Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-24
THE BOOMERS ARE EXCITED.
Serious Charges Made Against the
Federal Officials.
COLLISION WITH:iAND SHARKS
They Are Said TO be Implicated in
the Filing of Several Fraudu-
lent Claims-Rumors
of n Battle.
Trouble Brewing.


GUTHRIE Oklahoma, April 23.-TSpecial
Telegram TO THE BEE What was only
broad expanse Of prairie yesterday morning
Is a city of a thousand tents ana about eight
thousand inhabitants this morning. The
tentstretching keeps going on, but there
are as many people leaving as there are new
ones coming In. When the opening hour
arrived yesterday, nearly a thousand of the
choicest lots were taken by parties who are
said to have stood in with the United States
marshal, receiver, register and others,
whose permits would be respected by the
military. A large number Of boomers
slipped through the lines and hid until noon,
and then rushed upon the town site and
Btalted off lots for themselves and all Of
their friends. AS natural consequence
there is great deal of dissatisfaction mani
tested, and many people left yesterday in
disgust on seeing the condition of affairs
prevailing here.
At O'Clock last evening All indignation
meeting was held near the land Office to get
the voice Of the people on these matters.
Runners were sent through the camp calling
the people out, and about two thousand of
them quit their work of unpackng and put
ting up their tents, and went to 'the meeting.
Speaking was continued until after dark,
and whenever the improper location Of lots
was referred to the greatest applause was in
dulged in and the crowd became very ex-
cited. A committee was appointed, consist
ing of one member from every state and ter
ritory in the United States, to draft resolu-
tions covering the case and report at citi-
zens mass meeting, at o'clock this morn
lng. The committee organized at O'Clock
last night, and after long and
excited session agreed on resolutions,
which were submitted to the citizcns'
THESE
resolutions provide for entering five half sec
tions as town sites under the name of Guth.
.ie, North Guthrie, South Guthrie, East
Guthrie and West Guthrie, and for the sur
vey of these half sections. They also pro-
vide for the appointment of committee to
take steps for protecting the honest settlers
against the frauds that are said to have been
practiced by the United States civil officers
and others at this point. 1t is stated that
United States Marshal Needles, of the In
dian territory district, issued bogus deputy
marshals' commissions and permits to friends
of his, to enable them to get into this place
before the time for entering the lands law
fully. These permits from the marshal
and other officials are said to have
here ahead of the others whom the
law excluded until noon, yesterday, and
thereby locate the choicest lots in Guthrie
for themselves and friends. The receiver
here is also sand to have interests in lands
that were located before the law abiding set
tiers could arrive.
The feeling is very bitter, and the better
class of citizens openly condemn those who
gobbled up the lots under special permits.
The meetings are very orderly, although
n well attended, and are almost in continuous
session to-day; but the honest settlers OF
Guthrie feel that they have not been fairly
treated, and are very indignant in conse-
quence. The committee from the various
states and territories has been retained as a
committee of public safety, and it Will report
at future meetings of the citizens, to be held
hAn fnr thn NnCn n m
terests and rights of the settlers and prop
=. erly organizing city government for the
city of Guthrie
d The scenes in camp this morning pre-
sented lively appearance. Nearly every
body was stirring by o'clock, and res
taurants and stores were being put up
Freight was being hauled up from the depot
and the business of the new city had begun
The Santa Fe water tank was guarded BY
the soldiers, and, as no one was allowed tC
get water there, the settlers had to go to the
creek ABOUT half mile distant, with theil
buckets, cups, coffee pots and oyster cans fol
water The restaurants that were lucky
enough to be ready for business this morning
are making money rapidly. The hungry
crowds must be fed, and the restaurants car
charge their own prices for food Eggs are
selling at 10 cents each, bacon and bread a
40 cents and other things in pro
portion. Seven restaurants have started
up already and are all dong goo'
tents, q barber shop, photograph gallery
postoffice, several stores, law offices and
score Of land offices, all in tents. Water l.
being sold on the streets at cents acup, ant
the water wagon draws great crowds o
thirsty people who can not get water else
where.
Surveyors are at work laying off towi
sites and lots IN all parts of the camp Lot
are located for two miles around and thos
who came in late have but little chance o
getting anything desirable unless they wal
until many who have lots here for specula
q At Lac, tod ts...tv
The claim. fling ut the land office is YER
slow, and the people line waiting thei
turn provide themselves with stools o
blankets, to sit on, for the line
always long and the wait grows yer.
tedious. constant stream of humanit
is passing in front of the postofiice for mail
and the crowds at tho express and baggag
Office ut the Santa he depot are so large tina
soldiers and deputymarshals are there pre-
serving order. All trains are behind tim
and there is no certainty about getting ma
off, and there are no postage stamps left /
tho camp They cannot be bought any
where.
The wind was blowing hard all day an
many of the tents were blown down. IN
wind last nsht was quite chilly Tor Va
thousands of Guthrie settlers, most of whoi
were unable to got their bedding from tn
depot. All had to sleep on the grass, an
many of them had neither shelter nor cove
But little building is being done ye
on account Of the uncertainty about TOW
lots here Many think that much OF u
camp will be surveyed over and relocate'
owing to the fraud which is said TO HAY
been perpetratcd. Pending the settlcmei
OF these difficulties, the building of hous'
has been stopped. Nearly everybody here
armed, and, while there has been no trouo
so far, the determination to see fair play
30 great that II these frauds are persisted l
there may be trouble any day.
Moro Blood Spilled.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, April ga specl
from Guthrie at o'clock this morning sa
threo men who took claims yesterday we
foully murdered by clam jumpers about
O'Clock. The napies of the assassiGs ~
the victims could not be learned. A vigilan
committee is new securing the territory
search Of the miscreants who, il is sad, W