The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-24
The People in a Starving COndi.
tiOn...All is Confusion.
BAD SITUATION AT GUTHRIE
Between Rival Claimants and
Among the Tough Elements.
Grave Charges Against Officials and
Railroad Men Alleged to Have En-.
tered tho Country Before the
Lawful 1'imC-FOur Murders.

GUTHRIE URLAUOMAi Aprl 2o.-ln
defiance OF the fact that no town was
supposed to exist until noon yesterday,
the several hundred interlopefs held an
organization meetingat 10 o'clock. II,
A. Pierce, one OF the Topeka crowd, Sc
cured the presidency, but when he tried
to ioist his plat upon the meeting he was
beaten amid the cries "Down the Topeka
outfit" The railway runssouthwesterly
past the town and it was proposed to lay
out the streets on direct angles with the
track, but u plat with north and south
and east and west sections was adopted.
This was proposed by George II, Clay
ton, OF Arkansas, brother Of Congress.
man Powell Clayton, and twin of the
lately assassinated Congressional candi.
date.
II was decided that a town lot shall be
3Oxl40 feet md that the streets shall be
50 feet wide, except two 100 feet inter.
sectng avenues, which were named res.
peCtively Muntord avenue, for Doc
Muniorl, Of Kansas City, aud Harrison
avenue, for the President. Meanwhile
the Whole town site was homesteaded
repeatedly. Forty applications under
this rightof public domain were hled at
the land Office, and some very beautiful.
lycOmplicated law suits will follow. II
looks only fair that those who were
there in advance Of the authorized hour
and who grabbed the land for the cor.
poration that backs them, should be
cispossessed and the whole town site
placed in tho fair and even reach OF all.
GuTnmE BADLY LOCATED.
1t is almost certain, however, that for
all its present prcstige-ior everything
10 going to Guthrle--there can never be
town OF any Importance there. The
surrounding country Is sterile and, with
the exception Of small pieces OF bottom
land, can grow nothing but Buffalo grass
and cactus. The adjacent stream is
small, and Alkaline and well water Is
deep aud scarce. The temperature
bounds from blightng cold to withering
heat, and there are long periods OF
drought and irregular occasions Of floods
and hurricane.
Astho sun went down little tcnts and
unshelterGd men dotted the region over
an area largo enough for an eastern me-
trOpolis. There Is covering for about
one thousand persons on liberal esti-
mate, and the nights, after the roasting
days, arc HcutGly chilly. Whether Il
rains or not great suffering must be en-
dured by the thousands OF unsheltered.
Arkansas City is filled up with great
crowds from northern trains that will
descend upon Guthrie in the morning.
A break.out here will be sure to be the
event OF the next few days, as there are
many thousand more than can be sup.
piled with food and shelter. Meanwhile
the rush continues and the excitement
iSata very high pitch.
TIE RUSH.
On the Oklahoma boundary, April 90,
Lieutenant Foster, who started the pill
grims Saturday, coming via the Arkansas
City trail, estimates that at least 1900
outfits and 1000 people ranged along the
border of his trail, started at the sound
oithe bugle. Lieutenant Waite, nephew
Of the late Chief Justice Waite, started
those entering at the Caldwell trail, and
Colonel Ware started those entering on
the HennewCll trail, he being In charge
Of this territory. Captain Hayes started
those entering by the Black Bear trail.
II seems like a fairy tale, but there Is
scarcely doubt that from 10000 TO 30,-
COO entered by these trails, while the six
trains that came from Arkansas City 10
Guthrie brought at least six
thousand people. The wagon road
runs within 100 yards OF the railroad all
the way. The Cimarron ford on the
Cimarron, or Little Arkansas river, is
just tlree.fourths Of mile from where
the railroad crosses that stream, near
the old site Of Camp RUSSELL All along
the route were to be seen deer, antelope,
prairie chickens and quail. Two deel
were within 100 yards OF the train and
ut least fifty shots were fired at them
from the car windows and those on the
roof without effect. The prairie chick
ems and quail that were near enough the
train TO sight were also treated to a simi
lar salute. When the train crossed the
last stream, Cottonwood creek, Just be
fore entering Guthrie, the passenger
began jumping of and rushing up hill
on the east aide Of the track towards thu
Land office, where q town site Ia to bI
laid out.
SUFFERING AHEAD.
One fellow became so excited that h,
jumped through a car window. Whcl
the train stopped at Guthrie station
there was an indlscriminato rush, mel
and boys running over each other to 60
to tho land office first or squat on
claim. The scarcity OF water will Causl
suffering until wells are dug, unlCss thl
water In cottonwood creek can bo filter
cd. An CnterpriSlng real estate mat
had a carry0ll at tho depot when tht
train arrived and offered TO carry peoplI
tohiS lots over on tho east side and sci
lots at dollar each. The crowd arount
tho land Office Ia too great To be mum
bercd and those who did not get In Il
tlO their claims last night slept whert
they were In Tie line to DO on hand thi
morning, Two miles each way from
Guthrie station, town sites arc staket
Hand there WIS not section betweei
there and Alfred thRt did not have ON
OF more quarter sections staked of, peo
hlO here are dumb.iounded and look a
tile vast multitude Crowdlng into tn
country In silent wonder Returning OF
tic train hundreds Of prairie schooner
were passed still winding their way I
tho promised land.
ugly RuMOB AFLoAT.
ASdutllrlC was found already stake
out when tho llnt train got there, som
ugly rumOrs were At once started reileC
Ing on the United States officers an
Tue officials Of the Santa Fe road. II
Clalnied that tho directors car Of thl
road has been at Guthrie for sever
uayS and they, "a we'll a. tile Cover
ment officials ConnivOd with men hldif
" tue brush on the west bottom, Hhielt
mRihem from the scrutiny oil the goldle
70 that those OlllClRlEl OH both Bldes.hl
Tue towhal ,lAld out quietly and had
understanding With these brush hldef
70 they oil rushed In and stake