Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-05-09
Helena, Montana. Thursday May 9, 1889.

near the markets, but as one gets into the
interior they become scarce, and the un-
frequent cabin of the Indian, with it's four
or five acre patch, is all one meets that
speaks of man; the little children are
silent and wondering eyed, as you
stop or pass them by. Here
the women and little ones seldom
speak English, and as the man is often
away, you can get no information regard
ing your almost untraveled way. So you are
forced to
RELY ON THE COMPASS.
A dozen dim roads run here and there, but
often they come to nothing Between
the main towns there is generally a fair
road, but it is often puzzling on account of
the crossways. We struck northwest from
Fort Smith, with wagons, and passed
through parts of the Choctaw, Creek, Sac
and Fox and Iowa reservations fording the
North and Deep forks of the Canadian
with some difficulty; the first, on account
of the quicksands, the other, by reason of
the step banks. We overlook and passed q
great many 'prairie schooners," and when
we came near the magic line of Oklahoma,
drew up near great many more; but they
were not nearly as numerous as we sup
posed they would be- About 100 teams
were along the line within few miles of
where we camped. There were no marks
to denote where the line was, nor
soldiers to guard it. So, push
ing on, we heard one even
ing, while at supper, the rumbling of
train of cars within three miles. As the
line is some nine miles from the railroad,
we knew we were inside. We pulled back
about six miles in the early morning The
next day some others pushed in on our old
track, but were brought back by the SOL
diers, who were now on the lookout. The
land Immediately around that section did
not amount to much, water being scarce,
narrow, wooded valleys and high open up
lands, too high and sloping. Most
of the men of the camp made
promised land, looking out for land. and
most of them were not suited, or too hard
to suit, as they have gone home, maybe
homesick. On the morning of the 22d, as
we
HAD NOT LOST ANY LAND
and were not hunting for any, we stood
ready, with many other teams, chiefly
towpsmen, waiting to rush on Guthrie,
where the land Office is, after town lots
Promptly at IL N. by the sun and our
watches, mostly by the watches, the signal
was made and away all went helter skelter,
mule team, horse team, horseback and
buggy.
AS we topped the high ridge overlooking
the townsite, we could see that the lots i'm
mediately around the land Office and along
the principal rise of ground were already
taken. Men were running here and there;
teams were galloping, and all was con-
fusion. Hurting down we quickly selected
our teams, drove down our stakes and stood
ready to hold the fort. Just as this was
doneap, pearedin hot puffs the first train
from the North, and before it stopped people
JUMPED FROM THE CAR WINDOWS
and steps and came charging like regi-
ment, only irregular, over the ground, set
ting down stakes wildly here and there,
shouting, exhorting and laughing, and all
in a furry. Those who already had lots
saved them only by threats, peremptory
demands and stern explanations. In a
few minutes another train load came in,
the antics of the others, but
were obliged to pass farther on. 1t was
only it kept one busy protecting
his rights.
And now came difficulty. The parties
who first came joint themselves in
parallel lines, allowing for the
streets. Tto,e who came after
them would not stand by their selec-
tion and located themselves IN these thor
oughfares So it was soon all
IN DELIGHTFUL MIDDLE,
and it stands that way still. Mass meet
ings have been held, committee selected,
and surveyors appointed, who are trying to
bring order out of chaos. There are maybe
10000 people in this one place, all settled
in one day. This upland rolling townsite
is dotted with thousand tents;
frame buildings are being run up by
the dozens. and neatly every
kind Of business is represented except
saloons. The gambler plies his trade in all
ways; the street man sings his songs and
the fake runs the round of his tricks All
is merry. The night is filled with songs
and shouts as from great invading army,
and, as one stands at night under the clear
starry skies and looks on the illuminated
hills, but yesterday q solitary upland
waste, he feels proud of his country and a
people who could so harmoniously thus
unite together in this instantaneous birth
of city. L. A. OSBORNE.