The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-04-24
HUNGER AND THIRST.



nateIy Eroxen and Baked.
KANSAS CITy, April "a Stare
Guthrie special says: The first home
stead filed at Guthrie was Marks cohn.
Of Fort Smith. Ark. The first soldier
TO file declaration for statement was
Benton Turner. private Sixth Illinois
cavalry. During yesterday three
townsites, Guthrie. Oklahoma City and
Edmunds, three homesteads and
fwenty-onc soldiers decIafory state
ments were filed. AT 1915. William
Johnson. heading little procession at
the land office, lait down a rough
chart OF Guthrie. and filed 1t as town
site. This was the FIRST paper pre-
sented. Four clerks for the land
Offices. from Washington. arrived yes
terday, two for kingfisher and two for
here The kingfisher land Office will
not be open until Thursday.
AT 5 0 clock yesterday evening a pis-
tol report across Cottonwood creek.
west OF the depot and outside of the
townsite reserve, attracted attention.
In moment a man on horseback
went west over the Hill at a breakneck
speed. Two deputies went over, but
were told nothing had occurred. A
Nar reporter got boat and crossed
the stream. however. TO investigate. In
the bushes were collected half dozen
men. On the ground. and beside
half made grave. was stretched all that
was left Of s. Il. Compis. A ball from
q revolver had passed entirely through
the breast. The shooting was done BY
Q man who claimed to have the first
stakes On claim on which Compis
and his partner had settled The MUIR.
derer jumped on horse and escaped.
Believing secrecy the easiest way out.
Compis's partner dragged the dying
man into the hashes and said no one
had been hurt. He weuld not give his
pane. and the popularity of the situa-
ton prevented searching inquiry. The
dead man was about 30 years old, and
had black hair and eyes. Compis's
companion took possession of the mur-
derers outfit, consisting of a wagon
and two horses. The body was buried
IN the bushes. This was the only muir
der near Guthrie up to midnight, de-
spite other reports.
All night there was much suffering
for water. The railroad company re-
fused to let the settlers take from the
railroad tank, for fear OF exhaustion.
The water i'm the Cottonwood was red
with mud and q water famine seems
imminent. Hawkers went about In
the depot last night with buckets,
charging 5 cents glass. The engi-
neers were besieged by thirsty people
for drink from the engine tanks, and
many were accommodated. Up to
midnight not q quarrel on the Guthrie
towntite occurred
There Is great indignation at the
fact that large numbers, including
m any prominent people. got in before
noon yesterday and made selections.
There is also much Indignation over
the hundred or more deputy marshals
who used their authority as officers 20
get on the ground and resigned at
noon. They all have lots. They are
to he singled out and complaint lodged
against them. A resolution was
adopted that every invader be coin
planned Of and efforts at once made to
drive them out The feeling Is very
strong III this matter.
Wild estimates of the number Of
people at Guthrie were teiegrapbed
last night. A liberal estimate Is {, 1000.
There were some queer scenes yester-
day. A number OF men would get to-
gether and agree that street should
run in a certain direction, and lots
would be staked 20 face it. The men
il wosiId declare those fei-
lows stakesi directly on the street and
their lots faced the street Thus no
man knows for certainty IL be has a
lot One man pad 800 for a supposed
business site. In this state of uncer-
tainty every one IL good-natured and
hanging on 10 his claim The great
prairie far 10 the east of the city last
night, lighted with canipfires. made
beautiful sight- a squad OF General
Merritt's soldiers guarded the land Of
fire all night