Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-24

has been brought here by pipe line from the
railroad tank, and so great was the drain on
this that the railroad company called on the
authorities to keep every body away from
the tank. When the trains arrived the tanks
Of the engines were tapped until means were
taken to stop it,
Water Ten Cents a Cup.
Those who had obtained water from the
big tank early In the day had filled large bar
sels, and they reaped a rich harvest by sell
ing 1t by the cupful for 10 cents A little ice
was on hand and it rapidly sold for 10 and IL
cents a pound. This painful scarcity of water
nearly drove the people wild. Food also
brought large prices and many were willing
to pay for it, but could not obtain it. A
meal OF bacon or ham and eggs, and with
stale bread and a cup of horrible coffee, was
worth 81. Such meals engendered burn
ing thirst which it was impossible to crafty.
During the night which followed the first
day of Guthrie's existence sleeping accom-
modations amounted to nil There were only
a few hundred tents and Il, 900 people, in
Guiding 100 women Most of these had not
encountered themselves with any superfuous
baggage in the shape of blankets, and they
had no other recourse than TO lie on the bare
prairie with nothing for protection but the
clothes they wore.
Men Who Have Had Enough.
Discomfort and misery are stamped on
every countenance The whole matter is a
terrible disappointment, and just where it
will all end Is not very clear. Yesterday
trains, while they brought in several thou
sands of people, also took out about goo,
who have had enough.
Politics Are Booming, Too.
Candidates for city offices are canvassing
the town for votes. About twenty five men
are anxious to serve the young city as its
first mayor. Prominent among these is an
Illinois man, who is well known throughout
that state, Gen. Jasper N. Reece.
The click of the hammer could be
heard on all sides Monday night
As early as 3 o'clock yesterday morn
ing homesteadsrs began to assemble at the
land Office, and at 5 o'clock 400 people were
waiting in line to make filings for claims
The Brush Was Full of Boomers.
The appointment of the noon hour for
opening the territory was a farce. The
brush and ravines were full of men when the
A Tragedy on Cottonwood.
About 5 o'clock Monday evening q pistol
report across the Cottonwood creek west of
the depot, outside of the town site reserve,
attracted attention. In a moment q man on
horseback went west over the hill at a break
neck speed Two deputy United States mar
shals went over, but were told that nothing
had occurred. A press representative got a
boat and crossed the stream, however, to In
vestigate. In the bushes were collected half
a dozen men, On the ground, and beside q
half-made grave, was stretched all that was
left of S. T. Comps.
The Revolver's Work.
A ball from a revolver had passed entirely
through his breast, coming out of the back.
He lived half an hour after being shot,
and was dead when the reporter reached
him. Efforts were made to CONCEAL the
body, and only an assurance of the strictest
confidence gained the reporter permission to
stay there, and then he did not dare to reveal
his business. The face was at once recog-
nized as a man who had eaten dinner with
the scribe.
The Murdered Mans Story.
There Comps said he and his partner had
entered Guthrie on ponies. All the lots were
BOuo, anu tucy SWdu Inc SOItOuWOOd ana
staked a claim. As they were driving the
last stakes, fellow was discovered in the
bushes on the bank Of the creek. This man
said he had already staked the claim. Comps
and his partner offered to divide To this
the fellow objected, and warned him he
would shoot before he would d.
threat, and as he left the meal tent
he ahn ala hat oloiyx
The Perpetrator Gets Away.
Half an hour afterward Comps was shot
by the first claimant as he stood by his pony,
bride in hand. His murderer got away be-
fore Comps partner could realize what had
been done. He would not give lis name,
and the popularity Of the situation prevented
a searching inquiry. The dead man was
about 80 years old, and had black hair and
eyes. When he left the eating tent he wore
a gray flannel shirt, boots and pants and had
his coat strapped to the pony. Compis' COM
panion took chorge Of the murderer's outfit
of a wagon and two horses The man will
never return, as he knew his shot was fatal
He Wouldn't Surrender.
LATER 1t is now reported that the man
who killed Comps was overtaken later by q
party in search of him, and, refusing to sur
render was shot dead. His name is said TO
have been c. Y. Land.
Another Fight Reported.
A report from Purcell says that fight b.
tween a lot Of boomers and party Of Texans
near the South Canadian ford resulted in the
death Of two men and wounding of five
The Winchester Asserting It's Title.
Mr.. J. g. Varnum, deputy marshal, who
I,<.-1
Colbert, q wealthy citizen of the Chickassw
by a man named holland. About fourteen
miles west Of Oklahoma City q man was
found dead on claim. Near the body was
man Of the name Of Martin, who eoelly in
formed the deputy that he had killed the man
IN self-defense. About three miles west Of
Guthrie an invader shot a settler in a dispute
'ver a claim and seriously wounded him.
How q New Town Was Located.
On locating the new town of Noble, Mr..
Vafnum says, the scenes were the most ex-
,iting he ever witnessed Texas COWBOYS
md Chickasaw half breeds mounted on feet
horses started ON dead run with Winches-
tsrs in their hands These men were EN-.
ployed by Texas colony, and within few
hours after noon they had;their town govern
ment organized. L. L. Stone was elected
mayor. The town has O population of / 500
people.
Trouble Brewing Over . Town Site.
Some of the overflow from Guthrie have
gone over on sections in range Q and organ
Ized a town to be called West Guthrie. 1t is
q question whether this can legally be done
without satisfying the squatters. There are
already four or five contestants for this claim
and several boomers had already squatted ON
different portions of it.
A Race for Town Lots.
LISBON, L T., April "a. Lisbon, or King
fisher as It is sometimes called, is large
town already. Chicago avenue 10 half q
mile long. The town, however, is yet a city