Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-25

had been fired upon by body OF twelve
Texans who claimed a location made by
Goodwin and party. Goodwin made his es-
cape. The rest of the party were killed. A
detachment of company G Thirteenth infant
ry was quickly sent TO the scene to recover
the bodies and arrest all suspicious persons.
Tho Settlers Organizing.
KANSAS CRY, Mo-, April A.-An Oklaho.
ma special says: "Oklahoma City, like
Guthrie, was built in q day, or, properly
speaking, was claimed in an hour excepting
that portion which was captured before the
Time by those appointed to go down ana oxe-
cute the law. Deputy United States mar.
shals laid out the town Sunday night and
Monday morning. They covered supposed
choice sites with tents. When the train
from the south arrived, about l o'lock, the
lateconers were simply struck with
Rmazement. They did not repeat the wild
rush at Guthrie. They mechanically walked
over to the town site, took what the govern
ment officials had kindly left and went on
two miles stalking town lots.
Water in Oklahoma is plenty. There is not
The same suffering as at Guthrie, ana, in
fact, there is a lack of dirt and dust. AS at
Guthrie, the days are hot, the nights cold and
food hard to obtain.
The newcomers at Guthrie are peaceably
inclined, but they may yet show their indig-
nation over the action of the government
officials. There is now an organized crowd
which tomorrow will put squatter upon
the lot OF every man who antedates 12 o'clock
noon on April ~. They have been at work
securing the names Of these people and have
. now their exact locations. In the forenoon
one time, while the jumpers will
be backed by 200 armed men.
II peaceable possession is given, being over
powered by NUMBERS there will be no
trouble. Should resistance be made, then
force will be used to eject from the property
those men, and their traps. by throwing
them from the lots.
Guthrie is city of 5000 people, with no
streets. Outlying claimants have been
crossing near the center of the town
and have been stalking out and i'm
proving their claims in the so-caled
streets and alleys. The result of this is
that spectators have black eye. The lots
sold the first day were the only ones upon
which any money was made, and there were
but few of them. Now that freight can be
obtained, building IN both cities is going on
rapidly. Work has already commenced
breaking sod, and, the condition at this time
being favorable, there will be enough vege-
:ables raised for home consumption.
Disgusted Boomers Returning.
ST. LOUIS April 24.-The Republics Kan
sas City special says: A bulletin in front of
the telegraph Office at the union depot this
morning indicated that all the early trains
from Oklahoma were over two hours late
The cause of the delay was apparent when a
train of fourteen coaches crowded with re-
turning boomers came in. A more disguised
crowd could not be imagined. They were
mostly from Iowa, Nebraska and
Illinois. There were over 800 boomers
On the train that left Arkansas City, Kan,
last night, and nearly two hundred more
wanted to go, that were Obliged to wait for
the next train. A large number of the re-
turning boomers dropped out at various sta
lions in Kansas.
Edward Given was at the head of thirty
hue Illinois settlers, leading them back home.
He SAID: "We were on the first train that
arrived at Guthrie last Monday afternoon.
We were not looking for town sites,
but for farms. We found pretty
fair lands in the river bottoms but
not near as rich as the farms that we were
leaving. The soil is red and loose, like brick
dust. In fact, a greater part Of the country
looks like an immense brick kiln"
Most of the boomers who returned this
morning had staked out claims, but had re-
fused to settle on them.
money with us, SO that we could get back"
said one. II did not get u claim and would
not have taken it if could" said another.
General bferritt's Report.
WAsuINGToN, April 2i.-The following tel
pgram was received at tho war department
this afternoon from Chicago:
The following telegram, dated Oklahoma
Station, yesterday, is respectfully repeated:
Reports from Kingfisher, Guthrie and Pur-
cell, state that everything progressed yes
terday in quiet and orderly manner, and
there was no serious iufraction or distur-
bance Of any kind. Lieutenant Dodge, of
my staff, whom l ordered to Purcell on duty,
returned last night and reported that every
thing was moving in satisfactory manner,
and TINT incoming Spttlprs n MI un
well-disposcd This may be said to be the
condition Of affairs In all sections of tho
country.
In my opinion, quite number of people
have been deferred from entering the coun-
try owing to exaggerated reports as to the
numbers coming in aud the difficulties of
getting here. However, from reports from
Forts Sill, Reno and elsewhere, am salts
serious trouble Of any kind, though there
may in remote sections of the country be in-
diyldual cases of strife. w, MERRITT,
GEoRoE Crook, Brigadier- General.
Major General commanding
BuIldozing the Settlers.
GurHRIE, !. H., April 24.-As illustrating
the ingratitude Of the republic, it may be
mentioned that contests are already filed
against the claim of Captain Couch, an old
boomer leader, on the curious ground that he
disqualified himself for making an entry by
entering the territory years ago
On boomer expeditions. General James
3. Weaver, Of Iowa, one Of the
most persistent advocates OF the
opening Of Oklahoma in congress-, has also
had his claim contested, and has been ac-
,uscd Of attempting to take people by the
throat.
The old-time boomer leaders have not
Jared well. Any number Of Paynes men
ran be found now lying around Purcell, who
have been outridden and outrun by men who
have taken the fruit of their years of sacri-
Ace Most Of them take 1t philosophically,
but it means blood, and a murdered
boy Of nineteen, who was sbct when found
in possession OF one of these claims, owed
his death TO that injustice, whether he was
partly responsible for IL or not. Tile man
who killed him had worked il for his own for
years. IL is broadly limited at PARCEL that
Did colonists there could point out tho muir
uerer, and that instead OF duing So assisted
him TO escape into Texas
Twenty claims have bser deserted in one
neiShborhood, and last night in the depot at
Olllshoma City, a broken homesteader Of
fesed 70 sell his claim Tor s25. Tho contest
over town sites continues, and much trouble
Ii proi..ised in the future.
A scheme to Seize the Strip.
KANSAS CTR, April 24.-An Arkansas City
special says that $50 men left, this morning.
ser thc Cherokee st,ip with the avowed pur-