Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-04
TO THEIR Ell DORADO.
THB OKLAHOMA BOOMERS UNDER PAWNBg
BILLS COMMAND.
4 Scheme Of Real Estate Dealss-Captain Paynes
First Invasion Of Indian TerrliOry-Najor Lit
ties OrganizatOn-Claims Already Valued
a! From $1,000 to $1,000.

WICHITA, February 3.-The present Or
ganizatioa, which has for it's purpose the
invasion and colonization Of Oklahoma,
was formed in this city last fall by wealthy
real-estste dealers, with Harry Hill an
old scout, at the head. Their object was
the formation of towns and the govern
ment of the new country. They deter
mined not TO wait for the passage OF the
Springer bill, which had a majority in the
House last Friday, add looking around for
a man familiar with the country and nerve
enough to lead al organized band, they de-
clded upon Meier Gordon w. Lille,
("Pawnee Bill').
All the Oklahoma colonies in Southern
Kan as, Arkansas, Missouri and Texas
Immediately began correspondence
with Lille and offered him their support
10 Texas, the country that bas in the past
taken the least interest in the matter,
there appeared an unusually large number
of boomers. The Arkansas people have
moved into the Territory and form the
greater part of the 1900 men now awaiting
the invasion along the eastern line Of the
country. The leasers of the Chickssaw
lands are all old boomers, only awaiting
a leader to make another attempt to gain
the coveted land.
All are intCnt upon stalking out claims
and ore depending upon the knowledge OF
Lille to guide them to the best sections
Every man has a fortune in his grasp and
is already vsluing his claim at from 81, 900
to S., 600.
The first attempt TO fOrcibly enter Okla
homa was made by Capt. ID. l.. Payne, in
1880, when he and small body OF boom
ers" were captured Gu the Canadian River
He was taken to Fort Smith, tried for
trespass, and at the end of two months dis
charged. The following year he spent in
reorganization cf colonies, the printing and
disseminating OF his paper, the Oklahoma
Var Chief. In 1882 he and his band ofl0O
were starved out On the bank of Stillwell
creek; he was arrested and his people
taken to the Texas line by the soldiers
The next year was tpsnt in wandering
along the border line of the country in
fruitless fort TO entOr it, and in 1884 he
was located bI ROCK fhllt. Tie Hdu III
tie town of tents, printed his paper, and
the farmers had commenced ploughing for
the spring crops when the soldiers ar
rested him, broke up the press end brought
him to Wichita for trial. While tpsakiug
in Wellington the next year in the interest
of his colony Payne died presumably from
poison. Cap. Crouch attempted to take
up his work in 1856, bat made little PFC
gress.
The present organization iucludes most
OF the members of the former colonies, is
not only stronger but also much better
backed than any of the others. The past
has proven" remarked Pawnee Bill, THAT
the people did not lcok upon the matter
as o. present. Now almost all who have
given the matter thought believe that it is
public land and so clamor for its opening
There is no membership fee; the only
thing desirad is to have men enter the Ter
ritory either with the general movement
or in small bodice. 1T will thus be diff
cult to gauge our success" said Pawnee;
I'VE have daily been eeudiDg men into
Oklahoma, and l know from consulting
my membership roll that we have in there
four hundred persons to-day"