Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-05-03
INVADING CHEROK EELANDS.
Disappointed Boomers Bound 10 OBJ
tain Homes.
The Move Well Organized.

The thousands OF men who are wOed
out OF the Oklahoma country are bound IN
obtain homes, and "a well organized NOV e
ment has been started To obtain possession
OF the Cherokee strip.
The occupation oil the Cherokee strip has
begun along The whole line. A much hard
er nut TO crack than any OF the Oklahoma
DoOms Is now presented 10 the government
The Cherokee strip which is now in pro
cess of being goDbled comprises nearly
eight million acres, being tuus four times
as large as oklahoma and IL lar trancendS
the latter in beauty and fertility. The ex-
element in Ark nsas City over the pros
pective full seizure OF the strip is intense.
The crowds of fugitives from the famine,
thirst, frost and heat of Guthrie are swell
ing as each train on the all but paralyzed
railroad comes in.
The hercest resentment ia breathed
against the government Tor the outrageous
~ unfair manner IN which the country was
thrown open. The whole federal machin-
cry from the President down 10 the last
deputy is passiouately denounced.
The Cherokees are aroused TO the situa-
ton. PaJten, the chairman of their land
commission, passed through Arkansas
City on his way To Washington TO urgently
protest against the inVas on that he re- I'd
ed as inevitable. Patten said tnat the
Cherokee nation was Internationally OPP
posed 10 parting with the strip. The pres
ducemeut
Boomers retreat north by wagon from
Oklahoma. 1t may be believed that hun
dreds oil the returning pilgrims are bearing
northwdrd with plans laid Tor location on
the strip and that many are camp
ing this side OF Salt Fork upon what they
Will claim Tor then homes.
The soldiery assigned TO patrol the
Cherokee outlet under capt. Jack Hayes
have not yet returned from the south bor-
der, where they accompanied the main
UUdy OF boomers bound for Oklahoma.
Hayes command, however, is expected in
Camp Price, near Arkansas City, at any
hour. II viii be the duty of the soldiers TO
clear the strip nj turmoil is bound TO en-
sue. The people, except for their present
excitement, seem disposed To be law add
ing. cOuser alive opinion Is thai while
they viii claim the land IN the strip IS re-
dress for wrongs suffered IN Oklahoma
they Will not offer organized armed resist
auce
There is no doubt that secret organi7a-
ton is in eNis euce, which numbers in its
membership many prominent and inhuen-
tlal men, which is heartily ia favor of COLO
uizing in The strip with view TO Fastening
the opening OF the Cherokee lands TO settle
ment The members say that il people
were allowed 10 i've in oklahoma until the
President proclamation was issued they
have the right TO d. the same thing ia tle
strip ana they propose TO DO so.
AS illustrating the ingrair ude Of a re
public it may be mentioned that contests
are .lready MED aga nst the claim of Capt.
Couch the old boomer leader, on the
curious ground that he disqualified himself
from making an entry by entering the ter.
ritory years ago on boomer expeditions.
Gen. James IS. Weaver of Iowa, one OF the
most persistent of the opening OF OK hUma
in congress, has also had his claim contest
ed and has been accused of attending 10
take the people by the throat. The old
time boomer leaders have not Jared well.
Any number OF Payne men can be found
now lying around Purcell who have been
out ridden and out run by men who have
taken the fruit OF their years of sacrifice