Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-16
OKLAHOMA NOTES.

Grabber8 Uneasy-The Town Lot Dis
putes.
OKLAHOMA CITY, L T., May a-Two
companies of infantry have been ordered
the detachment of cavalry that has been
stationed there since the I'D The neces-
sity of maintaining q military guard
az Purcell is soccasjoa ed X By the
fact that q band of outlaws have
attempted to force settlers upon the
Oklahoma lands in that vicinity to pay
them tribute until penalty of death if
they dared refuse. Several of the out
laws have already been captured, and it
is to protect the settlers from violence at
the hands of desperadoes that a guard is
maintained there.
DR.. Barber, the army surgeon at this
point, is seriously i'll and was taken to
Fort Reno by ambulance yesterday. Cap
tain Paul of the Tenth infantry is also
quite sick at the camp here and is being
attended by the surgeon now stationed at
Guthrie.
Considerable uneasiness is felt by many
who obtained fraudulent possession Of
land in this vicinity by invading the terri.
tory before the prescribed hour over the
appearance in the neighborhood of United
States secret service officers, who
are reported to be working up evidence
against them. The officers do not it is
said, confine their investig alton to quarter
section frauds but look after town lot
grabbers ss well. and it is reported that
very damaging evidence has been secured
against many persons.
The board of arbitrators appointed by
Mayor Couch to adjust disputes concern.
ing lots have resigned in disgust, as the
parties engaged in controversy were not
willing to abide by the decisions Of the
board when defeated in the contest Al.
most every claimant was willing to
swear that he was the first occupant
Of the lot under controversy, and a.
the result but little progress could Be
made by the board Of arbitration. Now
that the citizens are compelled to settle
their own difficulties . more speedy adj
justment of titles will probably be made.
The post-office last evening was moved
to more commodious quarters and in two
or three days the delivery OF mail matter
will be greatly expedited Postmaster
Beidler is deserving Of much praise for
the effort he has made to accommodate
the public during the great Oklahoma
rush.
a Family Cremated.
WEsrcHEsTKR, n. Y, May S-The house
of Watson Bownes burned early yesterday
morning and Eve persons were burned Il
death.
The household consisted of Watson
Bownes, his wife, his mother, Mrs. 7. B
Bownes. and two children. and two ser.
vants- 1t is is supposed that q lamp lef
burning in the hall exploded Bovine.
was awakened by the cracking of ths
flames The fire had already gained grea
| headway and the house was filled witt
smoIe.
Bownes gave the alarm and then startet
| to carry his wife into the open air. In do
| ing this he was severely burned about the
| feet and body, and Mrs Bownes wa.
| burned about the head, neck and shoul.
ders.
While Bownes was rescu ing his wife hs
could plainly hear cries of agony from his
mother and his two children. who were
| sleeping with their grandmother, but hs
was unable to save them and they per-
| ished- The two children were aged thres
| and five Kate Dunn. a servant, and hel
| sister Annie, who came to visit her las
| night, also perished.
1
On . Visit of Inspection.
| LEAvKNw WORTH. Kan, May s-Yester'
| day morning at $3.50 O'Clock, a squadron o.
| cavalry under command of Captain
/ Rafferty,, escorted the Secretary of Wa
| and his party from the Kansas and Mis-
| soari bridge. where they left the train, u
General Merritt's residence at Fort Leav'
enworth- Light Battery 2. fred /:
Il r2 >c<-x-a