The Washington critic., 1889-04-23
OKLAHOMA is OPEN.
Crowds arc Already within the
Promised Land.


The st. Louis Republics special from
Arkansas City, Kan, says; "Oklahoma Is
open. The trials, struggles and sacrifices of
years are partially rewarded, but the events
OF to-day and those Of the days, weeks and
months to follow, will prove how far supply
is below demand, and necessitates futher
concessions TO avert disorder, bloodshed aud
other conditions, but little short OF anarchy.
The history Of this one day will forever be
memorable In frontier annals, and will leave
behind heritage Of litigation which will be
fruitful to landsharks and claim attorneys,
but be destructive to the claims OF poor aud
honest settlers.
The Atchlson, Topeka aud Santa Fe Rail
road began running It's sectional trains out
OF Kansas City last night, picking up
cars at almost every station along the route.
Hundreds OF people were waiting at every
depot, and II the cars, all OF which were
filed before the border line was reached,
could have been coupled, they would have
made train miles In length. The crowds
were composed OF spectators, adventures,
sightseere, thieves, gamblers aud sprink-
ling OF the demi-monde. The farming ele-
ment was not largely represented, as all Of
the homesteaders have gone on before.
There were men on the cars from every
great city and important point in the coun-
try, and there was not State or Territory
sentatives The newspaper coach was the
first out OF Arkansas City.
The conductors were vigilaut in their col
lection OF fares, but II ia certain that great
many deadheads went through to the
"Promised Land in the rush aud hurry
and roar OF the boomer campaign. There
was but little sightseeing indulged in as
the crowd did not care to look at anything
until IL got TO Oklahoma, Ike the emigrant
at Castle Garden who refused to pick up a
silver dollar because he expected to find
gold in the street in the next block. At
Arkansas City there were over seventy-five
coaches tracked in the yards, awaiting the
rush. All Of these were lowered into the
yard some distance below the depot. The
crowd began gathering on the platform two
hours before daylight, and long before the
faint streaks OF the dawn OF the fateful day
the city was awake and stirring. The
streets presented a picturesque appearance.
After the sun rose crowds were rushing
toward the center of action from all parts
of the city. Hotels emptied their hundreds
into the street. The cot-houses contributed
hundreds more out Of the hospltable homes
OF the city, nearly all Of which have enter
toined guests during the past week. Some
long strings Of men carrying gripsacks,
bundles, knapsacks and parcels Of every
possible and impossible description; hun
dreds Of boomers and rustlers, in their i'm
patience TO get aboard, rushed down en-
masse to the yards and attempted to force
an entrance into the cars, all OF which were
securely locked. The excitement may be
judged from the fact that large number
of coach windows were broken out by peo-
pie who were anxious TO secure seats. A
strong guard of railroad men was detailed
TO protect the company's property, and they
had contract Of unusual dimensions on
their hands
The crowd was panic-strlcken after wait
ing SO many eventful days and nights for
the hour OF action to come. Men were
seized with a sudden fear that they would
be left in the lurch, and that fear served to
make them like drove of stampeded cat
tie. There was vain attempt at good
humor in the struggle which concealed the
grim purpose behind, but there was no
quarter shown In the rush for place. II
was a "Wild West" crowd headed toward
new field of enterprise and development,
andsno one who has never seen such a thing
In ection can have any conception OF IL. An
amusing and, at the same time, pathetic
incident OF the early morning was cattle
train laying on side-track loaded with q
boomer, his horse, wagon, and a COW, wife
and children and all his little household
effects.
He was n merry fellow, and gued they
crowd numerically for not going through
as be expected 1t, without change Of cars,
to avoid the rush.
~ travel In my own special coach,n said
he, "like Jay Gould or Vanderbilt
"You'll get there too late,n yelled some
body in the crowd.
"Never mind, )" replied the boomer. "I'll
get there all the same"