New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-18
ON TO-DAY TO OKLAHOMA.
THE WHITE-ToPPED WAGONS WILL ENTER
THE CHEROKEE STRIP.
Goop-NATURED THOUSANDS ON THE KANSAS
BoRDER-THE STREAMS FLOODED
BY THE STORM.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE ThIBUNg.I

By THE STORM
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rhIBUNEI
Arkansas City, April I7.-This town has never
seen such busy scenes as 1t witnessed to-day, All
day long the boomer outfits have been crowding the
streets, moving down to the line Of the Indian
Territory. At least 500 wagons are drawn up in
camp on the line, which is guarded at this point
by troop of the 5th Cavalry, under Captain Hayes
Tomorrow morning at s o'clock the boomers win
be permitted to cross the line on the NORTH that
they will have ample time 70 cross the Cherokee
strip, which is sixty miles wide, and be the line
Of Oklahoma proper on Monday at noon. This or
der, which permits the boomers On the northern
line to advance before those in camp at Purcell
and other points south Of Oklahoma can move. puts
them on an equal footing and gives every one
chance. heavy storm last night has resulted in
swelling the rivers which have to be crossed, so
that there may be delay especially in crossing
the Cimarron River, which, according to the latest
reports was this morning raging torrent. Most
Of the boomers have feet and strong horses, which
viii be able to carry their riders across, swimming
the streams; but the wagons may in few in
stances be delayed for days.
stroll among the camps on the line Of Indian
Territory reveals thoroughly good-natured crowd
II Is doubtful whether there is in it a single
desperado, though IL would not do, perhaps, to
say that every boomer was not ready to draw
gun il attacked. Most OF the trouble is antici-
pated ty the Purcell boomers, who are described
as having among their numbers several desperate
characters Some fears are also entertained as
to the old original boomers who have all these
months successfully evaded the vigilance Of the
troops, and tile raids Of cowboys, who are their
natural enemies, and are now in considerable num-
bers hiding in the thickets OF the most inaccessible
parts Of Oklahoma.
The Santa Fe Railway has made every possible
arrangement to carry passengers into the promised
land Monday noon will see trainload after train
load land upon the Oklahoma line. Their dsstina-
ton is Guthrie, which, from all accounts, promises
70 be the principal town Of the new territory.
The fact that the land-ofce viii be there has given
IL naturally the start 0 it's rivals Tents are beng
shipped daily to the line, wen as ready-made
houses which can be taken down and put up
in tho twinkling Of an eye almost.
Farmers are not by any means the only people
encamped along the Indian Territory. There are
merchants professional men and land spectators
in large numbers Many predict that before
long the lawyers win own the whole land, and II
not they, then the bankers, who will make loans
to the boomers at exorbitant rates OF interest,",
taking their claims as security. A good many
opinions are expressed as TO the value OF land
In Oklahoma for agricultural pursuits. On one
side it is asserted that more than hall Is unnt
for cultivation and that great deal Is good only
for grazing purposes. Others, on the other hand,
assert with equal emphasis that the bad lands
are few and that the Oklahoma country contains,
in abundance, some of the finest lands IN the
United States.