New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-14
THE DESCENT ON OKLAHOMA.

The last scenes in the Oklahoma comedy are
full of incident and action, and public interest
in the performance is steadily rising. Just
such n situation never existed anywhere before.
Around the approachable borders OF jealousy
guarded territory are gathering from near and
far. singly and in groups, companies and cara
vans. a multitude Of people each OF whom is
intent upon snatching at given moment the
best piece of land in sight. III man couid pc
suspended above the field OF operations WIN
mower to take n birdseye view OF what lay
below him. he would witness an extraordinary
snectacle. II would probably resemble the
scene in a public hall to which an auhence
more numerous than the desirable seats Is sud-
denly admitted. Some persons drop into tho
nearest vacant places, others make q bee line
for a particular point mentally chosen in adj
vance, others hurry hither and thither in an
aimless way, being Just too late for their first
few choices wherever they go;andeat last lind
ing tbemselves established without knowing
exactly how, while some are left wandering up
and down the asles in search Of resting
Mace and finally drift into the corners or out
again into the cold
The boomers are descending upon the terri
tory by diverse methods. The Santa re hall-
road is prepared TO transport as many as apply
for passage. The Rock Island will run hne
of stages from its southern terminus into the
promised land. A band of cowboys are said
TO be backing their horses against the United
States Cavalry and preparing to make run
for it before the longed-for day arrives. Two
huge rats will receive az many settlers as can
crowd aboard them and drift down the swollen
bosom of the Arkansas River to point only
seven miles distant from the border. Boomers
who have gathered in the vicinity of Caldwell,
Kan, from the region north of Oklahoma have
applied for permission to cross the Cherokeo
strip, in order that they may not be caught at
disadvantage on the glorious 22d. Ii Is
understood that this privilege has been granted
under proper conditions, and by this time no
doubt Joy reigns in Caldwell.
The first attempts to break into Oklahoma
were natural enough, however unlawful. The
territory held out sufficient inducements to men
of an adventurous spirit TO warrant energetic
efforts to become it's first settlers; but the rush
that has followed the proclamation which makes
such efforts legal is irrational, and in some OF
its aspects absurd. There is no reason to sup
pose that the new domain Is superlatively fruit
full, or that a majority OF those who are now
intent ON absorbing 1t are qualified to become
pioneers. Many are leaving more behind than
lies before them, and il the present antlclpa-
tons of serious conflicts between opposing in
terests are realized, not few are destined to q
miserable experience. In any case there is Hrre
to be a huge crop Of disappointments this first
season. From this distance, or indeed from
any distance. it would be ridiculous to send ad.
vice and warning. Men who are in the mood
which charactenzes the Oklahoma boomers are
not to be deferred by any consideration except
necessity, and scarcely by that. Moreover
there is much that is admirable in the restless,
aggressive, independent spirit which inspires
such movements. 1t is the same spirit, operat-
ing under novel conditions, which has possessed
| and civilized the continent.