Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-19
A GRAND HUSTLE FOR HOMES.
Boomers Swarming Like Flios
Around the Oklahoma Border.
BLOOD COMMENCING TO FLOW.
Four Deaths Result in a Fight over
Quarter Section of Land Be-
tween Settlers, Catlle-
men and Police.


On the Border OF the PrOmtScU Lana
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, April 1s.-[Special
Telegram to The BEE, IA rumor was circu-
lated here last night TO the effect that all
could enter the indian Territory this morn
ing On route for Oklahoma, and over thou
sand boomers broke camp and hurried to the
bridge which crosses the river south of this
place. A regular blockade was the conse.
quencc, and at daylight hundreds of covered
wagons were moving in all directions trying
10 get TO the forbidden land that all will be
permitted to enter to-day They are
crossing the line in great numbers
and the moment the troops left there was
great rush through the Cherokee Strip for
heavy rams have swollen the rivers, there
will probably be many accidents. for, as
there are no bridges over the streams, they
will all have to be forded. Many of the
boomers have their wives and children alontf
and are going prepared to settle down in their
new homes. Never was there such n sight
as is now witnessed here when u small por-
tion of this country, for which the people
have so long waited, is about to be opened
for settlement, and the eager thousands who
have broken up their homes elsewhere and
packed their things together to come here
are perfectly happy at the seemingly bright
prospects ahead. But as there are about
five times as many people IN waiting as there
are quarter sections in Oklahoma, there will bo
many people bitterly disappointed AS many
have spent all their means in coming to
Oklahoma, considerable want aud destitu-
tion will surely follow.
United States Marshal Needles, of the In
dian Territory district, has just received in
structions from Washington to appoint such
number of deputies as may be deemed nee
essary TO preserve the peace in Oklahoma
and to cooperate with the military forces in
the territory. Marshal Needles left this
morning for Guthrie to look over the situa-
tion. He also goes to the soldiers campnear
this place to confer with Captain Hayes, in
command, as to the best course to pursue.
Marshal Needles says he does not apprehend
much trouble, but that he recognizes the ne
cessity of preparing for emergencies that
may arise, and will appoint large force of
special deputies TO assist the military in pre-
venting trouble
The hotels of this place are crowded and
hundreds of people are turned away without
being able to get even n cot or as much space
on the floor as they would get in their collins.
Tents and covered wagons furnish shelter
for many, and the number Of camptires is
hourly increasing. This seems to be the gen.
eral headquarters for the boomers from the
north and east on account of the railroad ia
Cilities, and the people of Arkansas City are
getting the choicest plulns out of the Okla
homa pudding. Every huckster shop has
had to increase its help and the whole town
is enjoying an unprecedented boom.
The postoffice presents u lively aspect and
those in search of mail are compelled to form
into line and await their turn. Some times
the line of anxious people extends for several
blocks down the street.
The United States troops are carefully
guarding every inlet to the forbidden terri
tory, but tomorrow they will move south to
the southern boundary line of the Cherokee
strip and will permit the boomers to enter
this "trip as far as Oklahoma but will allow
no one to advance beyond the line. The
troops on duty here have been reinforced and
two more companies are en- route to the bor-
der. The military orders are very strict, and
no one is permitted to stop off in Oklahoma
Many devices are resorted to by people wish
ing to remain but the soldiers on duty are
inexorable as they have no discretion in the
matter, and hence are sometimes compelled
to be n little severe.
There is very little lawlessness at present.
Good order and good feeling generally pre-
vail, but there seems to be desperate de
termination on the part Of some of the old
time Payne boomers to take and hold the
lands they formerly staked out, and trouble
Is apprehended when the big rush begins on
the 22d, and with such numbers of deter
mined people the entire military force in this
department would be unable to prevent dis
turbance.