The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-05-04
OKLAHOMA OPEN.
ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND
MILES OF RAILROAD OARS AND TEAMS

MILES OF RAILROAD OARS AND TEAMS.
\ Wild, Struggling Crowd. Made Up at All
Classes, From Every SecrI"n al III" C"un-
try--Reu,arkable frontier Scrn-s.
Oklahoma is open. The trials, struggles ana
sacrifices ot years partially rewarded, but the
events oil toray and those oi the days weeks and
months to follow will prove how Tar supply is lie
low demand and necesS,ate further concessions
to avert disoder bo0dshed and other condition
but little short OF anarchy The history OF this ole
day will forever be memorable in l:Outier annal~
and will leave behind heritage OF litigation
which will be fruitful to land Sh rks and nj
attorneys but he destructive to the crin's 81 p1.
and honest settlers.
CROWDED TRAINS.
The Atahsen, ropeka and Santa Fee RaIl OF
began running its sectional trains out OF Kansas
City last night and picking up cars at almo
every station along the route. Hundreds OF pee
pie were waiting at every depot and il the cars
all OF which were filled before the border line wa
reached, could have been coupled. they wou
have made train miles in length. The crowds
were composed Of spectators, adventures, sigh
seerS, thieves gamblers ard y aprlnklng OF the
demi monde. The farming element was MT
largely represented as all OF tie homesteadels
have gone on before. There were men on the cars
from every great city and important point in the
country, and there was not State or Territory in
the couatEy which did not have its representatives
Those who filled up all OF the seats, occupied all
Of the Standing room in tho aisles and FILED NJ
the spaces between the coaches, hanging On the
iron banisters and girdeTs with grip born OF deS'
pair and determination
At Arkansas City there were over seventv-tive
coaGhss tracked in the yards awaiting the rush.
All OF these were lowered into the yards some dis
lance below the depot The crowd began gather
ing on the platform two hours before daylight ana
ioIg before the first faint streak OF the dawL OF
the iateiul day.
pANIC-sTRICKEN.
The city was awake and stirring. The streets
presented "A live, picturesque appearance. After
the sun rose crowds were rushing toyard the cen
tire OF action from all parts OF the city. Hotels
emptied their hundreds into the street; the cot
houses contributed more out OF the hoSpitable
homes OF the city, nearly all of which have enter
tanned guests during the past week. Soon long
strings OF men carrying gripsacks, bundles, KNAPP
sacks and parcels Of every possible and impossible
description hundreds OF boQmets and rustlers in
masse to the yards and attempted to force an en-
trance into the cars, all OF which were securely
iocked. The excitement may be Judged from the
fact that large number Of coach windows were
broken out by people who were ansious to secure
seats. strong guard Of railroad men was de-
tailed to protect the company property, and they
had a contract OF unusual dimensions on their
hands. The crowd was panic-stricken.
AN UNDERSTANDABLE STRUGGLE.
Alter waiting many eventful days and nights
for the hour of action to come men were seized
with a sudden ieaT that they would be left in the
lurch, and that fear served 10 maEe them like
drove OF stampeded cattle. There wac IT VAN III
tempt at good humor in the struggle which CON
cealed the grim purpose behind, and there was
10 quarter shown in the rush for place. 1t was a
wild west erend aeaded toward IL new rield of en-
terpriSe ana development nni ~ one who has
ever seen such thing in action can have tue re,
hottest conception OF it.
GOING IN STYLE.
An amusing and 81 the same ime pathetic in
cident OF tbs early morning. wfs cattle train ly
in on Il side track, loaded with hsQmer, bis
horse, wagon and COW, wife and children a2q
all his little household effects. He was merry
fellow and guyed the crowd numerically Tor not
going through as he expressed it. without change
of cars IL AVOID the rush Il travel in my own
special eqach.' said lie, like Jay Gould or Van
derbilt." You'll Ye! thGre 100 iate,r yelled
somebody in the crowd. "Never mind repIiGd
the bsomer IN get there all the same
THs START.
Every car brought up the line was greeted with
tremendous cheers. As the coaches which were
to lie attached to the newspaper special were
brought cut o. the siding there was Il simultan.
eouS rush OF two OF three LhoASaad men toward
them. They were tlled to Overlooking IN lESs
than half minute, and countless throng vas
Strugg Cling Tor the officials 10 say tat trains
would run in sections fifteen minutes apart
Every man there wanted to be fifteen minutes
ahead of every body and not fifteen minutes
behind anybody. rne first section made up con-
sisted OF nihe .olctieS the newspaper coach and
one caboose. 1t pulled O.4t 1t 50 railroad time.
The train ran slowly as there wus great danger OF
misplaced rails and switches or gbStr4ctiUIS o!
various kinds placed there by those gone betGre
and who wanted corner in tho best lands In
sight.
rRossING THE CHEROKEE STRIP.
1t was . 10 yi,er III, sight which marks the
kee strip was reached. II was srqeta4 with "A
cheer, which rolled from the car in front II
the rustlers oabO9se behind. 1t marked the de-
parture from Il State government toward Il coun-
| try wuere government is yet II to created and
established
Still the Cherokee country lay between them
| and the rainbow land. There were no Indians to
be seen until after Willow Springs passed,
when Il wagon-oad of bucks of the Pouchl triUe
passed up the trail, who responded to the shouts
and cheers OF those board the train with sulen
looks and gestcul stions OF defiance, as not evil
IDENTIFY pleased at the coming OF the paletace
Along the Pawnee trail the train also passed car
avans OF boomers wagons, many going south, but
some returning towards nansas.
THE DEAD LINE PASSED.
Before the late dead line was reached and
passed. however, the great Transformation scene
| had begun and was plainly visible TO The watchers
from the train. First came in view the white
opped a.ons gathered together in groups in
| the level prairie in the little valleys which di.
ve:siiy the face nj the country. 1t was at once
noticeable that the teams not to be i'll
any of these camps, aud it was plain they had
been taken out of the harness to be driven
the bordc. by the hard r,dets who were to locat.
claims. Little further ON aId this conclusion
was proven to be the Correct one, Tor the entire
face OF the country as lar Us the best field glass
could carry the sight, was overrup with horsemen
gaioping To the southw I'd. Their Heetest hOrses
had evidently been picked for the work, and they
were carrying their riders rapidly to the lOnged
Tor goal. Rides oi IL or 20 miles were made in an
Incredible short time by old boomers familiar with
the country and VINO knew where desirable lands
a ta,i Iayr md for
| away Oh the horizon, both to the east and west,
clouds OF dust could he seen ascending from the
hoois OF hundreds of horses rushing towasd differ
ent destinations in most cases, but some of them
toward the same.
RACE FOf GOAL.
One race for goal could be easily distinguished
| The riders were apparently evenly m0uAted; they
were neck and neck for Il mile or two along the
trail as far they could be seen, and their eager
| and intense looks and merciless slashing were
sufficient evidence OF the prize they were running
| alter. One saddled but riderless horse was seen
gallOping along the traiI-an Ominous sign OF
| some accident or fatality WHICH had beiallen the
| rider. Some men were in charge Of tie horses
| and were evidently riding relays toward the goal
| a WAGON CARAVAN.
| Out OF the dust which arose toward the east
could be seen after the train had reached the sum-
| NIT oil OF a high ridge wagon caravan fully two
miles in length and which was being sped to the
utmost speed OF its horses. These caravans were
plainly outdistanced by the horseback riders and
after several miles OF the territory had been trav-
ersed it was seen that the best riders were win
ming the best prizes. One homesteaier, who had
secured mag nihcent quarter section rolling land
had dug hole TWO or three feet deep at that cor
ner OF it where the surveyors section located