The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-05-02

the train passed caravans Of boomers
wagons, many going south, but some re-
turning toward Kansas
At the last station outside Of the Oklaho-
ma Territory there was a great crowd of
boomers who had forsalen their teams and
hoped to get in quicker by rail There be-
ing no room inside, they climbed to the
tops of the coaches, and the entire train,
from one end to the other, was lined with
them In this way the line was reached
about five minutes after IL o'clock
Before the late dead-line was reached and
passed, however, the great transformation
scene had begun and was plainly visible to
the watchers from the train. First came in
view the white-t topped wagons gathered to-
gether in groups on the level prairie or in
the little valleys which diversity the
face of the country. 1t was
at once noticeable that the teams
were not to be seen in any of these
camps and it was plain they had been
taken out of the harness to be ridden
across the border by the hard riders
who were to locate claims. A little
farther on and this conclusion
was proved to be the correct one,
for the entire face of the country as far as
the best field glass could carry the sight
was overrun with horsemen galloping to
the southwark The fieetest horses had evi-
IDENTIFY been picked for the work, and they
were carrying their riders rapidly to the
longed-for goal
The ride OF Paul Revere dwindles into
obscurity beside the feats of horsemanship
performed In Oklahoma Rides of fifteen
or twenty miles were made in
an Incredible short time by old
hno for, H.
and who knew where desirable lands
were located The day was cloudless and
far away In the horizon both to the east and
west clouds of dust could be seen ascend
ing from the hoofs of hundreds of horses
rushing toward different destinations in
most cases, but some of them toward the
same
Out of the dust which arose toward the
east could be seen, after the train had
reached the summit Of high ridge,
wagon caravan fully two miles in length,
which was hurrying forward at the ut
most speed of its horses These caravans
were plainly outdistanced by the horse
back riders, and after several miles of the
Territory was traversed it was seen that
the best riders we're winning the best prizes
1t was 1890 when the first section OF the |
train reached the line, aud its progress from |
that point on to Guthrie was not rapid |
enough for the rapid men who |
wanted to get there in a hurry be-
fore all the cream was SKINNED off the
milk. Nevertheless 1t lacked but q few |
minutes to o'clock when the train stopped |
in front of the Guthrie depot
Before the train came to q stop it was
seen that somebody was already therein |
fact, the town was already well populated |
Tents were numerous on the eastern slope |
and sstakes were sticking up ont of the |
ground like poles in a bean patch Men
could be seen racing in the direction of |
the valuable holdings and the scene was
busy and animated The profanity |
among the Arkansas City and Wichita men,
as well as of those from other points, was
both loud and deep. II their had been
prospect OF shooting at any time 1t was
when these mon found themselves bafiied
Y tho game Of froeze-ouk but they we're |