Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-04-24

command, watch in hand When o'clock
arrived he gave signal, q bugle-blast fol-
lowed, the soldiers wheeled about, yelling
'come on, boys!" and away they went,
across the strip.
The scene Immediately following was
thrilling. The boomers cheers urged their
teams forward, and in less time than it
takes to tell it the great march to the prom
1sed Oklahoma had begun. Within thirty
minutes 700 wagons had crossed the line
with thousands in the rear If wagon
broke down, splitting children, chickens
and furniture into the mud, it was fixed
In minute by half a hundred
ready hands and the catastrophe smoothed
with a cheering word Within a mile of
the border the crowd became so densely
packed that it was with great difficulty a
passage to the front was effected A half
mile west of the Ponce trail entrance the
people were approaching in large numbers
to take the Nez Perces trail that leads to
Fort Reno
THE START FROM CALDWELL.
CALDWELL, Kan, April 19.-At 10 o'clock
Thursday morning the start across the Cher
okee strip was made by the boomers en-
camped here. The intention had been to
start this morning, but, owing to the condi-
ton of the trairbecause of the heavy rains
of the last few days, Captain Woodson,
commanding the company stationed here
to repel invaders, determined to give the,
colonists another day to cross the strip
At o'clock blue-coated bugler mounted
at the camp of the soldiers and rode from
camp to camp among the boomers
with the tidings that they might cross
the line into the strip at 10 O'Clock.
The troops broke camp at o'clock
and proceeded to the line. By 10 o'clock
fifty wagons were drawn up on either side
OF the little bridge where the old Reno.
trail crosses the line. At Just 10
o'clock they were permitted to start
Troops rode slowly in 'front.' the
wagons stringing out in single file,
making the start of long process
sion that will continue to pour over the
little bridge into the land of the Cherokeest
all day long. About 100 wagons left. Cap
tain Woodson returned after riding few
miles with the troops, and Lieutenant Jenk-
ms will take them through to Oklahoma
FORT RENO, L T., April ia delegation
from Southwestern Kansas, numbering 500
wagons, is coming doing the old Canton
ment trail After standing three failures
of crops in the neutral strip and South
western Kansas they have little money to-
carry them through to the coming crops
Most of them are destitute.
Many of these coming settlers think, as
do many in the East, in spite of repeated
warnings to the contrary, that they can
prove up and get loan on their places in
six months It will take them nearly
six years People should understand
it plainly: You must live on
Oklahoma land five years to get
title so as to borrow money on it, unless
you are a soldier Town site companies
have no ground on which to operate or sell
lots legally. If it is done it is done by eva
risks
LIQUOR MAY BE SOLD
WASHINGTON, April 19.-Mr. Mason, Com
missioner of Internal Revenue, has decided
that under the recent act of Congress and
the proclamation of the President in rela-
tion to Oklahoma, it ceases to be Indian
country" and that special tax stamps may
be sold to wholesale and retail liquor deal
ers to engage in business there, under the
same terms and regulations as in other
States and Territories of the United States.
FEARS OF TROUBLE
WASHINGTON, April 19-Army officers
are very apprehensive regarding the open
ing Of Oklahoma The subject has formed
the main topic Of discussion at recent
Cabipet meetings, and the Attorney
~AoAA~AN~
decide the question as to the author
ity of the War Department to act in
case Of violence in the newly opened
country. The instructions sent to the COM
of the troops in Oklahoma, as a.
result Of the opinion rendered by
the Attorney-General. were extreme
~ guarded They are understood TO-
direct the army officers to assist
In the maintenance of law, but TO-
observe the regulations de-
timing their authority and leave arrests for
violations Of law to the marshals The Pres
ldent might, in case of serious disturbance.
declare martial law over the Territory, but
this could not be done in advance of a.
breach of the peace, and the machinery
Of the Government would, it is feared.
be too slow-moving to meet the.
great emergency which may arise. The.
only army regulation on the subject pro-
vides for interference by the troops in an
only in case Of interruption to.
the carriage Of the mail or assaults upon,
United States property, but under a some,
what strained construction 1t may form the
reason assigned for the use Of troons to.
prevent or restrain rioting or bloodshed In
The Territory.