The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-15
BOOMERS ON THE JUMP. j..
Thousands Of Settlers on the WAY
to Take Possession Of the Cher
okee Outlet,
Twenty Thousand Have Already
Crossed the Border and Thou
sands More Are Going.


ARKANSAS CRY, Has, March ll.-"On 10
the strip that was the signal Tor the in
vasion of the Cherokee outlet by anXlous
boomers who have been gathered ON the
border of the strip the past forty-eight
hours. II echoed around the outlet from
midnight until dawn this morning, and
when the sun rose over the promised land
the invasion had fairly begun. All day
long lines Of canvas covered prairie
schooners drew into the coveted land To-
night il is estimated that from the different
points of entrance. fully 10000 people have
passed the border and half that number
have staked claims. The strip has been in
vaded for a month past; in fact, ever since
President Harrison issued his proclamation
ordering the cattlemen to yacate
tho outlet boomers have been
gathering ON the frontier. These
were all sorts of people aud came in all
sorts of ways. Some who could not afford
even the luxury of wagon tramped TO the
Tor Ter beside their horses, laden with
household goods and children. Al all the
principal points of assembly boomer as
sociaiions Of various kinds have been
formed.
II has been the general belief among the
leaders that President Harrison would not
insist upon their removal when once esiab-
lished upon claims. Yesterday
afternoon all was quiet among
the boomers; SIX hours later
n scene of excitement was witnessed equal
ling that which accompanied the invasion
of Oklahoma year ago, News was re-
ceived from Washington that the Oklahoma
bill passed the house. The news spread
quickly and by II O'Clock the male boomers
were making hurried preparations 10 move
az once over the border. The sun was Just
rising when the first team started. The
invasion came with a rush. No one ex-
pected II; even the settlers themselves, the
tenants of the strip. the Cherokee Live
stock association and the agents were taken
entirely unawares. The Cherokee Indian
police force was too insignificant 10
oppose the invaders. The govern
ment, So far as known. has taken no
precautions 10 arrest the possible movement
of settlers. and IL was not until euTly this
morning that tho military appeared upon
the scene. Capt. Burbank, in command of
a small force Of troops ut Oklahoma CITY,
marched on 10 the strip late last night TO
stay the progress of The boomers. but so far
as known this force had no effect in re-
tarding the movement.
On entering 'he strip the cattle grazing
there looked upor the unusual scene with
alarm, and a stampede cnsued which the
cowboys IN charge were unable 10 check or
control. The cattle lied five or six miles
befuro the invaders from the
north. where they were met by the
boomers coming up from Oklahoma.
Between these two fires they We're driven
east and west. Arriving OH the strip the
settlers staked their claims. Advices from
Iowa state that 800 boomers have started
from there.
just as the wagons were ready to move q
big prairie fire was discovered raging in the
outlet. n is thought il may have been set
by the cattle people TO drive back the sci
tiers. So anxious. however. were the
boomers that not even q lire could stop
them. and they proceeded, avoiding II by
making detour. Five hundred more went
from Caldwell, while Guthrie, which year
ago was the objective point of the noted
rush INTO Oklahoma. was to-day the
starting point of 500 boomers bound for the
strip. Hunnewell. knn.. reports that 500 TO
1000 moved from there.