The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-25
THE BOOMERS OF THE PROMISED
LAND.
Lively Times Looked For in Oklahoma.
Thirty Thousand Boomers Already in
Line-The War Department Anticf-
patng Serious Trouble.

CHICAGO, April ia dispatch from
Wichita, Kansas. says: The first Sc
rious afray among the boomers occurred
yesteday, about ten miles North of
Keowa. Two boomers claimed q GER
tain quarter section, and one, named
George Kramer, undertook to put the
other, Charles Heidke, OFF the land.
Both men drew reyolvers and Kramer
was shot and instantly killed. Heidke
was shot through the groin and may
die.
Oklahoma Harry Hill, one of the
Oldest boomers in Kansss, left for the
Territory last Friday, and has not since
been heard fsoeE He was expected to
return sp8day, and his disappearance
is mostAysterious. The last heard OF
himSaS from Purcell. He left that
village Sunday evening saying that he
would ride over to Oklahoma City.
Monday noon his dog was found shot
throug the head. A reward of $500 has
been offered for his discovery, and this
reward will be greatly increased.
A dispatch from Arkansas City, Kan
sas, says: If the bearing and general
get-up Of the men who have arrived
here thus far go for anything, it may
be pretty safely assumed that Oklahoma
after the openingdays, will be the scene
ofmany bloody conflicts. The streets
of Arkansas City are fillsd with men,
each one of whom is walking arsenal.
Every man regards his neighbor with
distrust. Everybody that arrives here
and takes in the warlike appearance
Of the surroundings begins straight way
to look out for the authorities, and the
most well disposed settlers are horrifed
to hear that IN Oklahoma there is scar
cely any law other than that of a strong
hand. Already there has been formed
an organization called the Oklahoma
League whose object is to protect, by
force, if necessary, what they claim to
be their rights. The members have all
selected theirlands as far back as fifteen
years ago, and now claim to own them
by right of preemption. He will have
to be better shot than the members
of the League whose tract he claims.
THIRTY THOUSAND BOOMERS IN LINE.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kansas, April lS.-
at O'Clock this morning a ruinor just
infrom Capt. Hayes camp says the
campis alive and getting ready to ac-
company the boomers across the Chero-
kee Strip. Nearly $4,000 are here and
will t6fszX in line. They have been or
dered to move in an orderly manner
along the established trails. If any
fences are destroyed or other depreda-
tions committed the whole line will
be stopped and the guilty ones turned
back. The grand procession will be
accompanied by twenty to thirty re-
porters on ponies, now stationed with
the cavalry at Chilliecoo Greek.
The trouble, if any, will soon begin.
The Chicago camp began moving in
line last night Itis reported that 100
of the tough element started at mid
night for the border to sell whiskey
and cigars to those who had any money
left. Plunder will be their next
move.
United States Commissioner Bensell
and Captain Hayes allowed two men to
construct bridges at Salt Greek and
Chilliccoo Greek, and for their compen-
sation charge boomers 25 cents to cross.
An old ferry boat on Salt Fork, which
lay idle for years, will be brought into
service.
Arrangements for the press to enter
Guthrie on Monday have been COM
pleted. At meeting of newspaper
men last night, Mr.. Eckert and c. c.
Cox of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat
were appointed a committee to labor
with the Santa Fe officials for special
service. A special car will be provided
on the first train Oh Monday morning
for the journalists, reaching the line
between the strip and Oklahoma ex-
actly at noon. The committee has
power to start special train back and
drop any special matter at Winet1eld
and here. Ehe scarcity Of wires in this
eeaeel has obliged the reporters to
combine and send out as much Of their
news as possible to the first repeating
stations in duplicate. 1t is the only
way to get matters through. A'heavy
electric storm is interruptlng the
working of the wires this morning.
LIVELY WORK FOR THE ARMY.
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-1t is very
apparent here that officers OF the army
are filed with the liveliest apprehen-
sion regarding the opening of Okiaho-
ma. The Secretary of War has au-
thorized the statement that the govern
ment is fully aware of the situation,
and has arranged to take all proper
steps to prevent trouble. tt is known
that the subject has formed the main
topic for discussion at recent Cabinet
meetings, and that the Attorney Gen
eral has been called upon to decide
questions as to the authority of the
War Department to act in case ofstrife'
bloodshed or violence in the newly
opened country. The instructions sent
to commandants of troops in Oklaho-
ma. at the result of the opinion rem
dered by the Attorney General, were
extremely guarded. They are under
stood to direct army officers to assist
in the maintenance of the law, but to