Morning journal and courier., 1889-04-20
HE OKLAHOMA EXCITEMENT.

LawIess Cowboys, Toughs ana Gamb' Iers Institute . Reign of Terror = Eighteen Persons Drowned in the Rush-A Stampede of Cattle on the Pra1fies.
 ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, April 19.-Word was brought here last night from Purcell by a man who was there yesterday that great deal of lawlessness exists along the southern border of Oklahoma. He said a man was "held up" in the streets of Purcell in broad daylight and robbed of $500. The boomers defy the law. They have purchased or hired every available horse in the neighborhood and will mount and wade through the Cana dian river just before noon Monday.
 When the signal flag drops at noon sharp there will be desperate land race on the op- posite bank. The gamblers and toughs de- clare they will let no one pass a certain dis from Caldwell, who arrived late last night, says the Cimarron is very high, and up to the time he left eighteen had been drowned there trying to ford.
 A detachment of cavalry arrived this mor- ming and will join Captain Hays at the Ponca reservation tomorrow afternoon. The ser geant in charge says that gang of despera- does from No Mans Land armed to the teeth is camped in the Arapahoe and Cheyenne reservations near the western border of Okla homs. It is believed that they will rove through the territory and plunder settlers who are beyond the protection of the United States marshals. Two rival factions of gam blers at Purcell came together last night and exchanged several shots, but without doing any injury. The Indian police threatened to empty their Winchesters right and left with- out regard to consequences and the fighting and ha dianaraad
 A courier rider, who came in from the Cherokee strip this evening, reported that the boomers were making excellent progress. Last night they camped on the north bank of Willow Springs, and tonight they will pitch their tents near the south line of the Ponca reservation. Tomorrow night they will be in sight of the land for which they have en- dured so many hardships. Every train ar irving here leaves hundreds ot men who are all bound for the promised land. They are camping on the prairie, living in tents or any place where they can find rest ant d shelter. The hotels cannot accommodate one-tenth of them.
 This morning at Chiilicco Station three hundred Texas cattle were let loose on the prairie, as train of boomers was passing and stampeded the cattle hitched to the wagons. The latter were mixed with the Texas cattle and lost to the owners. A man named Watson from Sterling, Neb., in try-
 
 cattle was trampled under foot and badly wounded.
 ARKANsAs CIIY, Kan, April 19.-The change of date for crossing the Cherokee strip line by the Oklahoma settlers from the 18th, to-day, to yesterday, the 18th, made the number of wagons in the first batch to cross the line smaller than it otherwise would have been. Succeeding events show the change to have been 8 wise one. Despite the solid five miles of wagons which went into the strip yesterday the influx during the rest of the day was enormous. The word that the movement would occur to-day had become widespread to the north and many settlers who otherwise would have been here for the start, remained in the camps until afternoon yesterday. So late in the day there continued to be an almost continuous stream of wagons on Summit street. Most of the arrivals in the afternoon camped here last night and proceeded this morning.
 CALDWELL, Kansas, April 19.-One thou- sand camp fires glimmered along the old Reno stage trail last night from Caldwell to Pond Greek. To-day one thousand canvas covered wagons are slowly moving along the trail. The day was favorable and notwith- standing the late heavy rains the trail, which is almost identical with the old Caldwell and Fort Reno trail, was in very good condition. The most popular outfit is 8 strong canvas covered Studebaker drawn by two large, stout horses, and the horses of the boomers are all looking in good con- dition. Some large wagons have four and even six horses. Some persons are mounted on ponies and carry whole camp outfits behind their saddles. Some are cross- ing the strip in buggies. One eastern outfit is large old-fashioned buggy drawn by two shaggy yellow horses with colt hitched by it's mother and black COW tied behind. The owner, a woman, drove with one hand while the other supported child. A shock headed youngster of ten summers followed. The woman was Kansas widow, seeking home in the 'promised land" Four large horses pull 8 large frame room, like 8 travelling photographers outfit upon which in large letters reads ssThe Great War Show"