The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-04-23
The Day the Boomers Have Long
Waited for Witnesses Some
Stirring Times.
People OF All Glasses. From All Sec.
tions, Unite In the Great Rush
to Oklahoma.
A Race For Homestsads In which the
Man ON the Hest Horse Wins Scenes
Prom the Train.

events OF to-day and OF the days. weeks
and months TO follow will prove how far
the supply Is below the demand, and will
necessitate further concessions TO avert
disorder, bloodshed and other conditions
but little short OF anarchy. The history Of
this day will forever be memorable In
frontier annals, and will leave behind a
heritage OF litigation which will be fruitful
10 land sharks and claim attorneys, but de-
structive to the claims OF poor and honest
settlers.
The santa Fe began running its sectional
trains out OF Kansas City last night and
picking up cars at almost every station
along the route. Hundreds OF people were
waiting at every depot and the cars, all OF
which were filled before the border line
was reached, could they have been cou.
pied, would have made q train mile IN
length. The crowds were composed OF
SPECTATORS, adventurers, sight-seers,
thieves, etc. The farming element was
not largely represented, as all OF the home
steaders have gone on before. There were
men In the cars from every great city and
important point In the country, and
there there WAS me not ,an,,S state ,ss Ss ter s,s
not have its representatives. The
newspaper coach was first out OF
Kansas City. IL contained repre- sentatives
OF all the leading newspapers In the coun-
try, who were compelled 10 yield room and
comfort for the good of the cause. Al
Arkansas City there were over seventy
i've coaches side-tracked In the yards
awaiting the rush. The crowd began
gathering on the platform two hours before
daylight, and long btfore the first faint
streak OF dawn OF this fateful day the city
was awake and stirring. The streets pre-
sented live and picturesque appearance.
Hundreds, In their impatience to get
aboard, rushed down on masse 10 the yards
and attempted 10 force an entrance into the
cars, all OF which were securely
locked. The excitement may be judged
from the fact that q large namSer
of coach windows were broken
out by people who were ANXIOUS
TO secure seats. IL was In vain for the
officials 10 say the trains would run In sec.
tions fifteen minutes apart. Every man
there wanted TO be fifteen minutes ahead of
everybody and not fifteen minutes behind
any body. The first train made up con-
sisted OF nine coaches, the newspaper
coach and one caboose. IL pulled out at
S:45, railroad time, and was drawn by en-
gine 266. IL was 9.30 when the line which
marks the state line and the dividing line
from the Cherokee strip was reached. IL
was greeted with cheer, which rolled from
the news car In the front 10 the rustiers
In the cAboose behind and marked the de-
parture from the state government TO the
country where the government is yet 10 be
created and established. Still the Chero-
kee country lay between them and the
rainbow land. Along the PAwnee trail the
train also passed caravans OF boomers
wagons, many going south, but some re-
turning towards Kansas. Between Willow
Springs and the Poncha agency somebody
IN the newspaper car discovered q man
riding on the trucks beneath the coach.
When the train stopped at Poncha the ad-
venturous boomer on the wheels was taken
up into the car and elected an honorary
member OF the press association. lie gave
his name as Harvey Sadler and said
he was born In England, but had
been In this country for nine wears,
r., " get foothold In Oklahoma. He was
elected as the representative OF the London
Times and also as the mascot OF the new
city OF Guthrie.
At the last station outside OF the Okla
hOma territory there was great crowd of
boomers who had gathered In force, leav.
ing their teamsland hoping 10 get In quicker
by rail-. There being no room inside they
climbed 10 the top OF the coaches and the
entire train from one end 10 the other was
lined with them. In this way the line was
reached about five minutes after IL o'clock.
Before the late dead line was reached and
passed, however, q great transformation
scene had begun and was plainly visible 10
the watchers from the train. First came In
view the white topped wagons, gathered
together 10 groups on the level prairie, or
in the little valleys which diversity the
face OF the country. IL was nc
once noticeable the teams were
not 10 be seen In any OF these
camps. II was plain they had been taken
out OF harness ~ be rode across the border
by hard riders, who were 10 locate claims.
A little further In and this conclusion
proved 10 be- the correct one, for the entire
face Of the country as far as the best field
glass could carry sight was oyerrun with
horsemen galloping to the southwark. The
| ileetest horses had evidently been picked
for the work and they were carrying their
riders rapidly 10 the l0Dged for goal FIJI
teen or twenty miles were made In an In
credibly short time by the old boomers,
| familiar with the country, and who knew
where the desirable lands were located.
| The day was cloudless and far away on the
| horizon, both 10 the east and west, clouds
| could be seen ascending from the hoofs
OF hundreds OF horses rushing toward
different destinations In most cases, but
some OF them toward the same one. The
race for the goal could be easily distin.
guished. The riders were evenly apparently
mounted. They ran neck and neck for a
mile or two along the trail far as they
could be- seen, and their eager and intense
looks and merciless slashing OF horses wac
| sufficient evidence OF the prize they were
| running after. One saddled but riderless
horse was seen galloping along the trail,
an omlnous sign 0f some accident or fatal.
| ity which had befallen the rider. Some
L l..a al. nf hs.xaa. al.
dently riding relays toward the goal. Out
Of the dust which arose toward the east
could be seen, after the train had reached
the summit OF high ridge, wagon cara
van fully two miles la length and which
was being sped 10 the utmost speed
OF It's horses. These caravans were
plainly oitdistanced by the horseback
riders and after several miles OF territory
had been traversed IL was seen the bes
riders were winning the best prizes. One
settler who had secured magnificent
quarter OF rolling land dug hole two oI
three feet deep at that corner Of IL whel
the surveyors section mark was located
aud where he had driven his stake. No
looking upon this evidence Of possession Al
sufficient 10 confirm his title, he seized
Winchester as the train ran by aud fire,
out all its contents and then emptied hi
revolver. yelling like cowboy or Com
anche Indian all the time. Not only tn
yells, but the shots, were responded 10 from
the tram anu volley went up into the al
from the entire length OF the section, whicl
proved concluslvely how well the part,
WIS armed In expectancy OF what nigh
sppen.
A few miles the other side of the line tn
rain stopped at military poet, where th'
white tents Of the soldiers and officers, sur
rounded by the national colors, were grati
flying evidence OF power sufficient TO main
. tain order. Troop ID, of the Fifth regimen
OF cavalry OF the United States army, wa
, quartered there. and the officers said at tn
/, sound OF the bugle at high noon there ha
been movements among the boomer
camped along the border which had e,
tended across the entire frontier line, an
that the riding had been fast and furloul
!. and ever since some one Of the prospectol
: had been running TO Guthrie 10 Tile the
|, entries, and others going TO locate on Il
land and secure the prior right TO posse
sion By actual occupancy. The scene WI