Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-07-05
A BOOMER TALKS.
G. J. Graham, Late of Oklahoma.
In Minneapolis Without Wealth.

In Minneapolis Without Wealth.
II got all wanted OF Oklahoma, and
after blowing in about $500 in two
weeks beside travelling expenses, | de-
cided TO pull out. Anybody can have
the entire territory and welcome so
far as am concerned free OF charge,
including claim | stalSed out and held
down for several days. I'm going
home
These were the words of II quiet look
ing man who spent half an hour at the
Union depot yesterday afternoon, says
Minneapolis Tribune. His name was
Clifford j. Graham. and he said he had
some land interests in Montana and
was going out there TO put in the sum-
mer. He said he was one of the earli-
est arrivals at Guthrie, aud has been
at Oklahoma City. He had suffered
no personal violence and had no es-
pecial grievance. but. he said II
looked the lay of the land over and de-
cided that there is nothing in it.
81 left Guthrie Sunday night" he
said. at was the first time Sunday
had ever been observed in tn II town.
They had church services there out Of
doors. and it was one Of the most
curious camp-meetings | ever saw.
Men sat on boxes and smoked while
the minister WIS preaching A few
who belong TO that small crowd there
that Graves a notoriety for toughness
INDUCED in quiet game OF draw
poker during the prayer. Some lay at
full length on the ground and paid no
more attention TO the services than the
horses did. Every body was asked to
join in the singing and everybody did
with vengeance. Some who were
there were apparently pious men. IL
was suggested that collection be TAX
en- up and the minister called ON two
Of the most quiet looking OF his audi
ence TO pass the hat. When they
came to the party which was playing
poker one of the tough men looked up
at the deacon pro tenn and said:
whats the antsp' He was told that
whatever he saw fit to put in the hat
would be received with thanks. IN
make it cost the rest of this crowd s.
TO draw cards, he said, and put bill
in the hat. The rest of the party said
they would not be bluffed. and they
put in a s. bill apiece. No work was
done there on Sunday the new post
Office was closed, and everybody took
occasion TO get rest
"Are the sensational stories which
have been sent out from Oklahoma
true?'
mo, they are not" replied Mr..
Graham. AT least none of the al
legged violent acts came within my OBJ
servation"
"How about the water suppiyp"
Those stories have been exagyerat-
ell. At Guthrie there are few wells
and the supply is short. Water sells
at about IL cents barrel. though for
tically free. Any one who wants
drink of water can get it free OF charge.
There is no reason why it should not
be as free there as anywhere on earth,
as soon as there is time to dig wells.
Il took claim in what was one of
the comparatively deserted spots when
got there. | slept in blanket the
first night tuId there was not Il house
OF any sort within 800 yard, OF me
when lay down to sleep. | awoke
about 1870 in the morning. and four or
five decent-sizod shanties had been
built by that time, within stones
throw, and by noon OF that day | was
in the center OF small village That
same forenoon | walked away for
couple OF hours out across the country,
and when | came back the appearance
of things had so changed that | could
hardly locate my claim. II was more
like the stories OF Aladdin and his
lamp than anything had ever seen or
heird of since | read the Arabian
Nights. got disguised after week
of it. 1t seemed TO me that it was no
pl ce for a man who his any iegiti-
mate business to spend his time. Some
body will make some money, but it is
too much OF n bubble. | looked the
situation all over, gave away my cheap
house and the land had prc-empted,
and quit"