Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-13
TOWARD OKLAHOMA.
BOOMERS ANXI0USLY AWAITING THB0PRN-
ING OF THB PROMISED LAND.
Many Of Them are IN Destitute Circumstances Ar
rangsments for TransPOrtaton-United States
Patrol on Duty-BlOody Riots are Surely
Expected in the Territory.

WICHITA, KAs., April 12.-MsjOr Bar
ker arrived here last night from Oklsho-
ma, and reports that the soldiers are not
equal to the task of keeping the boomers
out. They slip into the country and conceal
Themselves 80 eff5ctnally in the woods that
the scouts cannot fnd them. Every sta
tion on the Santa Fe road is guarded, and
only those having permits are allowed to
get off the trains. The Santa Fe has near
ly completed the depot at Guthrie, and
workmen are engaged on the land Office
building at Purcell.
The border is black with boomers await
ing the opening of the county. Many Of
them are in very destitute circumstances.
The Santa Fe road people say arrangements
have been made to transport all who sp-
ply, and the Rock Island is preparing to
run line Of stages from its southern ter
minus into the Territory. Two immense
RATS are being constructed here for the
transportation of Hills co Ony. They ex.
pect to float down the Arkansas, as the
recent rains have swollen the river sDd
they can land within seven miles of the
Oklahoma border Others have arranged
for relays of fast horses which are expected
to transport them to the claims already
chosen. Every south bound train arriving
here is crowded, and the wagon caravans
are passing in an endless chain.
Captain Woodson, of the Fourth U. s
Cavalry, whose troops are guarding the
Territory from invasion at Caldwe thus
far has rigidly enforced his orders from
headquarters, and, as result, there is not
a boomer wagon within a mile and a half
Of the line. A few men have attempted TO
evade the patrol, but in every instance they
were OVerhauled and brought back There
is liable to be good deal of trouble be-
lween some of the boomers hnd the troops.
About hundred Of the former held meet
ing in the bed of dry creek, near the
Rock Island railroad bridge, at Caldwell,
Yesterday afternoon, and after great deal
of discussion determined to move for Okla
homa on the night of April IS. They will
leave their wagons and stock and families
to follow as soon as the military will let
them move. I'VE have good horses,
said one of the rebels, land we are not
afraid Of being caught. All we want Is a
fair ssrt, and then You can depend upon it
that we will be in Oklahoma IS soon rs the
city crowds that are going in on the rail-
roade."
A dispatch from Milwaukee, Wis, says:
A gentleman residing in this city has re-
ceived letter from his brotheriu-law,
who lives twelve miles from the Oklahoma
border. The writer says that the Presi-
dent should have declared the Territory
open the day after the issuance Of the
proclamation, snd continues: There were
at that time, in the neighborhood of Okla
homa, enough waiting and anxious people
10 occupy its every home. Many OF them
were the followers OF the late Captain
David l. Payne, who labored so long and
zealously TO accomplish the work that the
Presidents proclamation does. Many OF
these men will be cut off and ruined now.
"As it is there are now in the neighbor-
hood of this Territory, ready to move at o
moments notice five times the number OF
people necessary to settle It, and every
wagon road convergiDg toward this point
from Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas
and elsewhere is Rroanipg under the bur
dens of wagons. Every one is going in
the direction of Oklahoma, cross lots when
he can. And this is merely the van of the
army that is to come, Notwithstanding all
reason and warning. The great mass OF
! the walters have no desire TO hang around
| the frontier day or two, 20 they will try
and be on hand Just as the gate swings
open. The result, IS it may reasonably be
calculated, will be a never-endipg series OF
petty but bloody battles, in comparison to
which county seat rackets and race wars
are but sham fights.
"Another element is the Western rus
tier. who has been through the mill-be en-
raised, as it were, on the county seat
fights and rocked On the billows of land
contests. He does rot care about home
steads, but he will be there. He will be
satisfied with few of the best lots IN all
of the best towns, and he won't be satis-
fed unless he has them. He doesn't want
ANYTHING that involves trouble, but II
trouble comes that is Just what he has
been looking for, and he'll welcome it as
as an old friend. In fact, the man who Is
now selling his farm or other property.
and picluring to himself a quiet, peaceful
home in Oklahoma, is the fellow that /
am writing these lines fOr-the man l
want to wake up. would tell him not to
come with the idea of staying, but with
the means Of returning There is round
TO he lots of trouble"