Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-26
AT POINT OF THE BAYONET.
How the People of Oklahoma City are Pre-
vented From Holding Charter Elec-
tion-Nany Arrests Made
Special to the Gazette.

~'ANA--A'ASNAA iii L L sept
Oklahoma City presented war-Iiks
appearance this morning when the SOL
diers, under command of Capt Stiles,
cleared the streets with fixed bayonets
to prevent the holding of a charter cleo
ton in defiance of Mayor Couche 3
proclamation fOrbidding the same. At
one time there were indications that
/ serious trouble would result,
! but only one received
slight bayonet wound in the
arm. Messrs. L. I. Bixler, W. L.
/ Pendleton, Il. b. George, A. b. Ham
mer, NJ. Glascoe, Il. Fl. Berry, 1. L.
| Brown, J. a. Stewart and II W. Saw
yer, editor of the Evening Times, were
arrested and placed under bond for
| conspiracy TO overthrow the military au-
| thorities. Their preliminary hearing is
set for October l. At this hour the town
/ is quiet and the soldiers have been ord
/ cred to their quarters.
OKLAHOMA CITY, I. T., Sept. 21 -
| To-day was one of the most exciting days
/ in the history or the city. About six
weeks ago q faction of citizens, after
/ failing to induce the council to call a con-
/ vention for the purpose of framing an
amended charter, framed one themselves
! and called an election for the people to
| vote on it. AS it provided for the imme-
| date ousting of the present city govern
ment the United States troops, under
/ authority ofsGen. Merritt, prevented the
/ election. Twoor three weeks ago a char
| ter prepared by committee authorized
by the council was voted down. The
original charter faction then called an
election on their charter for to-day again
without the consent of the mayor and
| QOunpil Merritt in aant Ordars
to Col. Snyder to prevent tine elecuon.
and this morning Capt. d. F. Stiles, in
command of the troops here, carried out
these orders at the point of the bayonet.
The polls were opened early in the morn
ing and a large crowd assembled. A
number of persons endeavored to vote
when Capt. Stiles threw his company
across the street and gave the command
to charge. The company encountered
no opposition to their progress. The
leaders of the charter faction then rushed
to another place and declared the polls
open again. Capt. Styles repeated his
charge and again cleared the street. r.
c.. Glasgow then mounted a box,
called the crowd around him and advised
them to dispense. Continuing, he cen
sured interference by the military
when Capt. Stiles charged the crowd for
third time and brought the speech to
an abrupt termination. The Second ward
polls were then declared open in another
part of the city.
Leaving the guards in the place already
cleared, Capt. Stiles proceeded to the
new voting place. The leaders of the
charter faction, after consulting with
Capt. Still es, advised the crowd to dis
perse. The advice was followed and the
excitement subsidized.
Nine of the leaders were afterwards
arrested on the charge of oOnspiring
against the authority of the United States
and the city government. Among those
arrested are Capt. Hammer and Judge
Brown, who are accusdd of melting the
mob to resistance.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Special TO the Gazette.
GAINESVILLE, TEX, Sept. 22.-The
town of Oklahoma City is IN q Juror of
excitement over a combat between
United States soldiers and citizens, which
took place there yesterday and resulted
in considerable bIOOdshed and probably
several deaths. The combat grew out OF
a municipal election which the soldiers
were ordered to suppress. It seems that
a portion of the inhabitants of Okla
homa City are bitterly opposed to
Mayor Crouch, and in fact the
whole city administration and by reason
of their constant kicking they have been
dominated 'Kickapoos. - The majority
Of the citizens, however, favor the Crouch
administration which is also sustained
by the Federal authorities. The Kick
apoos have frequently of late shown their
dissatisfaction in several ways, but a riot
has always been averted by the soldiers.
Some time ago they decided to hold an
election on yesterday and vote for what
was called the 'citizens' charter and
GUST the present administration. The
polls were opened at o clock yesterday
morning and were Immediately sur
rounded by Capt. Stiles and his
blue coats, who had orders to
prevent voting. A great crowd had col
lected to see what was going on and the
voters were given orders to dispense.
Refusing to do this, the soldiers were
ordered to load guns, fix bayonets and
charge. The crowd resisted and the re-
suit was several were struck with the
points of bayonets and some were
dubbed with the butt-end of the guns
A riot and great confusion followed and
several citizens were wounded, though
no deaths are reported. The SOL
diers finally succeeded IN dispers-
ing the crowd, though con-
siderable excitement prevailed. Nine
of the KickapOos were arrested and placed
under guard including Judges Brown
and Hammer, and both editors of the
Oklahoma Times. The charges preferred
against the arrested parties are seditious
conspiracy against the government and
local authorities. The soldiers are de-
termined to keep down further trouble,
and while the inhabitants are still greatly
excited, no more is expected It is
learned to-day that ali the parties ar
rested have been released on bonds of
$1,000 each, to appear before the United
States commissioner on October l.
The Western Beef Ring