Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-02-14
Helena, Montana, Thursday, February II, 889.

the unsettled land titles and vagrant e1e-
ment in the population soon led to many
shooting affrays and some atrocious
murders. The best sites in the tract were
soon occupied, and there were small set
Elements at every favorable place in No
Mans Land. Then some Kansas states
men got up scheme to have the tract
surveyed under such terms that holders
Of land scrip could take it despite the
settlers. Their bill got through both
houses of congress .'on the s1y," but
President Cleveland, having learned the
, facts, vetoed it.
There was carnival of crime for a
few weeks in Beaver City, and the good
citizens decided they must have gov
ernment. Soa public meeting was called
Oct. 26, 1885, and a neat little civil code
adopted, providing for securing claims,
which were to be allowed as follows:
Article 2. That any person of legal age
shall be allowed to hold one claim, and
one claim only, of one hundred and sixty
Q6O acres of land until April /, 1887,
provided that he shall by this time have
broken at least five (5) acres, or put other
improvements thereon equivalent there
to.
Article g. Any person may be allowed
to take and hold claims for each member
of his immediate family, to consist Of
fathers and mothers, brothers and sis
ters, sons and daughters, who are of the
requisite age, provided he will make i'm
provements on each claim as provided for
In Article 2.
The adoption of criminal code was
of RI q h,,f %h<,
following clause in the civil code was a
good starter:
Article 6. Thatin case any person shall
jump, trespass, or in any way damage
the claim or claims of any of the sgners
Of these rules and regulations, or of any
body entitled to the benefits of these
rules and regulations, said person or per-
sons shall be politely solicited to get off
said claim, stop trespassing, and make
good any damage done thereon; and if
after twenty-four hours, no attention
shall be paid to said notice measures suf-
ficiently severe shall be resorted to to
compel said person or persons to comply
with said notification.
Measures sufficiently severe" in the
far west imply this programme: First, a
committee with weapons well displayed,
and if that fails, secondly, thirty-nine
lashes well laid on, and, thirdly, death.
But the third article opened the door to
many fraudulent claims, and a specula-
ton in eastern localities; crime also con-
tinued and better government was
necessary. A schoOlhouse had been
built and good school established; so
territorial council was organized, and
in due time constitution drafted Two
preachers had arrived-Rev. Robert A.
Allen, Methodist, and Rev. r. M. Over
street, Presbyterian. The latter called
attention to the fact that there is "a
grave defect in the constitution of the
United States" and begged the conven-
ton to avoid it by adopting Christian
preamble, which they did in these words:
Whereas, The residents of Cimarron
terri Dry are without the protection Of
law oi any state or recognized terrific
rial government, and recognizing the
urgent need thereof and desiring to
adopt and establish rules and laws for
our protection, safety and government,
do hereby recognize Almighty God to
be the Supreme Ruler of the Universe,
the creator, preserver, and governor Of
communities, states and ma
tions, and recognize the laws of the
United States as our organic law, and
adopt the same with the constitution of
the United States as the foundation and
basis of all laws or rules for our govern
ment, and in SO far as may be to execute
and enforce the same"
Meanwhile they have their fun. The
first marriage under the Cimarron con-
stitution was that Of DR.. J. r. Linley |
and Miss Jennie Potts. They arrived as
man and wife, but concluded it would |