The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-23

OKLAHOMA OPENED
With Snap, Vim and Get-Up-and- Get
There Are No Flies To Be Found on
the American.
He Goes Into Virgin Country and
Builds Towns In Day.
An Incident In Our History That
Cannot be Excelled.
Tho Expected Bloodshed Docs Not Take
Place in the Most Intense Rush Ever
Tho Expected Bloodshed Does Not Take
Place In the Most Intense Rush Ever
Known-Amusing and Ludic-
rous Scenes.

hcS special from ARKANSAS City, kas.,
says. Oklahoma is opened. The trials,
struggles and sacrifices Of years are par
TALLY rewarded; but tae events OF today
and those Of the days, weeks and months
to follow, will prove how far supply is
below demand, and necessitate further
concessions to avert disorder, bloodshed
and other conditions but little short OF
anarchy. The history Of this one day
will forever be memorable in frontier an
nails, and will leave behind heritage Of
litigation which will be fruitful to land
sharks and claim attorneys, but be do
structive to poor and honest settlers. The
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
began running It's sectional trains out OF
Arkansas City last night, and picking up
cars at every station along the route.
Hundreds Of people were waiting at every
depot, and il the cars, all OF which were
full before the border line was reached,
could have been coupled, they would
have made train miles in length. The
crowds were composed Of
sPEcULAToRs, ADVENTURES ASD THIEVES,
and sprinkling OF the demi monde. The
farming element was not largely repre-
sented, as all homesteaders have gone on
before. There were men from every great
city and important point In tho country,
and there was not State or Territory in
the country which did not have It's repre-
sentatives. They filed all tho seats and
filled up the space between the coaches,
hanging on the iron banisters and girders
with a grip born OF despair and deiermina-
tion. The newspaper coach was the first
out OF Arkansas City; II contained repre-
sentatives OF all the leading newspapers in
the country, who were compelled 10 yield
room and comfort for the good OF the
cause. The conductors were yigilant In
the collection OF fares. but Il Is certain
that great many dead-heads went through
TO the promised land In tho rush and
hurry and roar OF the boomer campaign.
There was but little tighl-seeing iudulgod
in, as the crowd did nG care 70 look al
anything until Il got te. Oklahoma; like
the emigrant at Castle Snrden, who re-
fused TO pick up a silver dollar because he
expected to find gold In the street in the
next block. At Arkansas City there were
over seventy.fiye coaches tracked In the
yards awaiting the rush; all OF these were
lowered into the yards some distance be-
low the depot The crowd gathered
on the platform two hours before
daylight, aud long before tho frst
faint streak OF the dawn Of the iateiul
day, the city was awake and stirring. The
streets presented live, picturesque APP
pcdranco. After the sun rose crowds were
rushing toward tho center Of action from
all parts Of the city. The hotels emptied
their hundreds into the streets the cot
houses contributed hundreds more out OF
the hospitable homes Of the city, nearly
all Of which have entertained guests dur.
ing the past week. Some long strings Of
men carrying grips. bundles, knsp-sacks
aud parcels OF every possible and impossi.
bic description. Hundreds OF boomers
and rustlers In their impatienco 10 got
aboard rushed On masso 20 the yards aud
attempted 10 force an entrance into the
cars, all OF which were securely locked.
The excitement may be judged from the
fact that a largo number OF coach windows
were broken out by people who were anx.
ious 10 secure seats. A strong guard Of
railroad men were detailed TO protect the
company's property, and they had a con-
tract OF unusual dimensions on their
hands.
THE CROWD WAS PANIC srRicKEN.
After awaiting 10 many eyentful DAYS
and nights for the hour Of action TO come,
men we're seized with the sudden fear that
they would DO left In tho lurch and that
fear served 10 mako them like drove Of
siampedcd cattle. There was vain at
tempt at good humor In tho struggle
which concealed the grim purpose behind
and there was no quarter shown In tho
rush for places. II was a wild West crowd
headed toward a new field Of enterprise
and development and no one who has
never seen the thing In action can have
the remotest conception Of IT, An anus
ing, and, at the same time, pathetic Incl
dent Of the early morning was n cattle
train laying on a side track loaded with a
boomer, his horse, wagon aud COW, vile
and children and oil his little household
oifccts lie was a merry fellow and guyod
tho crowd numerically for not going
through, as he expressed II, without
change OF cars, 10 avoid the rush.
81 travel In my own special coach" said
lac, like Jay Gould or Vanderbilt"
you'll get there too-laie," yelled
somebody in tho crowd.
Never mind, replied the boomer, ''l'll
get there all the same"
IL had leaked out during tho wakoiul
hours Of tho night that the pres special
coach would be part Of the first irain "a
move out. The railroad infringement had
succeeded well In keeping this TACT a Sc
crct No one but representatives OF the
press were informed Of this TACT or knew
the location Of the coach and the iimc ol
its departure, but II is impossible 10 keep
such information from people who hit up
all night 10 find out the shortest and
easiest way Of getting into the Promised
Land. Tho result was that when the
newspaper coach was backed up Al point
below the depot the entire crowd charged
upon Il. Tho newspaper men were ranged
In a solid phalanx, but bad 70 bght ior ac'
cess TO the rear platform OF the car. There
were rusilers there who had been h9hunl
along the border for years and who had
deaih-grip on the iron railing ana eA'
pressed 4 determination 10 20 In That car
These were not easily disposed OF, bui htei
them came a swatm ol men with bogu'
Credentials, prcsumlng 10 represent every
great newspaper Ia the United States
Nearly every correspondent WIS canev
upon TO discrcdit two Of these assumed
Journalistic. and scores Of Others mnea o.
Identification or recognu0n aud had V