Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-01-11
RELIN0UISHED HIS CLAIM.
A Story of the Oklahoma Boom.
BY j. II. RITCHIiE.

Tn the settlement of our Western
States and Territories. that parsonage
familiarly known among the settlers as
a claim jumper has never been very
popular among his neighbors But my
experience with the Claim-J Jumper was
quite different from the usual eX-
periences of those who have met with
them in contesting the right to a claim
on the broad prairies of the West.
Having been engaged in farming in
an Eastern State / sold my effects for
few hundred dollars, and some time
before the ODD of April, day memorable
in the history of Oklahoma Territory, |
set out on horseback for Indian Terri
tory and arrived on the border of Okla
homa several days before the time set
for the opening Of the lands.
Selecting a camping place in q cotton
wood grove on the banks of small
stream that enters the northern border
of Oklahoma pitched the little tent L
had brought along, and went into camp
to wait the time when that great strug
gle to get possession of aQuarter section
of land should take place, and in which
thousands of hard pioneers were doomed
to disappointment by finding themselves
little too late. AS soon as | had
placed my camp in proper order, and
partaken Of lunch Of dried beef, cheese
aud crackers, | set out afoot up the
creek to see if could discover any other
campers. About two hundred yards
from my camp, rayine came down to
the creek, and as | went down into it,
saw a covered wagon and carriage just a
short distance above me. Seeing sew
eral men and women around the camp,
I concluded to walk mp there and have
chat with them. The party consisted
OF an old lady and gentleman and their
two sons and daughter, who was APP
parently about % years old. | found
the family to be very intelligent and
far above the average Boomers" in
point Of travelling equipment. After re-
naming at the camp some time the men
folks haG occasion to leave to lariat their
ponies on the grass, and obeying the
old mans injunction to remain until
their return, | engaged in a converse
tion with the daughter, whom [
found to be very intelligent, and pos
sessing a face that for beauty l thought
/ had never seen the equal. Although
l had arrived at an age at which bach
elors are generally supposed to be i'm
pervious to cupid's darts, had to con-
fess to myself before J had remained
an hour that I was desperately in love
with the blacb-eyed beauty, and | was
we'll satisfied that my feeling toward
her were reciprocated. In fact it was
another case of love Mt first sight, and
went back to camp that evening feelirg 6
that life had q new ell arm for me. 1t
had been my intention to camp very
near the line of Oklahoma, and | sup
posed that | was on the outside Of the
dead line. The next day, April DIST,
ramJled up the creek q few miles in
quest of game, and discovered several
camps Of Boomers making active
preparations for the final race to occur
on the morrow. 1t was my intention to
visit the camp OF my new acquaintance
again that evening" but upon arriving al
my camp | found that my pony had
broken his lariat rope and ran away.
Fearing that the Odd might find me
without a horse to make the race, by
which / hoped to secure one of those
beautiful homesteads which is Away
supposed to be Just little way ahead
set out in hot pursuit of my pony anC
succeeded in finding him some four OF
five miles away from camp. In my
haste to find my pony had taken nc
note of the direction l had taken, only
following the pony's trail through the
tall grass, and at sunset, which occurred
before. L had gone more than mile
from where l had found the pony,
suddenly realized that was hopelessl,
lost. Resolved, however, to &c
back to camp, l travelled arounC
for several hours, but finally haC
to give it up for that night anC
after tying my pony TO a shrul
on the bank Of a rayine, ] lay down OF
the grass to await the coming of day
light 1t is needless to SAY that | slep
but very little that night, aud that lit
tie time which | did sleep was disturbe,
by dreams Of a pair Of black eyes an,
the sound of bewitching voice which
on account of the events of the morrow
/ might never have the pleasure O
hearing again Morning came, and
awoke and mounted my pony and rod
rapidly in the direction Of a fringe @
timber that / knew bordered the bank
OF the creek ON which / had frs
pitched my camp TO await the comm
hour of starting Although Il had bee
unintcntional ON my part, yet the FAC
that ! had actually been in Oklahoma
after ihe Presidents proclamation, an
before the 22l, gave me uo little uueas
ness; bat decided % ran nay ehanc,
and possibly the land departmel
would, under che peculiar cIrcuu
stances under which | lahlred. gran
mo exemption from Che operation
that section % thr aV that prevented
pets0n acquiring TITLE 60 lauds iH okl
hamA Who tnturgd that territory ait0
che ssuina 0l tha reclamation Hd b
infs the s3l day 90 ArnI Anyway
ameludrd b make tha AffrmEt tu -
ease a homestead hf1 ! ielHF trt
fnauil - aafe Hnl la $50 aaH lt
- tha.s s.eaa / .a.ael 81 tae Ut
alh iha HssHli ihft - tHt uHfHi.f
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