ever. Winfield outfit" including small ferry
boat. manned rope on the opposite side of the
river. and soon had a ferry in working order. By
the light Of torches and lanterns wagons were un-
loaded, taken apart and placed in sections upon
the small boat Horses and mules were made to
swim across. There were o number Of hairbreadth
escapes the swift current Of the river carrying in
more than instance horse and rider half
mile below the landing place At one time 10
looked as IL the ferry would be swamped with a
load Of women and children. Cries Of suspense
from the shore and shrieks from the boat filed
the air BY superhuman effort of the bOatmen
the frail craft was Eghted and safely landed on
the southern shore. At 2 o'clock in the morning
the last team had crossed, and the last rider swan
the river. Then the Winfield men cut the rope
The curses and remonstrances Of those left behind
availed nothing. The Winfield men only laughed
derisively and, Immediately harnessing their
teams moved on in the race for Oklahoma
Captain Hays, OF the 5th Cavalry, hearing of
this, dispatched Lieutenant Foster and q company
OF men to head the selfish crowd of boomers off
at point called Red Rock They rode at break
neck speed through the night 10 the railway Sta
tion at Ponce, and there boarded the
cars with their horses The railroad crosses
the river at point eight miles
below Ponce, and there the troops arrived
long before the Winfield men had made their
appearance In the meantime Captain Hays had
telegraphed to the officials Of the Santa Fe road
for permission to the bridge crossing the Salt
Fork in tho Ponce reservation and obtained 1t.
All night his men aided by volunteers among the
boomers laid planks across the bridge, hastily
obtained by tearing away the platform of the
freight depot at Ponce six miles away. At 8
o'clock in the morning the first wagon crossed
dragged by willing hands, the horses being led
behind. A few forced their way through the
crowd and part of the line was ordered to return
TO the Captain Hays was inexorable, and
amidst the laughter of the other boomers, the
men were compelled to recross the bridge. At
the other side rough road was thrown up TO the
steep smbankment Of the track, and the wagons
were let down, the tongues manned by volunteers,
half dozen keeping hold OF tho wheels, others
hanging on behind Horses, mules and stock were
led over the bridge They were Immediately
hitched 10 the wagons and of they started, each
wagon was assessed twenty-five cents for GROSS
ing the money thus collected being intended 70
defray the expenses Of the timber and 70 reward
the men who had worked hard all night TO ft
I'D the bridge. The railroad charged nothing for
the use Of the bridge, though the damage 10 IL
mrst have bOen considerable.
At first The crossing was slow work. After The
hrst hour, however, things went more smoothly
and soon wagons were crossing at the rate OF
seventy-hve an hour. All day long they were at
work, interrupted now and then by passing train.
Few accidents occurred, none of them OF serious
nnture. BY night the last team had crossed
There was another point at which number
OF boomers attempted TO cross By fording the
stream. They had TO walt some hours before
the river fell sufficiently, and the crossing was
not without danger. On the other hand, by
taking this route they saved some fifteen miles
Of travel probably. Wagons disappeared TO their
canvas In the stream; the heads and tails OF
muhs and horses swimming across were ell that
was Visible Of them. There was here and there
a narrow escape The utmost good humor pre-
vailed and each assisted the other
Reports received here are that the entire north
crn line Of Oklahoma is guarded by troops, and
that It will be impossible for the boomers to
cross without being instantly detected and driven
back The bridges OF the railroad too, arc
guarded by soldiers, and there seems to be no
danger that the boomers will attempt to interfere
with the running Of the trains on Monday. For
the present the fear Of the boomers who come
from the North that the Purcell crowd will get
the advantage Of them by reason Of the difficulty
they have experienced in the crossing of the
swollen streams is alleged. The next trial that
awaits the wagon-trains Is Beer Creek, which is
swollen as much probably as the Salt Fork.
Il is about ten miles below this point.