The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-29

Demonstrations Of Joy Over the Issuing Of
the Proclamation of President Harrison.

TOPEKA, Kan, March 2S.-Immediately
upon the announcement that the President
had issued the Oklahoma proclamation,
officials of the Rock Island railroad and q
corps of engineers started from this city to
make the final survey for tho extension
through the Indian Territory. The road is
built as far south as Pond creek, some
twenty-five miles below, in the Cherokee
strip, at which point construction will be-
gin. The proclamation by which Oklaho-
ma is opened designates Kingfsher as the
land Office for the western district. This
is at present stage station situated on
Kingfisher creek, southern tributary of
the Cimarron. 1t is on tho projected line
of the Rock Island. and some ninety miles
south of the Kansas line. 1t is stated that
the railroad company will push its lines to
klngfisher as soon as possible. 1t is not at
all likely that the extension will stop there,
further on, at which point there are 600 to
500 troops stationed, which will create a
demand for supplies and transportation.
WICHITA. Kan, March 2s.-The long
looked for proclamation for the opening of
Oklahoma was received here with demon
strations of great Joy. Flags were hung
from buildings. cannon were fired and bon
fires built. The same enthusiasm welcomed
the news all over the south of Kansas. Ex-
tensive preparations are being made for en-
of southern Kansas will almost be- depopu-
lated. The boomers who have been camped
along the line are H. king ready to move.
The cattlemen are hurrying on to Okla
homa to get their cattle, as they fear vio-
lence to stock and property from their
have left Oklahoma City. The
boomers made bold to come out of
their concealmsnt in the woods to
hear the news. The crowd kept on swell
ing in size, and it was estimated that there
were light hundred persons who rejolce,l
over the news Colonel Summers received
from Colonel Wade, at Fort Reno, the new
orders from Washington, and posted them
IN the Oklahoma depot. They were that
every person must Immediately leave the
country, and that the names of those found
would be taken and used to defeat future
filing. Soldiers had left Fort Reno the
night before and are advancing to Okla
homa City, securing the country as they
many commenced leaving. but by the time
the train reached Guthrie the news of the
issuing of the proclamation was received
and they alighted to join the boomers here
In their celebration and to be near to their
claims.
At Purcell there was the same wild en-
thusiasln, only by greater numbers. Claims
are being rapidly taken up and there is
hardly good selection of land that has not
one or more claimants. Fights are daily
occurring. Tuesday night Swede from
Cold Harbor, Kan, while contesting a
claim twenty-four miles west of Oklahoma
station. was fatal y shot by his opponent.
The poor fellows eye was blown out and
his lace filed with buckshot. He was
brought to Arkansas City to surgeon, but
died after being taken from the cars. His
friends, fearing the effect of having their
names made public, gave out that it was an
accident Men have already sold their
rights to claims for 300 and $500. A boomer
arriving from Oklahoma says the country
Is full of people, that the number is con-
stantly increasing. and that he believes il
is impossible to keep them out