Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-26
HE PAID TONAME THE BABY.
1t Cost Receiver Admire $50 to
Christen Oklahoma's First-Born.
ADVENT OF fAE INFANT BOOMER.
He Arrived in a Wagon Box and tho
Twinkling Stars Were the First
to Welcome Guthrie's
Youngest Visitor.
An Ingenious woman's Scheme.

Hh WOfnHhr bCbDhSs
reporter for the Oklahoma Daily
Capital, published at Guthrie, met Hon.
j. V. Admire, receiver OF the land Of
fee of the western district OF Oklahoma
at Kingfisher, and had the satisfaction
of few moments conversation with
him.
"By the way, how's the babyp" in
quired the reporter.
Now everybody knows who 1.-THE
baby" is, for the news of the advent on
Oklahom asoil and OF the franchise for
naming it, to Mr.. Admire, has boon tel
graphed all over the United States, and
of course there is some anxiety as to its
health. Mr.. Admire was able to give
the latest news concerning Oklahoma's
infant, and very ready to do 50, for he
looks upon 1t almost as If it were his
own. He said there had been a good
many erroneous statements in regard to
the boy, which he would like to correct.
In the first place the baby's mother is
Kansas girl. She was born In that
state twenty years ago, and was raised
at Fredonia, where she was married a
year ago next June, her husbands name
being Lewis, Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis were
two of the 10000 people attacked by the
Oklahoma fever last week. They waited
with the throng thnt gathered on the
borders of the promised land and joined
in the mad race across the country to
Kingfisher, April %. This was on Mon
day. They succeeded in getting q lot,
which was about all they had until 10
o'clock Tuesday morning, when they
found themselves in possession of n boy,
the first child born in the newly opened
territory. The event was looked upon
as u very important one, and was forth
with wired to the world.
When Receiver Admire heard of it he
lost no time in going to see the youthful
home-seeker. He found the mother
lying in u wagon bed, without cover or
protection from the elements. That
night he took his own tent and spread
it right above the wagon bed, while he
slept soundly with the stars for COM
pany. There was in the population of
the town one Gay an old woman who
was in some way connected with the G.
A. r. and the facts coming to her ears,
she at once started around to take up a
collection for the benefit of the child
of the settlement" She succeeded in
getting about Sl7, and this sum she took
to Mr.. Admire, desiring to put the funds
In the care OF the governments own
representative. He. offered to add
S. to the sum on condition
that he be permitted to name
the boy. This d proved an inspir-
action to the woman, and she promptly
declined the offer saying that she would
auction off the privilege on Wednesday
night. 80
The news was circulated throughout
the camp next day and took precedence
in point of interest above all else.
When evening came Thousand men as
sembled to bid on. the tbaby's name and
there was for the time more excitement
over the prospective contest than there
was over corner lots in Kingfsher.
There were some who. had money to
spare and the bidding was lively from
the start. Mr.. Admire sent two or
three agents into the crowd to bid for
him, knowing that if he bid himself they
would ruin the price up on him to more
came to. After spirited contest one |
of the agents had the satisfaction of Sc
curing the prize at a cost OF $50, which |
was paid over for the boys benefit.
The crowd insisted that Mr.. Admire |
name the child on the spot, but he de- !
clined, promising, however, that it |
should have an "Admire-able" name. |
He postponed the christening until the |
mother should be we'll enough to take |
part init, and it will probably come off |
in few days. Meantime he went up |
iioiiCs "hu oOoh iioA A'Ai o' Ihuuiii . 90 O'0
thusiastic over his protege as himself, |
and he declares he would not take $500 |
for his interest. His wife gathered
large quantity OF supplies, the nature of |
which parents can surmise without de- |
scription, packed valise full OF soft
hanne!s aud other cunning goods, and |
Mr.. Admire returned to Kingfisher
loaded, not for bear, but for baby. Mrs.
A maiden name was Lewis, which by
n ,o;r isf fh,b bo1 y. 70
though they are not related by ties of
consequently. 1t is believed that the
name of Oklahoma's first born will be
"Admire Lewis" which would be u
very happy compromise and would di-
vide honors equally between the defacto
parents and the godfather.