The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-04-25
ON THE MARCH
One Division of the Grand Army
of Oklahoma Boomers in
Motion.
Troops Hurrying to the New Ter
rltory-Trouble and Blood
shed Anticipated.

FoRr SMITH, Ark, April 1S.-Word was
received he-e Tuesday night of a conflict
between parties of boomers, oattlemen
and Chickssaw police at the ford at Chris
Holms' cattle trail, forty miles west of
Oklahoma City, on the Canadian river.
The cattlemen were taking several hun
dred animals from Frank Ool5ert's ranch
in the Chickasaw nation to Kansas,
but the mounted police guarding the bor-
der of Oklahoma refused to permit them
to use the Chisholm trail leading through
the new territory. A fight resulted in
which the cattlemen were reinforced by a
party of boomers from Cooke and Fannin
counties, Texas. One of the guards, two
cattlemen and one boomer named Geiss
were killed in the melee, besides the loss
of some valuable horses. The osttlemen
took the old Abilene trail and went around
through the Cheyenne reservation.
ANOTHER DIFFICULTY.
WICHITA, Kan, April 18.-A serious land
affrsy occurred yesterday about ten miles
from Kiowa. Two men claimed certain
quarter section, and one, named George
Kramer, undertook to put the other,
Charles Heidke, off the land. Both drew
revolvers and Kramer was shot through
the head and instantly killed. Heidke was
shot through the groins and may die.
AN INCIDENT.
OKLAHOMA, April 18.-Harry Hill, one
of the Oldest boomers in Kansas, lett for
the Territory from this city last Friday
and has not since been heard from. He
was expected to return Sunday and his
disappearance is most mysterious. The
last heard of him was from Purcell, which
place he left Sunday morning, saying he
would ride over to Oklahoma City. Mon
day noon his dog was found shot through
the head. A reward of $500 has been
offered for the discovery of the boomer
and this reward will be greatly increased
THE OKLAHOMA LEAGUE.
ARKANSAS CIrY, April 1S.-If the bear.
ing and general get up of the men who
have arrived here thus far 60 for any.
thing it may be pretty safely assumed
that Oklahoma, after the opening days
will be the scene of many bloody con
ficts. The streets of Arkansas City are
filled with men, each of whom is walk
ing arsenal. Every man regards his
neighbor with distrust, and even the mos
peaceably inclined have apparently
thought it essential to their protection tc
put on the most staggering and war
like air possible. Everybody tina
arrives here and takes in the warlike ap
pearance of the surroundings begins
straightway to look out the authorities
and the most well disposed citizens are
Mortified.
That in Oklahoma there is scarcely an,
law, other than that of the strong hand
that might well constitute right until leg
islation can provide law and law givers
for this new territory may be judged from
the fact that already there has beer
formed an organization called the Okla
homa league, whose object is to protect
by force if necessary, what they claim tc
be their rights. Members of the associa
tion have all selected their lands as faI
back as fifteen years ago, and they nov
claim to own them by right of pre-emp
tion.
These lands they are prepared to hole
against all oomers, and anyone daring
enough to make counter claims will have
to make them good by species of per
suasion not known in ordinary cases OF
land litigation. He will have to be bet
ter shot, not only than the members OF
the league whose tract he claims, but
than all other members also who will
make their fellow members fight for theil
| own,