The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1889-06-06
OKLAHOMA.
Interesting Letter From the Land
Of Boomers.
Frank Kreig and Bill Turner
Turn Loose.
TALE OF AN OLD SOLDIER.

|
The following letter written by Frank
Kreig, son Of F. j. Kreig of this place,
il full of interest and gives many poin's
regarding the settlement Of Oklahoma
that have not yet been presented to the
public. Frank is an old traveller, hav
ing years ago visited nearly all points
of note in the wild and woody West
and is keen and intelligent observer.
William H. Tuner, well known here
as dairyman and coal merchant, is with
Mr.. Kreig, and what Kreig has written
is end orsed. by Mr.. Turner:
GUTHRIE, 1. T., May q, 1889.
EDITOR SENTINEL
We thought it about time TO let the
readers of the Sentinel hear from the
newly opened country known as Okla
homa. Many false reports have been
sent out and We hope through the Sen
tinel to correct them.
April 22d, nine passenger trains of
l3 coaches each were standing at Ar
kansas City, like so many men at the
back door of a saloon on Sunday morn |
ing, ready for start into the promised |
land. No one but the railroad officials
knew which train would start first
Arkansas CITY is four miles from the
Cherokee strip. sixty miles wide. and
land so beautiful that it would be |
hard to describe on paper. We were
fortunate in getting away on the third
train and arrived at the border line OF
the Promise land at IL o'clock. the
time be ng announced by bug!e blast
given by an officer in charge of the
boys in blue, who had been doin & pa
troll duty along the line.
When the bugie sounded the soldiers
retired into the interior and were fol-
lowed by an army of men, some on race
horses. some in white topped WAGONS,
and indeed oil description of vehicles.
Such another scene was never enacted.
Away they went at a racing pace and
yelling like mad, every man doing his
best to be the first on the grounds
Those on horseback soon dlstauced all
others. AS our train passed on thro' /:
hs country we could see thousands Of
people scattered away as far as the eye
could reach, and it did not take US long I
o discover that the land was already i,
lald down by Winchester rifles.
Guthrie was staked in the morning,
contrary to President Harrison's proc
by men called U. S. Marsh :,
lis. They sold their claims and left
The nearest point to the railroad we I
.ould reach was three quarters of u
nile away and the property in that
ection is rapidly becoming very valu- I.
.ble. On the evening of April 22d. the
population OF Guthrie numbered 20.
100 people and has about 10000 now.
has been going on rapidly
nd no less than 5000 houses have al
eady been finished and the number a
Increasing every day. +
We are situated on the south side of
ten acre square, called Capital !
auarc and equals in the lay of the I
round to the Capitol Square at Colum- ;,
us, Ohio.
Houses that cost from 500 to 5000, O
snt at from $l00 to $500 per month.
nd we don't have very cold weather
ere, either. Gambling has beer. one il
{ the principal businesses. We have !,
isited the principal towns of the terri :"
,ry ard find Guthrie larger than any &
( them. At the start we had banks >.
business in the streets, "
hich had deposits of over 5000. 900 in c.
sn days. There are four banks here ~
ow; two daily papers, the Capital and
'ptic: Is or 70 hardware stores; scores
restaurants, drug stores. dry good r,
tores, de-; 3 livery stables: 10 nr II
lmber yards; ! opera house; dance &
ouses and numerous other branches n
business doing thriving trade.
For the first few days after the settle "
lent of the town, liver water sold for v
cents glass. Wells are numerous C
ow and water free. We have travelled y
yer 300 miles Of the country and have A
ever seen anything to equal it outside Ii
California. The country abounds in
brings and streams. The land is dark III
/ color and very productive. The v
rass is knee high and distributed over A
lc entire country. We have had de- a
ghtful weather and plenty of rain OF
airymen here are doing thriving y
lsineSS.
When we got onto the train 1T Wich- o.
a, Kan. April 2lst. we thought there n,
Ouiu OC thi &C A/OShh wy CuhS "Uutu
imp together in the new country. But p
ere were too many Winchester rifles ii
I'd revolvers for our friend Georges =
ipton, SO he left the train. sold his n
cket and went back home. On one +
our trips through the country to Lis. g
IN, we enquiied of man along the "
'ad who owned beautiful claim that @
ad attracted our attention. He an =,
vered, George Upton" We thought 81 "
othing Of hearing our friends name. Is
he next magnificent claim we came {,
/, We repeated our question and the :.
,swer was, George Upton" Who l
the devil is this man Upton, We r
ked. He is an old soldier" said
If informant. from Logan, Ohio. who e'
ID taken advantage of Harrison's al
and filed his claims by d
oxy; therefore his presence was not -
,cessary in the territory. Who's claim le
this? George Tipton's." Who's "
aim is this? Geo 'ge Upton - "
GU can see the name of Upton is not }.
known in this country. n.
All well. FRANK KRETG. =,
W. H. TUR .ER. N