The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-19


first of ten wagons from Kingman, Kansas.
Dan Skies flung an American flag to the
breeze. As far as it could be
seen it was hailed with patriotic
shouts. For three hours the wagons crossed
the strip line, and moved slowly toward
the promised land. On the outside of al
most every wagon, strapped to the side,
were plows, household goods, farming
implements. Extra horses and punches of
women and children.
HOUSE ON WHEELS.
One farmer had built house from the
bed of his wagon. 1t was shingled, and
stove pipe leading from a modern cook
stove made a complete apartment. From
the Cherokee strip line to Salt Greek Fork
is fourteen miles This fork is swollen out
of its banks and crossing it is dangerous
business A temporary bridge has been
erected, but it is not safe. 1t is believed
that the majority Of the settlers will camp
tonight beside this stream.
MOVEMENT OF THE MILITARY
Capt Hayes broke up Camp Price at
noon and is following with bis cavalry.
His orders are to camp tonight on Salt
Creek Fork and then to take the line of
march tomorrow for the Oklahoma line.
A camp will be struck by the soldiers
across the line, and Capt. Hayes will
picket his men along the Oklahoma
line as far as they will reach. His picket
line will be joined by line of soldiers from
Caldwell, and the boomers will be kept at
bay until the hour of noon arrives. Capt.
Hayes set his watch this morning exactly
with the railroad clocks and as soon as
his watch indicates noon Monday
the signal will go up, for the
boomers to start. Three miles from Ar
kansas river along the Ponca trail is in
frightful condition, and IL was most dis
couraging for the settlers. But these mon
are not made of the stuff to turn back.
Difficulties of all kinds are met and over
come.
A NEIGHBORLY FEELING.
The most neighborly feeling exists and
each renders the other all the assistance
possible. A boomer got stuck in the mud.
Twenty offers of help were volunteered.
The wagon was pried from the mud and
the boomer went on rejoicing. The set
tiers mean to help each other and woe to
the lawlesS settler who attempts
to create disturbance. Capt. Hayes,
who has kept the boomers at bay
says he never saw a more orderly set of
men, and was surprised at it. He fully ex-
pected an element that would cause him
trouble. The Indian mission school, half
mile from the Ponce trail, came in body
to witness the start, and men and women
on horseback from Arkansas City galloped
along the line of wagons and waved their
handkerchiefs to the sturdy farmers.
Carriages filled with the elite of the city
were on the ground to witness the start.
Prospective merchants. townsiterS, bankers
and spectators will take trains on Monday.
Wagons from the north continue to pour in,
but in no such numbers as were witnessed
in the last three days.
TWO REPORTED DROWNED.
Parts of wagon passed under the tenn
porary bridge over Salt Creek Fork this
morning, and the supposition is that a
family of boomers has been lost in the
stream. 1t is reported that two persons
were drowned. Last night police officers
were looking for Daniel Skies, boomer.
His son, B. G. Skies, had committed
suicide at Wichita. Daniel Skies is the
old farmer who carried the American flag
when the boomers started. He has gone to
Oklahoma ignorant of his sons death. A
movement was started to-day to call a
public meeting Saturday night of all who
proposed to settle at or near Guthrie to talk
over the proposed to wn site and formulate
means of procedure on Monday.
PRAIRIE sCHooNERs UNDER SAIL.
WELLINGTON, KAN, April 1S.-The
stream of ''prairie schooners" moving
southwark is not diminished. The streets
are filed with boomers, and they continue
to pour in from the northeast aud west.
Frequently six to ten wagons are included
in one outfit. Such an emigration has
never before been witnessed in this section.
Old settlers familiar with the Cimarron
river, which all settlers entering
Oklahoma from the northwest must GROSS,
say that its waters are very high and that
it is as much as mans life is worth to
cross it in its swollen condition. Its bed is
composed in large part of shifting quick
sand, and where a safe crossing can be
made to-day tomorrow in all probability
the same place would be a death-trap.
Many parties who intended to go from here
with teams have abandoned the attempt
and will 60 by rail, being fearful Of serious
accidents in fording the river.
ARMY OFFICERS ANXIOUS.
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-It is very ap-
parent here that the officers of the army are
filled with the liveliest apprehension re-
garding the opening Of Oklahoma. The
Secretary of War has authorized the state
ment that the government is fully aware
of the situation and has arranged to
take all proper steps to prevent
trouble. Ii is known that the
cussion at the recent cabinet meetings, and
that the Attorney General has been called
upon TO decide the question as to the au-
thoritv of the war department in case of
strife, bloodshed or violence in the newly
opened country. The instructions sent to
the commandant Of the troops in Oklahoma
as a result Of the opinion rendered by the
Attorney General we're extremely
guarded. They are understood to
direct the army officers to assist
in the maintenance Of the law, but
to carefully observe the regulations defn-
ing their authority and leave arrests for
violations of the law to the marshals. The
President might, in case Of serious disturb
ance, declare martial law over the territory,
but this could not be done in advance Of
breach of the peace, and the machinery
Of the government would, it is feared, be
too slow moving to meet the great emer-
gency which may arise. The only army
regulation on the subject provides for the
interference by troops in an emergency only
In case Of an interruption TO carriage OF the
mail. or assaults on United States prop
erty, but under q somewhat constrained
construction it may form reason to assign
the use OF troops to prevent or restrain
rioting or bloodshed in the territory.
LIQUOR MAY BE SOLD.
Mr.. Mason, commissioner OF internal
revenue has decided that under the recent
act Of congress and proclamation OF the
President in relation TO Oklahoma. 1t
ceases TO be Indian country, and that special
stamps may be sold to retail and whole
sale liquor dealers to engage in business
there under the same terms aud regulations
as in other states aud territories OF the
United States. BY recent act Of congress
IL was provided that no ardent spirits should