Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-02
BAPTIZED IN BLOOD.
The Newly-Opened Oklahoma District
the Scene of Triple Murder.
How enc "Roomers" TooL Pos,esslnn.

How the "BOomers" Took Possession.
A special from Guthrie, Okla, dated
April %, says that at IN early hour that
morning three men who took claims there
the day before were foully murdered by
claim jumpers. The names Of the aSsailants
and their victims could not be learned. A
vigilance committee began a search for the
miscreantS
The great territory is open to the world.
The first railroad train, laden with home
seekers, spectators and reporters reached
Guthrie shortly after noon on the 22d in st.
The train moved rapidly from Arkansas
City, but not fast enough for the impatient
men aboard, AS IL sped southwark through
the Cherokee strip countless prairie schoon~
er5 were seen slowly moving toward the
goal of their ambition. The newspaper car
formed part Of the first train. Between
Willow Springs and Pouca agency one OF
the correspondents discovered man riding
on the trucks beneath the car. When the
train reached PonCa the man was taken in
TO the car and provided with food. He gave
his name as Harvey Saddler, born in Eng
land, but had been in the United States for
nine years. He had come from Seattle.
Washington Territory, TO get foothold in
the new country.
When the train arrived at the station
a rush was made for town lots, but it was
found that nearly every thing within the legal
limits had been taken, and profanity loud
and deep was heard on all sides. The spec
ulator5 had lost at their own game, how
ever, and they accepted the result philo-
sophically What little land remained was
taken up, and some sales were made by
those already in pc session. When the
third section of the train arrived every
thing had been gobbled.
The Okla! ona Daily Herald appeared
shortly after the train arrived, and election
was called. At four o'clock the election
was held for city officers, nearly 10, 900 votes
being pc le but the result is not yet
known
The bank Of Oklahoma opened for bust
mes in the afternoon with capital of $50,
600. The postoffice viii be taken in charge
by Mr.. Finn Of Iowa recently appointed,
and arrangements are making for tremen-
dous business.
1t is estimated that every farm in the
territory is in possession of one or more
claimants, and that nearly 10000 are wan
dering aimlessly around not knowing
where to lay their heads.
Lieut.. Foster estimated that at least 4, %
900 outfits and 10000 people ranged along
the border of his trail and started at the
sound OF the buglc. IL seems like fairy
tale, bat there is scarcely "a doubt that from
10000 TO $4,000 entered by the several
trails, while the six trains that came in
from Arkansas City TO Guthrie drew at
least 5000 people. The wagon roads run
within 100 yards Of the railway all the
way.
When the train crossed the last stream,
Cottonwood creek, just before entering
Guthrie, one fellow became so excited that
he jumped through a car window.
IL is claimed that the directors car of the
Santa he road has been at Guthrie for sew
eral days and they, as well as the govern
ment officials, connived with men hiding in
the brush on the west bottom, shielding
them from the scrutiny Of the soldiers; that
those officials on both sides had the town
all laid out quietly and had an understand
ing with these brush hiders; they all
rushed in and staked OFF claims before any
train arrived.