The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-04-25
TRAMP. TRAMP. TRAMP.

ng along the entire northern border. and
he sun went down on . great column Of
white topped wagons. stretching far away
INTO the Indian Territory. Wednesday
night the rain again poured down and
sarrled dismay to the thousands VI
4ome-seekerA But the boomers braved
he storm and started their wagons
lown the dark and miry road TINT leads
INTO the great Ponce trail, and crowded as
.ar forward ~ the soldiers would permit
Then the halt was made, and the night
passed sleepleea With the break OF day the
rain ceased and chill wind swept over the
prairies Cold to the very marrow bones.
he boomers were still patien. and cheer
.ul
When daylight was fairly visible the
Fagoners were up, with whips in hand
ready to move. The great camps on the
Arkansas and Walnut rivers were breaking
1p and thousands OF men and teams were
:rowding the rear. Az o'clock, the prom
sed hour OF march, approached, great
excitement prevailed among the people
Suddenly a troop Of soldiers appeared
,n the prairie and they presently
dashed up halting within nifty yards OF the
territory line. Cheers rang from the
boomers as the soldiers came up Captain
Jack Hayes Of the Fifth Cavalry was In
command, watch in hand. When o'clock
arrived he gave signal, 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 Il
;akes to tell it the great march to the prom
sed Oklahoma had begun. Within thirty
minutes sOO wagons had crossed tho line
with thousands In the rear. II wagon
broke down. sptlling children, chickens
and furniture into the mud, 1t was fixed
IN minute by half q hundred
ready hands and the catastrophe smoothed
with . cheering word Within = mile of
The border the crowd became 30 densely
packed that 1t was with great dificulty .
passage to the front was effected half
mile west Of the Ponce trail entrance the
people were approaching In large numbers
Fort Reno.
THE START FROM CALDWELL.
CALDWELL. Kan, April l9.-At 10 o'clock
Thursday morning the start across the Cher
okee strip WAS made by the boomers en-
samped here. The intention had been to
'tart this morning, but, owing to the condi-
ion Of the trail'because OF the heavy rains
the last few days, Captain Woodson,
commanding the company stationed here
20 repel invaders. determined to give the
cOlOnists another day to cross the strip
At o'clock blue-coated buglcr mounted
1t the camp OF the soldiers and rode from
,amp to camp among the boomers
with the tidings that they might cross
,he line into the strip at 10 O'Clock
The troops broke camp at o'clock
and proceeded to the line BY 10 o'clock
ifty wagons were drawn up on either side
u the little bridge where the old Reno
rail crosses the line. At just lO
o'clock they were permitted to start.
Troops rode slowly in front, tho
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 Cherokees
all day long About no wagons left Cap
tain Woodson returned after riding few
miles with the troops, and Lieutenant Jenk-
ins 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
western Kansas they have little money to
Most OF them are destitute.
Many OF these coming settlers think, q
10 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
1t plainly: You must live on
Oklahoma land five years to get
title 80 as to borrow money on It, unless
you are q soldier. Town site companies
have no ground on which to operate or sell
lots legally. II it is done it IL done by eva
sion of the law and investors run serious
risks.
LIQUOR NAT Be SOLD
WASHINGTON, April l9.-Mr Mason, Com
missioner of Internal Revenue. has decided
that under the recent act OF Congress and
the proclamation OF the President in rela-
lion to Oklahoma, 1t ceases to be Indian
country" and that special-tax stamps may
be sold to wholesale and retail liquor deal
srs to engage in business there, under the
same terms and regulations as In other
States and Territories Of the United states
FEARS or TROUBLE
WASHINGTON April 19-Army officers
are very apprehensive regarding the OPEN
Ing OF Oklahoma The subject has formed
tue mdlu topic OF OlScuS6AOu 0I recent
Cabinet meetings, and the Attorney
lieneral has been called upon to
decide the question rs to the author
ty of the War Department to act In
iase Of violence In the newly opened
sountry. The instructions sent to the COM
nandant OF the troops in Oklahoma. as q
pesult Of the opinion rendered by
Ihe Attorney General. were extreme
" guarded They are understood to
lirect the army officers to assist
h the maintenance Of law, but to
carefully observe the regulations de-
dining 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 .
breach OF the peace. and the machinery
of the Government would. 1t Is feared,
be too slOw-moying to meet the
great emergency which may arise. The
only army regulation on tho subject pro.
rides for interference by the troops in an
emergency only In case Of interruption to
the carriage OF the mail or assaults upon
United States property, but under = some
what strained construction 1t may form the
reason assigned for the use OF troops to
prevent or restrain rioting or bloodshed in
the Territory.