Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-25

ment was perfect At the signal the
Wagons were broken in the rush and
others broke down in the gullies and sharp
turns in the road, and all the way from
here to the line the road is strewn with
wrecks.
Among the first vehicles to arrive was a
light wagon drawn by a splend id pair of
horses. The occupants were George B.
Morris and w. r. Brownlee, formerly of
the Larned land office, and George Wor-
rel of Larned. They took lots in King
fisher.
Two young ladies named Gillian too
claim just this side of the north line. The
men gave them show and their claim is
not disputed. They were in an open
buggy with a sorrel mule and tent dang
ling behind.
A man named Hopper has lot here and
his sign reads: Keep off this claim. 1
have gun"
A town meeting was called Monday
evening, but adjourned until yesterday
afternoon. From what followed it was
wise that the meeting did adjourn. Groups
of men were gathered at every point dis
cusSlng the situation. They wanted no
town officers elected until the land matter
was thoroughly settled. They not only
wanted a meeting in broad daylight but
they wanted to know the character of
every man to be selected for a nun icipal
office.
The Lisbon people think this will be the
capital of the new Territory and all want
a chance at a coming city.
The land office opened at nine O'Clock
Yesterday morning A line of men had
formed long before daylight, hundreds of
settlers having come in from their claims
in the neighborhood A company of
troops was formed to guard against dis
turbances of the line.
The first man to file his application was
]. D. Dent, of Dodge City. He was fol-
lowed by Rufus James and j. II. Wood.
Lieutenant Penn of the Thirteenth in
fantry has taken a quarter section and
was in the line. The streets were crowded
this morning and business was active, but
not a cigar could be found and no liquor.
A few groceries and drugs are the only
supplies obtainable. The hundreds who are
on the stages and other conveyances with
out food or tents are rather uncomfortable.
Mr.. Miller of the Rock Island hotel has
succeeded in feeding the hungry and Civ
ing shelter to forty or fifty. The claims
between the two Canadian rivers are re-
garded as much the best lands in Okla
homa and many think the big towns will
be down there.
A FALSE REPORT.
FORT RENO, l. T., April 24.-About noon
yesterday a man came in from Poisel's
ranch, about ten miles southeast of here,
and reported that yesterday three men
came upon that place and put up stakes
and shortly afterward seven other men,
claiming to have been on the place with
PAYNE some years ago, came along and
killed the three men in most
outrageous manner. The man who
makes the statement is held here pend
ing an investigation and troops will be
sent to the place. He claims that kept
himself hidden until after dark, bam ing
the efforts of the murderers to find him,
but is now so afraid that he has not suf-
ficient courage to return to his claim.
George Alexander, a white man and an
employee of Poisell's, near whose place the
killing by Payne's men of the settler was
reported to have taken place, arrived late
yesterday evening from that point and
states that there was no truth in the re-
port about the killing.
INDIANS AND CATTLEMEN.
FORT RENO, L T., April 24.-Agent Will
liams, of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
agency has made request for troops from
the commanding officers at Supply and
Elliott to protect the large herds OF cattle
now passing through the reservation from
Texas to the north. The Indians were
compelling the cattlemen to pay them
tribute in steers for permission to go
through their lands. In some cases they
had been given as high as fifteen steers.
Their rations had run out for some days
and another issue will not be made until
May. 1t is owing to this that they are
showing a little nerve. Otherwise they
are quiet They looked upon the rush
into Oklahoma yesterday with much
amusement They thought white men
were heap fools" for making so much
fuss about little land. They do not care
so much about the settlement OF the coun-
try by the whites as they do for the APP
proach of their iron horses. OF this they
make daily inquiries. 1t is believed the
Indians will now try and withdraw from
the agency and settle about fifteen miles
south of here.