Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-03-22
THE STRIP INVADED.

in the Coveted Section-They Declare
Their Purpose to Remain on the Lands
In Spite of the Military.
ARKANSAS CRY, Kan, March 15.-All
is confusion here. The report of the
passage by Congress of the Oklahoma
Territorial bill had scarcely been noised
abroad ere the boomers began leaving
for the Cherokee strip. The invasion
commenced at midnight All day the
long lines of canvas-covered prairie
schooners, with their many crews, drew
their lengths into the coveted land.
1t is estimated that from differen.
points of entrances fully 10000 people
have passed the border and half that
number stalbed their claims.
For month, in fact ever since Presi-
dent Harrison issued the proclamation
ordering the Cherokee Strip livestock
Association to vacate the outlet"
boomers have been gathering on the
frontier anxious to be among the first
on the ground, that they might select
tho choicest land for their prospective
home and claims when permitted by the
Government. The boomers were all
sorts of people, and they came in all
sorts of ways.
At all the principal points of assembly
"boomer" associations of various kinds,
with various motives, have been
formed. A majority of these associa-
tions were formed for the purpose of
taking united action upon the time of
moving into the strip, it being the gen.
eral belief among the leaders that Pres
ident Harrison would not insist upon
their removal when once they had es-
tablished themselves upon their claims.
Thursday afternoon all was quiet in
this city among the boomers Six hours
later a scene of excitement was wit
messed that equaled in intensity that
which accompanied the invasion of
Oklahoma a year ago. The news had
been received from Washington that the
Oklahoma bill had passed the
House, declaring the outlet to
be public domain and extending
the laws of Nebraska over that
Territory as well as Oklahoma. The
news was spread quickly, and by II
o'clock the boomers were running to
and fro, making hurried preparations to
move at once over the border. The gen.
eral merchandise stores were besieged
by people anxious to lay in a
stock of provisions and the tradesmen
were obliged to take down their window
shutters and supply the demands. The
prairie schooners were hastily made
ready for the voyage, the wagons loaded
and horses hitched in their traces. The
sun was just rising when the first crack
of the teamster's blacksnake was heard
| announcing departures for the outlet,
and soon long line of wagons, their in
mates shouting joyously and waving
hats, coats and whatever came to their
hand, was winding its way over the
rolling prairie.
The invasion came with a rush. No
one expected it, not even the settlers
themselves. The tenants of the strip
the Cherokee Live Stock Association
and the agents-were taken entire
ly unawares. Chief Mayes, of the
Cherokee nation, had placed at
the disposal of the former con-
tingent of Indian police to drive out oc-
casional settlers, but this was entirely
too insignificant force to opposa the
| invaders. The Government, so far as is
rest possible movement of the settlers,
and it was not until early Friday morn
ing that the military appeared upon
the scene. Captain Burbank, in COM
mand of a small force of United States
regulars at Oklahoma City, marched
his force into the strip late Thurs
day night to stay the progress of the
boomers. So far as known this force
had no effect in retarding the move
ment, although noJhing concerning the
movements of the military has been
heard since last night On entering the
strip the cattle grazing there looked
upon the unusual scene with alarm,
turned and fled, stampede which
the cowboys were unable to either
check or control ensuing. The cattle
fled five or six miles, when they were
met by the boomers from Oklahoma.
Between these two fires they were
driven east and west. Arriving on the
strip, the settlers disembarked from
their ''schooners" and staked their
claims.
THE OUTLET NOT YET OPENED.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-in the
| IlOuSe yeSLeTudy hI. IeIhluS Nhdu. J
,tated that an erroneous impression had
gone out that the Cherokee outlet had
been declared open to settlement under
he Homestead law; under the provis-
ons of the Oklahoma bill as passed
Thursday. The statement should have
been that the public land-strip-not the
the Cherokee outlet-had been opened
to settlement. The Cherokee outlet
was embraced within the limits of the
new territory but was not open to set
tlement under the Homestead law.
THEY PROPOSE TO STAY.
TOPEKA, Kan, March 15.-It is esti-
mated that 10000 people have entered
the Cherokee strip and that all the
troops that can be concentrated there
can not drive them out, as they
have gone armed with Winchesters,
shot-guns and revolvers and propose to
stay.
Companies are being formed in South
| own Eapcou bv Soma Of tho laod inr man