The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-23

line was greeted with temendous cheers
as the coaches which were To be attached
to the newspaper special were brought out
OF the siding, and there was simultaneous
RUSH on 1000 OR 5000 MEN
toward them. They were filed to over
flowing in less than half q minute and a
countless throng struggling for place on
the steps. IL was in vain for the officials
to say that trains would run in sections
fifteen minutes apart. Every man there
wanted TO be fifteen minutes ahead OF
everybody and not fifteen minutes behind
anybody. The first section made up con-
sisted Of nine coaches, tho newspaper
coach and one caboosc. 1t pulled out at
| S47, railroad time, drawn by engine 266,
in charge OF Capt. G.. IL. Cooper, who has
been ON the Santa Fe line for eleven years,
and is one OF the oldest and most trusted
engineers in It's employ. Trainmastor
Foulkes was in charge of the entire train.
This was the first train that ever ran out
OF Kansas loaded with settlers for Okla
homa, and even those who were disap-
pointed in getting aboard of IL joined in a
wild enthusiastic cheer which rent the
Kansas air Us tho first stop toward the
realization OF hopes and dreams of years
and the reward for the sacrifices OF the
past was taken. The train ran slowly, as
there was great danger Of misplaced rails
and switches or distractions of various
kinds placed there by those gone be-
fore and who wanted corner ON tho
best lands In sight. II was 0.l0 o'clock
when the sign which marks the State line,
and the dividing line from the Cherokee
strip was reached. II was greeted with n
cheer which rolled from the news car in
front TO the rustlcrs' caboose behind. II
marked the departure from state Gov
ernment toward country where govern
ment is yet TO be created and established.
Still the Cherokee country lay between
them and the rainbow land. There were
no Indians 10 be seen until after Willow
Springs passed when wagon load OF bucks
OF the Poncha tribe passed up the trail,
who responded 10 the shouts and cheers OF
those on board the train, with sullen looks
and gesticulations Of defiance as not evi-
IDENTIFY pleased at the coming OF the pale
face. Along the Pawneo trail the train
also passed caravans Of boomers wagons,
many going South, but some returning
toward Kansas. Between Willow Springs
and the Poncha agency somebody In the
newspapers car discovered man riding on
the trucks beneath the coach. lmmedi-
ately an effort TO opcn,up negotiations with
him, but they resulted unsuccesslully
until the train stopped at Poncha, when
THE ADVENTUROUS BOOMER on WHEELS
was taken up into the car. elected an hon
orary member Of the Press Association and
furnished with refreshments out Of bot
tic, which lac drank with relish and amidst
enthusiastic applause. lie gave his name
as Harvey Sadler and said ho was born In
England, but had been In this country for
nine years, and had come all the way from
Seattle, w. T., 10 got a loolhold in Okla
homa. Tic was elected as the representa-
tive Of Tie London Times, and also ~ the
mascot OF the new city OF Guthrie, and. 10
make the bargain sure, II was agreed ho
should have ono Of tho best lots in the
heart ot the city. AZ the last station out
| side Of the Oklahoma Territory there was
n great crowd OF boomers who lad for
saxon their teams and hoped 70 get il
quicker by rail. There being no room in
| side, they climbed 10 tho topof the coache,
and tho entire train from one end 30 the
other was lined with them. In this way
| the limo was reached about 1905 O'Clock.
Before the late dead line was reached and
passed, however, the great Transformation
scene had begun and wis plainly yisib' 10
| the watchers from the train. First cam, IN
view the white.toppcd wagons gathered
! together In groups, on the loyei prairie, OF
the valleys which diversity the face OF the
country. II was at once noticeable that
the teams were not 10 be seen In any OF
these camps, and Il was plain that they
had been taken out Of the harness 10 he
rode across the border by the hard riders,
who were TO locate the claims. A little
further and this conclusion was proven 10
be the correct one, for the entire face OF
the country IA far NJ tho best ilold.gla
could carry the sight. was oyerrun with
horsemcn, galloping 10 tho southwark.
Their ilcciest horses had evidently been
picked for work, and they were carrying
their riders rapidly 10 the longcd.ior goal
The ride ofPaul Revere dwindlos into OBJ.
scurity beside tho
FEATs or noRSEMANsn,P
performed In Oklahoma today. Rides Of
fifteen or twenty miles were made In In.
crcditably short space Of time by old
boomers familiar with the country and
who knew where desirable lands were To-
Gated. The day was cloudlcss, and far
away on the horizon. both 10 the east and
west: clouds OF dust could be seen ascend.
ing from the hoois OF hundreds Of horses
rushing toward different designations In
most cases. but some Of them toward tho
same. One mce for a goal could be easily
distinguished, the riders wcro apparently
evenly mounted, they were neck and
neck for mile or two along
the trail as Ear as they could be seen, and
their eagcr and intense looksand tnorcilcss
slashing were sufficient evidence Of the
prize they were running after. One sad.
died but riderlcss horse was seen galloping
along tho trail, AN ominous sign VI some
accident or fatality which had bciallcn tho
rider. Some men were In charge OF two
horses, and wcro evidently riding relays
toward tho goal. Out OF the dust which
roso toward the east could be seen, after
the train had reached tho summit Of a
high ridge, wagon caravan fully two
milos In length and which was being urged
10 the utmost speed OF ita horses. These
caravans were plainly outdistancod by the
horseback ridoa, and after several miles Of
the Territory had been iraycrscd Il was
seen that the best riders were securing the
best prizes. Ono homesteader who had
secured magnificent quarter section Of
rolling land had dug a hole two or three
feet deep at that corner OF II where the
surveyors section mark was located aud
where he had driven his stakes; not look
ing upon these evidences Of possession aa
sufficient 10 confirm his title, he seized
a Winchester M tho train ran by,
aud fred out all OF iu contents aud
then ompiicd his revolver, yelling Ike q
cowboy or Comanche Indian all the
time; not only the yells but the shots were
| reanonded ia frou tho irain and n volloV