The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-04-25

kansas, twenty miles south of that
city, in the territory. While attempt
ing to ford the swollen and turbulent
stream a man named Freither and his
horses were drowned in full view of
the frightened colonists, who were I'M
able to render him any assistance. The
sad accident demonstrated that ford
ing was out of the question, and the
whole colony is now engaged in the
construction of huge raft upoh which
they hope to float over to the other
side with their teams and outfits.
This afternoon train of 1856 vehicles
containing colonists bound for Oklaho-
ma t. ON Salt Lake valley, Utah, and
points in Colorado passed six miles west
on their southern journey.
1t is reported that yesterday evening
while crossing the. strip fight took
place between cattlemen and boomers
over some fence cutting, and that four
men were killed and the trouble is not
over yet. The rumOr cannot be con-
firmed as some people who are sup
posed to know of the trouble deny it,
and are dumb as oysters when the mat
ter is preached.
THE CHANGE A WISE ONE.
ARKANSAS CITY, April I9.-The
change of date for crossing the Chero-
kee strip line by the Oklahoma settlers
from the 10Th to-day to yesterday
1.-THE 18TH, made the number of wagons
in the first batch to cross the line
smaller than it otherwise would have
BEEN, Succeeding events show the
change to have been wise one. De-
spite the solid i've miles of wagon which
went into the strip yesterday morning
the influx during the rest of the day
was enormous. The word that the
movemnnt would occur to-day had be-
come widespread to the north and
many settlers who otherwise would
have been here for the start remained
in their camps, not breaking until
afternoon yesterday; so late in the day
there continued to be an almost contin-
uous stream of wagons on Summit
street. Most of the afternoon arrivals
camped here last night and proceeded
this morning. Only few entered the
strip, for there is but one stream be-
tween here and Salt Creek Fork fit to
camp on and that is only five miles
from the north line of the strip.
AT CALDWELL.
CALDWELL, Kas.. April 19.-One
thousand camp fires glimmered along
the old Reno stage trail last night from
Caldwell to Pond creek. To-day one
Thousand canvas covered wagons are
lAONAAR JhO NA n OIdA
reporter spent yesterday afternoon
upon the plains with the boomers from
10 O'Clock in the morning when the
permission to move was given until
dark. Eager immigrants poured out of
Caldwell, a boiSterous and picturesque
stream. The day was favorable and
Notwithstanding the late heavy rains
the trail which is almost identical with
the old Caldwell and Fort Reno stage
trail was in very good condition.
The most popular outfit is strong
canvas covered Studebaker. drawn by
two large stout horses and the horses
of the boomers are all looking in good
condition. Some large wagons have
four or even six horses. Some are
drawn by heavy plodding oxen, lest a
peterin along" said one of the drivers,
"but Wen get there just the same"
Some parties are mounted on ponies
and carry whole camp outfits behind
their saddles, some are crossing the
strip in buggies, and one odd turnout
is a large, high, old-fashioned buggy
drawn by two shaggy yellow horses
with colt hitched by its mother, and
black COW tied behind. The driver
is woman and she drove with one
hand, while the other supported a lit
tie child. a shocky-headed youngster
of ten followed behind stopping now
and then to wade in the water that
fills the buffalo walloWS and pelting
the old COW with clods. The woman
was Kansas widow seeking a home in
the promised land.
Four large horses pull large frame
room like travelling photographers
outfit, upon which in large letters
reads, The Great War Show" From
the great number of old soldiers who
are among the colonists it would seem
that it should do a good business. 1t
seems as if half the men on the trail
wear G.. A. II. badges.
All the stories to the contrary not
withstanding, it does not seem as if
there can be any trouble among the
men who are driving over the trail to-
day. They are as fine a body of pio-
neers as ever went into a new coun-
try. Most of them are Kansas and
Nebraska farmers and although a gun
| is in every wagon and across every
saddle bow the owners are men who
| will use them to keep peace and not tC
make trouble. They know how to use
their guns if necessary as they show
now and then by taking shot at &
| jack snipe or a meadow lark which
starts up along the trail. There has
| not been the least trouble among the
wagonmen since they first went intC
camp at Caldwell. Most of the Wagon
boomers got out of Caldwell yesterday
and this morning. There were about
1000 of them, many of them have little
or no money, but almost all are vel
equipped for camp life. There are still
many men In the town that will g
down to-day and tomorrow, taking thu
train to Pond creek and trusting on TIT
stage to get them to Kingfisher or Lis
bon 1.-THE name which the new postOffici
/ nil 20 ha
Pond creek and all the other streams
in the strip it is thought can be forded
although every one is very high, bu
all are IN doubt about the chance o
fording the Cimarron, and wagon lief
Caldwell last night bringing "a larg
boAt, with which the owners expect Il
start a ferry.
EIGHTEEN PERSONS DROWNED.
ARKANSAS CITY, April 19.-Las
night the Old Soldiers Union colony o
this city held its last meeting befor
going into Oklahoma. AL Mowry j
president. The colony consists of Is
old soldiers, of these 40 will leav
Monday to take up a homestead each
under the soldier clause. A location
has been selected but they will not re
veal it. The members will go by train
They have started wagon train witt
supplies of tents and provisions and
raft sufficiently large TO Terry all the &C
coutermentS across any stream be
tween here and Oklahoma. The Oh
Soldiers colony, of Wichita, starte,
ten wagons yesterday. They vii
enter at Caldwell.
Land Register John J. Ollie re
turned last night from Guthrie. IL
says the roof is on his land office and
will be ready for occupancy by to
night. The land officers both at King
fisher and at Guthrie held a consulta
tiOnfast night and gave out the follow
ing as official as to the manner of aI
plicatiOn for filing claims:
All applications must be presentet
to the register and receiver in tn
form prescribed by the rules and regU
latiOns Of the department. No orig
nal entry papers will be prepared
the land officer. Proper blank form
will be furnished by the land officers t
actual applicants on application, bu
not to attorneys.