River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-05-02
A BATTLE IN OKLAHOMA.


Uneonarmed Rumors of an Attack by Cow
boys on the Old soldiers Colony, in
which 1t Il said six Lives Wers Lost
From Other and More Reliable Sources,
However. the story OF BIoodshed. Lack
of Food and Water are Denied.
WICHITA, Kan, April %. Out of the many
wild Oklahoma rumors with which the
border is fun is one which seems TO bear
the elements Of probability The report is
Of an attack on an old soldiers colony in
the western part Of Oklahoma 1t was
first brought TO Guthrie by a runner
to DR.. Mennick, the chief of the
colony. The doctor at once left for the
scene. The messenger stated that the fight
occurred Wednesday night and lasted an
hour. The old soldiers are located on
the northern bank Of the Canadian and
near the southern border OF oklahoma
Their lands are very desirable, and q
number OF coEbOys tried 10 take
them from the settlers. The cowboys were
well mounted and rode down on the camp,
evidently with the intention OF surprising
the colonists. The old soldiers, however,
were up. The cowboys rode up and down
in front of the camp yelling and shooting
in the air The settlers began firing
on them, and a man and horse
We're brought down. The rider jumped
up behind a companion and both were soon
out OF range The cowboys then held con-
sultation, and spreading out Indian fashion,
began firing on the camp int horses were
used as barricades and oves their backs
the cowboys shot and killed several of the
settlers. When the soldiers saw they
were getting the worst Of it they
charged on the enemy and the cowboys re-
treated. but kept up ing. The battle lasted
hnlf an hour and resu ted in nine killed and
several wounded Tltn the cowboys rode
away across the pTari9, but sent back a
threatening veil TO uhc effect that they
would return. None OF the killed were from
Wichita From the best obtainable infor-
nation the following are among the dead:
n. Redaeld on CITY, Pa; Willard Wood
worth. GU ncy, H.; samuel Hertz Fort
Wayne, Ind; Stephen Denny, paris KY;
Arson L. Toyere Galena, H.; Robert Hutch
ms, Milwaukee, WIS Seriously wounded
Antoine Crelgn.
Saturday morning at IL o'clock a city
election was held at Guthrie, the prominent
candidates for mayor being Messrs Dyer,
of Kansas City; Kelly, of Kansas; Hill, Of
Oregon, and Hoggert, of Dakota
The last named was championed by
the gamblers. and the contest was
quite warm On the third ballot Colonel
Dyer rece ived 53J votes; Kelly, 3S9; Hog
CERT, 81, and Hill, 173. Dyer was declared
elected. Nineteen councilmen We're elect
ell Mayor Dyer is Republic
an in politics. and was former
" an Indian agent under Presi-
dent Arthur One OF his first acts was TO
give the gamblers twenty-four hours to
leave, and the next train north took away a
good many Of them.
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The following
te legram was forwarded to the War De-
partmcnt Saturday afternoon from Chicago:
'FoRr RENo l. T., April 2j.-Have Just re-
turned from kinRhsheri found every thing
quiet ami orderly there. About go homestead
claims have been filed and large numbers are
waiting TO make entry. Reports of blood
shed are without foundation. All over the
Territory, so FAR as can discover there have
been cases OF violence reported, but in no sim
gle instance has investigation resulted in con-
nrmation Of these reports. In cases where diff
fereut claimants contested for the same qnartcr
section the matter IS compromised or left for
final adjustment by proper authorities. | am
thus explicit because Kansas newspapers are
reporting scenes Of bloodshed. These, as well
as the reports with reference to the invasion
OF the Cherokee strip are, SO far as can DIS
cover without foundation.
"NERRIIr, Br gadier-General."