Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-21
The Cherokee Strip Swarming With
Horde Of Impatient Boomers.
MANY WAGON ROADS BLocKAoEp
United States Troops Guarding
Against Any Possible Outbreak.
scsAMsLINe FOR THE sPoILs.
Several Enterprising Politicians AL
ready Making a Vigorous Can
vass for the Various City
and County Offices.
Crossing the Strin.

Crossing the strip.
On THE OKLAHOMA BORDER, April 20.-
Especial Telegram to The BEE. The bright
sunshine of yesterday and to-day has started
the boomers out of their camps, and they
are hurrying on to the promised land from
all directions. AT one bridge over the river
near Arkansas City, thirty-four hundred
wagons are said to have crossed within the
last three days, all going to Oklahoma. The
soil here is Of such nature that the roads
are drying up rapidly; consequently the
wagon route boomers are happy. There are
blockades of vehicles at several points along
the roads in the Cherokee Strip, caused by
the impatience of all to get to the border
first. Among the boomers entering "the
Strip were many wealthy men, going there
for speculation. They prefer going by pri-
vate conveyance, because they will be en-
abled to get into Oklahoma at an early hour
on the opening day, owing to the way the
trains run One wagon had a completely
equipped barber shop ready for business, and
several others were loaded with groceries.
Two grocery delivery wagons were in the
procession and one well drilling machine
Some of the boomers passed through Arkan-
sas City to-day leading a number of fine
horses to be used in the race over the line
for choice locations in Oklahoma when the
opening hour arrives at noon Monday. This
will doubtless be the most interesting and
exciting race on record. 1t will be go-as-
you-please through prairie and woods over a
wild unsettled country for homes. and in the
race will participate men, women and chill
dren on foot and on horseback, in wagons,
carriages and carts of every imaginable
description Some well groomed race horses
are being kept fresh for the race, and what
the rush may lead to is hard to conjecture.
Boats are being built at points along the
Bwift running streams and will be loaded
and kept over the Oklahoma line ready to
start down with the current precisely at
noon on the 22d None will dare start a
moment earlier than the time appointed by
the president, for all are in
dread of the military and fear
that if they cross the forbidden line
they will be denied all future right to home
stead land in Oklahoma. The presidents
proclamation is respected by even the most
inpatient boomers. The country is under
martial law, and General Merritt, command.
ing the Department of the Missouri, has
moved 20 Guthrie with part of his staff and
made that his headquarters for the present
Reinforcements are constantly arriving
and the country has very war-like appear
ance. No whisky will be allowed to be sold
during the excitement, General Merritt
who is virtually military governor Of the ter
ritory, has issued orders forbidding its sale
or introduction. These orders meet with
general appreciation from the better class o.
prospective settlers, for it is feared that
whisky, if allowed in Oklahoma during the
the great excitement attending the opening
would cause veritable pandemonium, ano
that there would be much bloodshed ant
strife.
The Santa Fe railroad began. to-day
assisting settlers who were waterbound a
the Salt Fork TO cross that stream. Th'
Salt Fork is one of the branches of the Ar
kansas river and flows through the Chero
kee Strip. The railroad company is using
fiat cars, stock cars and box cars, into which
the boomers wagons, horses cattle and
effects are shipped to point near ALFRED
Station, about twelve miles from the Okla
homa line. Hundreds Of wagons have beer
transferred to-day, and the work still goe
on, and will probably continue all night
The Santa Fe has q large torce of men n
work putting in sidetracks ut various places
along tn e line between Arkansas City ant
Guthrie. and is bringing in great number
of cars for use in that section. The Western
Union Telegraph company Is putting in extr
wires, its present wires being insufficien
for the Increase of service that has resulte'
from the boom. Several government sur
. vey parties are already in Oklahoma laying
off land, and everything possible will b.
done TO facilitate matters and assist settler
in locating.