The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-17
THE GATHERING RUSH
OF Boomers on the Borders Of
Oklahoma Very Apparent
THE LAND SHARKS ARRIVING
And Working tho situation for All 1t
Is worth-A New Leader of the
Original Boomors-Ready for
Blood or u Homestead.


Blood or u Homestead.
KANSAS ClTY, April l6,-The gather
ing rush OF people bound for Oklahoma
was very apparent here last night,
Trains from all points were crowded
with wOuld'be settlers, and the Santa Fe
road is rushing forward all It's available
rolling stock for use on It's Indian Ter
ritory branches, In one party OF Mis-
sourians at the depot to-day was man
who would have been considered insane
had 1t not been for the trust and obe-
dienCe he exacted from his rather hardy
followers. He was a tall, lank man,
dressed in rough worn clothing, and had
a thin, shrewd face and q sCrubby chin
whlsker. Over his pantaloons and stuff
ed in at the top OF his big jack boots he
wore a sensational pair OF overalls made
ofbunting, stamped with small American
flags, He carried long, brown rifle OF
the ancient but accurate ball aud patch
pattern, and around his waist were
strapped brace Of cannon.Calibred
navies and large knife, Tho leaders
name Is Daniel CENTS, and his little
company had been organized in Davis
county, Missouri. CENTS had visited
Oklahoma short time ago and returned
last week to escort his friends. The
company was most thoroughly, armed
and will certainly frighten the timid and
provoke the bold. When asked II he
was looking for trouble in Oklahoma,
CENTS said: ~ amt lost any, but I've
got somebody else's property in that
line"
CENTS explained his tri.color panta.
looms by saying: There used to be red
legs on this border, aud now I'm going
to show red, white and blue legs"
He and his party are bound for some
secretly located spot west OF Lisbon.
They are but samples OF the character Of
persons who will Join In the rush.
LAND SHARKS ABOUND,
The land shark is on hand. One con.
cern with flaming banners is setting
down lots in Oklahoma City, Texas, a
spot on the lap OF the Pan Handle Of
Texas touching the western tip OF Okla
homa. These so.called lots are sold for
50 apiece with IN additional charge OF 81,
for recording the deed. Next door
another crowd Is trying to dispose OF
lots in the promising city Of Now Okla.
homa, said to be twenty miles south Of
the other and pretending to be upon q
proposed line Of railway. The shouters
OF these two institutions stand at their
doors and roundly denounCe each other
as frauds and imposters. Both manage
to ply good trade, Meanwhile the
most rigid rules OF exclusion are being
maintained in the territory. Yet there
are rumoru rife that certain favored ones
have already been permitted TO enter
the tract and are hidden near Guthrie
and other points OF settlement. This
will bear close investigation.
THE NEW LEADER,
Captain Cooker who with Captain
Couch, has inherited the leadership
vacated by the late original "boomer"
Payne, arrived in the city last night to
arrange for the prompt movement OF his
trains. He says he has forty cars at
Emporia, where his branch Of the self
styled Payne Oklahoma colony Is rally
ing. lie Is inclined to be secret about
his plans, but says emphatically he does
not propose TO be left. In reply TO
questions about his history he said: ~
first went into Oklahoma in 1896, and
have ever since longed 10 settle there,
| have made several trips there with
Captain Payne, but as many times WAS
driven out by the soldiers. In addition to
being a pioneer in the Oklahoma
movement, l have been connected with
the opening Of other sections OF the
west" The Captain Is in the prime OF
life and Is a fac physique, being 8 feet
Q inOheR tall, straight as an arrow and
weighing over 200. The Emporia Okla
homa colony OF which Captain Cooper is
at the head Is an old organization and
numbers about 10000, who intend to
locate around Guthrie station.
TIE OLD SOLDIERS COLONY.
A dispatch from st. Louis says; The
latest news from the border is TO the ei.
feet that troops are being withdrawn
from the neighborhood Of Caldwell and
other points on the Kansas line and the
boomers arc rapidly getting ready to
cross the Cherokee outlet 10 the north.
ern boundary OF Oklahoma proper.
Then they will move along the old cat.
tle trails md will reach the border the
latter part OF this week, and be ready TO
rush across the line on the 99d. The
advance guard oithe old soldiers colony,
principally those from Ohio, Maryland
and West Virginia, has reached Wichita
and will start for the territory on
Wednesday. They will bridge the
CimaTon river, which cannot now be
forded.
The high water In the Cherokee strip
and Oklahoma will cause much delay
and trouble 10 the boomers. Many OF
those who have been In hiding In the
valleys OF the Cimarron and North Can.
adIan hDye been washed out and their
tents and stock swept away. The re.
ported damage 10 the Topeka 4 Santa
Fe bridge across the Canadian river at
Purcell has been repaired and there will
no no uelHy 10 tTAlub lEUu luu bVuIuI
Parties With temporary buildings for
land Offices at Guthrie and Lisbon left
Arkansas City to-day and will erect
them as speedily as possible. A stage
line has been put on between Guthrie
and Lisbon. Several Deputy United
States Marshals started for Oklahoma and
other officers will follow at once.
4 special from Wichita, KasJ says.
, The old soldiers colony left here this
morning for Oklahoma with over 700
covered wagons In line. Over 1000
boomers wefo In tho wagons They will
, endcavor 10 locate together Ia tho Coun.
Try around Lisbon, where the land Office
tor the western dlptHpt Of territory will
DO located.
Two hundred and iorty.Olght prairie
Sohooners went into camp at Kansas City
to-day and fully 800 persons arrived by
the three railroads centerlng at that
place, making an estimated crowd o.
nearly, II not quite, 10000 tempo