Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-27
TN THE PROMISED LAND.
uow THE HOMESEEKERS At Okla
HOMA ARE DOING.

.osa,rs still Very Much at Skies and
seyens-Guthrie's Uneasy Population.
Townsites Frequently Changing--The
First Homesteader-A just Cause for
Indignation.
WASHINGTON, April 23.-The Secretary oil
the Interior, to-day, received t~elegraphic
reports from the department CT inspectors
stationed at Guthrie, Oklahoma and
Arkansas city, Kansas. The former says:
Everything is quiet here; a good class Of
people ia in charge OF affairs. The Guthrie
land Office is in full operation. King6sher
will open about Thursday. The people
will settle the townsite question quietly
and await legislation to perfect titles.
There ia absolutely NO ground for ad.
m~inistrative uneasiness. The public meet
ing here, tonight was q orderly and con.
servative in character as 1t would be In
New York"
THE FIRST HoMEsTEADER.
KANsAsC CITY. April 23.-A Guthrie special
says the first homestead filed In Guthrie
was by Marks Cohn, OF Fort Smith, Ark.
The first soldier to file a declaratory state
ment was Benton Turner, a private in a
company OF the sixth Illinois cavalry.
During yesterday three townsites, Guth-
rie, Oklahoma City and Edmunds, three
homesteads and twenty-ones soldiers declar-
atory statements were fled. At 1915,
Willow johnson, heading a little procession
- tho land nfFlro lutd down n rnfruh nh ~
of Guthrie and filed it as towns site. This
was the first paper presented. Four clerks
for theland office from Washington arrived
Yesterday, two for kingfsher and two here.
The Kingtisher land Office will not be
opened until Thursday.
At o'clock yesterday evening q pistol
report across Cottonwood creek, west OF
the deport, outside OF town, attracted at
~tention, and in a moment q man on q horse
went west over the bin at breakneck speed.
Two deputies went over, but were told
that nothing had occurred. "Star" re.
porter got q boat and crossed the stream, |
however, to investigate. In the bushes
were collected half a dosen men. On the
ground beside a half-made grave was
stretched all that was left of B..
T. Compess. A ball from a pis-
toll had passed entirely through his
breast. The shooting was done by q man
who claimed to have first staked out the
claim Compiss and his partner had settled
on. The murderer jumped on his horse
and escaped. Believing secrecy the easiest
way out, they dragged the dying man into
the bushes and said no one was hurt. He
would not give his name and the popularity
OF the situation prevented a searching in
ouiry. The dead man was about 30 years
old and had black hair and eyes. Com.
piss companion took possession Of
the mulierer's outfit.
All night there was much suffering for
water. The railroad company refused to
let the settlers take any from the railroad
tank for fear OF exheusting it. The water
in the Cottonwood is red with mud aud q
water famine ia imminent. Hawkers were
about the depot all last night with buckets
OF water charging five cents q glass. The
engineers were besieged by thirsty people
for drink from the engine tanks and many
we're accommodated. Up to midnight
not q quarrel on the Guthrie townsite oc-
Cured.
JUST CAUSE FOR INDIGNATION.
KANSAS CITY, April 23.-There is great
indignation at the fact that large numbers,
including many prominent people, got in
before noon, yesterday, and made selec-
tions. There is also much indignation over
the action of the hundred or more deputy
marshals who used their authority as
clerks to get ON the ground and then re-
signed at noon. They all have lots. They
are all to be singled out and complaint
lodged against them. A resolution was
adopted that every invader be complained
OF and an effort will at once be made to
drive them out. The feeling is very strong
in this matter. |
STALKING CITY AT GuTHRIE
KANSAS CRY, Mo-, April 23.-Wild esti.
mates of the number OF people at Guthrie
were telegraphed last night. A liberal esti.
mate is 5000. There were some queer
scenes yesterday. A number OF men would
get together and agree hat q street should
run 10 q certain direction. Lots would be
staked to face it. The men adjoining would
declare that those fellows staked directly
on the street, and that their lots faced the
streets. Thus no man knows for q Ger.
tainty that he has a lot. Nevertheless,
many sites were sold, one man paying 500
for n supposed business site. The trouble
is not yet over o. this point. Every one
is good patured and hanging on to his
claim.
The great prairie was foraged east OF the
city last night, and with the camp fires,
made n beautiful sight. A squad OF Gen.
eraI Merritt's soldiers guarded The land
office all hight.
MURDER BY CLAIM JUMPERS.
ARKANSAS CRY, Kas., April ga special
from Guthrie ut 1 O'Clock this morning
says three men who took claims, yesterday, |
were foulIy murdered by claim jumpers at s
o'clock. The names OF the assailants and
victims were not learned. A vigilance
committee il securing the territorys in
search OF the miscreants, who will he sum
marty dealt with il caught.