Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-24
THREE MURDERED.
AvIafLANcE COMMITTEE SECURING THE
coukTRy FOR MERCHANTS.
Scenes Along the Oklahoma boundary
Streets Laid tfT-claims staked Out
Homesteads-The American Flag
my telerrarh . lho pIspat.A.l

securing the country IN search OF the mis-
Cresnt'.
ON rur OKLAHOMA BOUNDARY, April "a
Lieutenant Foster, who started The pilgrims
Ss.ufday coming via the Arkansas CITY
t~aV estimates that at least four thousand
ou,G,s and ten thousand people ranged along
the border Of his tgst stated al the sound
81 the ouglc
Lieutenant wsne. nephew OF the late
Ctief-.Iustice Waite. started those entering
4, the Caldwell Trail. and Colonel Ware
sla,irl those on the liunnewell trail, he
hing I'm charge o. this territory. Captain
4.,r. started those entering by the Black
llc,-fr,H 10 seems Ike fairy story, but
fberc +. scarcely doubt that from 10000 70
3loOl enfcrDd by these trails WINE SIX
trains that cane IN from Arkansas CRY 70
Guthrie brought OF least 6.OJU peo-
ME The wagon.road runs within one
hundred ysrds Of the railway al the way.
The tIusrr0n Ford, on the tmaTron or
Little Arkansas river. Is just three fourths
If mile from where toe railroad crosses
that stream near the Old site Of Camp RUS
sell. All along the route were 10 be seen
deer, antelope. prairie-chickens. ana quail
Two deer were within ten rods OF the tram,
and Al least fftv shots were fred at them
from the Ger windows and those on the roof
without eject. The prairIe-chickens and
quail that we're uesr enough 10 the train TO
Fghl were also treated 10 similar salute.
the TOWN slTE.
When tho train crossed the last stream at
Cottonwood creek, Just before entering
Guthrie. the passengers began jumping of
mud rushing mp The hin on the east side OF
o.. track towards the land Office, y here
fhefoWn site is TO be laid ont. One fellow
became so excited that he jumped through
-. 4
q, Guthrie station there was an indiscrimi-
n,,r rush 81 men and boys running over
,.ch other 10 get 10 the land Office first or 10
.-rat on % claim. The scarcity Of water
will cause suffering until wells are dug, I'M
1.s, thp water in Cottonwood creek can be
tered An epfcrpri.lug reai estate man
IaIa carry ll a. the depot when the train
rffiscd and offered 10 carry people 10 his
fl'. over on the east side and sell lots at a
dollar apiece. TIE crowd around the land
Office J. too great 10 be numbered, and those
VITO Ola not ret in 10 tie their claims last
uicat slept where they were in line 10 be on
band thi, morning.
At THE LAND-OTFICE.
Kansas CITY. April IA star correspond
eng who has bCcn ct Guthrie all night re-
turned 20 Arkansas CITY to-day and sends
tAe following 10 his pAper:
The first homestead filed IT Guthrie was
Mara -. Cohen, OF Fort smith, Ark. The
fr.t soldier to fife declsraiOrv statement
was Benton Turner, who was a private Ia
Company ], Sixth Illinois cavalry. During
Yesterday three town sites-GHthric, OKLA
Loua City. and Ednunds-tbree homes
ttcsds, and twcutY-One soldiers declarstOry
statements were fled. At l2:lj William
johnson. heading a little procession at
tle laud-onice, laid down rough
chart Of Guthrie aud filed it a. q
town site. Thi. was The first paper
presented. -Four clerks for the land
Offices from Vasbiugion arrived Yesterday
two for hing Fisher and two here. Land
Register Dillc stated this morning that the
King Fisher land.of.ice would not be open
until Thursday. The widest estimates Of
She number at Guthrie were teieEraphed
lat night. 4 liberal estimate Is 5000.
There were mnHy amusing scenes while
ttakng lots. number az men would get
together and agree Thai "a street should run
Sn certain direction. Lots would be
stsked 10 face %. The men adjoining
would clare that those fellows had staked
directly IN the street. and that their own
iof, faced the streets. Thus the greatest
raEfuaon reisns. and no man knows for
CefiIinty that be has a lot Nevertheless,
many sites were sold, one man paving 10
heh e. -'ON for supposed business site.
Trouble j, feared over this point, which Is
Che only thing That viii breed trouble. In
spite of the uncertainty every one Is good
natured and banging 10 his clam.
Great prairie fires ragcd east ol The CITY
lat night and with the camp-fros spread
over t1e city made q lovely sight. \ squad
81 General MERITS soldiers guarded the
lsud.oGicc an night. I'm view o! The scarcity
a. water one man last night procured q
-. 4fnr
wlishev. and syrup, and did a rushing bus-
ness selling IL for cider al ten cents per
Gsss.
SHOT FROM AMBUSH.
About O'Clock Yesterday evening q pistol
f,p 90 srro,s Cottonwood creek, west OF the
C,pni. OUTSIDE Of the town.,ite reserve, A.
frscfcI attention. Ia a moment man on
i0r.riach went west over the hill alta break
neck speed. Two deputy United states
l.afshlls went over. but were tod that
nothing bad occurred. A star reporter got
e. boat aud crossed rue stream. however. 90
3aye.0gaie the matter. In tie bushes were
collected hail o dozen men, On the ground
Reside q haii-maie grave was stretched oil
th.f was left OF ;. Z. Comppls. ball from
tfeS0lver had passed entirely through his
trs.-i. coming out al the back. He l,Ted
Dali an hour s'ter helng SHOT and was
Wlru ifF lEthlttl ifd'hfN LlNIs
Forts were made 10 conceal the BODY, and
on.y 700 assurance OF the strictest conddeuce
tNeRtI toe reporter there. and then he did
D.. dare reveal hts business. The face was
% Cnce recognized a. that Of a man who
hs. eaten dinner with the scribe. There
lamugis said be and bis partner had entered
H..lric ON ponies. All TIE lots were gone
..I iAcv swsm the Cottonwood and staked
r.m. Ashley were driving the last STAKE
f..nw was discovered m tue bushes on the
nlrs % The creek. This man sad he had
1r.1g -iaked clam. Comppis and hts
1a'rtr offered TO divide. To this the fellow
..t.a and warned them be would shoot
}.'.t he would divide. COmppis did not
)t.,y- THIS threat, and a. be left be said he
f.1 -icep N that claim. Han an hOur
tt.alrds C0mppis was shot by the nrst
'l.snt o. ~ stood 10y his pony, bri-
o. band lis murderer got away before
'c..nl|s companion could realize what
"a. ,a done. Believing that secrecy was
"a. ss.es. way ont they dragged the dying
90 into toe bushes and sad no one had
Pen -Uft. fhe dead mn was about thirty
- I'D and bad black hair ard eyes.
NI.l t. eft the eating-tcut he wore gray
il.lr .bifl. pants, and hat, and had his coat
I....I io hi, pony. compass companion
'.. .>y0n 81 the muricrer's outht OF
Nit ava two horses. The man VIII
r.,,r -.'urn, a. be knew his shot was iatal.
-,. o.-y Wss buried IN the bushes
SCARCITY OF WATER.
TIFF. was the only murder near Guthrie
o. 10 .loiebt, despite other reports. After
lco.s Yesterday and all night there was
rt.h suffering for wstef. The railroad
c.a.ry refused to let the settlers take from
railroad tank for fear OF exhaustion.
lls wster ia Cottonwood i red with mud
t1 v.tcr. sud a famine seems imminent.
Isnte', weni about the depot last night
r..a buckets o. waller charging i've cents
tA... lhe water WIS poor, but found
italy .2.c The engineers were beseged by
tr,,y people for drinks from the engihe-
Uttt.a nd many were accommodated.
10 midnight not quarrel on nnthrle
town .r. lad occurred. The citizens
oooak meeting adjourned to o. Tue
tfeil suEicty Of every one wss tRe in-
iNnauou about the SIZE Of lots. There was
-