Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-03-22
Wild Rush for Homes.

recent ArkansaS Clty, Kansas, dis
patch says: "Within the first forty
eight hours of the invasion at least
$4,000 persons have invaded the Chero-
kee strip from different points along the
border. They did not move forward
like troops on dress parade, but with
the impetuous charge of victorious
army. In the wild rush for choice
claims the head of the family was on
the skirmish line, astride of the feetest
animal he could find. In the rear the
family moved along with deliberation,
conveying to the new home all kinds of
camp equippage and settlers supplies.
Nearly every quarter section of land for
eighteen miles south of this city is at
present staked off, and many of them
are occupied by squatters. The report
that company of cavalry, under COM
mand Of Capt. Cavanaugh, would arrive
here this afternoon, caused some un-
easiness, but as the hours rolled by
without the troops putting in an appear
ance, confidence was restored, and a
feeling of security prevailed. This, how
ever, was short-lived, for at o'clock the
news that the president had issued a
proclamation ordering all settlers off
the strip was received. In a few min
Ites large numbers of men who had
staked claims and returned here for
provisions gathered together on street
corners and discussed the situation as
dispassionately as possible. Some coun-
seled a prompt compliance with the
presidents order, but others insisted
upon wild plan to hold their claims
until expelled by the troops, and then,
as soon as the blue coats were out OF
sight, to return and begin farming oper-
atoms. The ADVOCATES of the latter plan
are evidently in the majority. the old
soldier element seem to be the most
determined to retain their grasp upon
their claims. They say the government
owes it to them for their services rend-
cred, and in this view they have many
hackers and sympathizers. They say
that cattlemen are here witheut any au-
thority Of law, and they believe the poor
home-seeker should be granted equal
privilege with the rich and powerful.
Should the soldiers attempt to remove
them there will be no organized resist
ance, but 1t is believed that 1t will take
an army Of 5000 men to keep them from
settling back on the strip. One perplex-
ing trouble the soldier will labor under
will be to distinguish between home
seekers on the strip and homeseekers in
Oklahoma. Movers have the right to
pass through the strip on the way to
Oklahoma. Ask any man on the strip
where he is going and his answer in
yariably is oklahoma" though it is
known that 80 per cent are hunting
claims In the strip. The cattle men
here did not receive the news of the
presidents proclamation ordering the
invading settlers off the strip, with
much interest. To them it was like
locking the door after the horse was
stolen. The settlers seemed to think
that the easiest way to obtain possession
of the strip was to drive the cattlemen
off and the easiest way to do that was
tn fire the prairies, and fire the prairies
they did. From Ponca, Willow Springs
Melville and other settlements in the
Quite: comes the news of burning prai.
ries. It seems to have been generally
agreed upon that the first thing for the
settlers to do was to start q prairie fire
and much of the strip has been burned
over. These prairie fires served q
double purpose. They drove most oi
the cattle before them and also destroy
ed the fodder, which those remaining
might have fed upon. Therefore the
cattle men are naturally depressed over
the gloomy prospects. Said President
Hewins, Of the Cherokee Strip Cattle
company. this morning: "what the
cattle men can do in their present mis-
fortune cannot even be conjectured
Our fences have been cut, our cattle
scattered to the four corners of the strip
and every blade Of grass ON the range
destroyed by prairie fires. There are
now, or. rather, there were yesterday
morning before the invasion about go
600 htsad Of cattle on the strip. I do moi
| believe that the most euerpotic actor