Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-16
CHEROKEE STRIP.
Amusement of the Cattlemen on Finding
Their Lands Taken.

Iheir Lands 1akens
ARKANSAS CITY (Kan), March 18TH
The boomers were stampeded into the
Cherokee strip much the same as cattle
were stampeded out of it. They miscon-
strued the passage of the Oklahoma bill
into an act providing for the immediate
opening of the country to settlement, and
each colony of boomers was alarmed lest
it should not be the first on the ground to
select the choicest town sites and claims.
They rushed pell-mell over the border. and
fear was expressed by cooler heads lest
this premature and ill-advised movement
may be entirely useless, and that the Gov
eminent may deprive them of their ad-
vantage and drive settlers out, to await the
formal opening of the country and give all
prospective settlers an equal chance. This
view is entertained by only small minor
ity. A great majority are already settling
down on claims as if assured of perma
nent residence. They believe now that an
invasion has been accomplished that the
President will allow them to remain and
permit others to take up land whenever
they arrive.
The majority of bona fide settlers car
rled on their wagons yesterday enough ium-
Der to construct small dwellings, and to-
day white tents and wagon-covers dot the
placed with less picturesque but more SUBJ
stantial board shanties. Especially is this
the case in the center of the settlement at
Ponca. Where only yesterday there was a
small station of one hundred people on the
Santa Fe, just over the line from Guthrie,
Oklahoma, city of 5000 inhabitants
sprung up over night.
The gambling fraternity is here in full
force. The monte man, the wheel of for
tune, the walnut shells with the Elusive
pea, are all being manipulated in the open
streets with the usual degree of success.
Several disturbances occurred over these
gambling devices, and many fights took
place, but nothing serious resulted.
AT Guthrie last night reporter boarded
the train in which the representatives of
the Cherokee Strip Cattle Company were
returning from the Fort Worth Cattle Mems
Convention. Hewips, the President of the
company. was among the number. The
first information they had Of the invasion
of their leased lands was gained at Guthrie.
They could not believe it, but few min
utes later camphres, surrounded by the in
vaders themselves, were seen glowing in
the darkness and confirmed the report. The
cattle men were greatly disturbed at the in
vasion, and have appointed committee to
notify the Secretary of the Interior of the
act and ask Tor troops TO restore to them
the possession of their lands.
No military force is on the ground now,
and as far as is known none have been Or
dered to proceed thither. Captain Caven-
augh, commanding the forces at Guthrie,
and Captain Burbank at Oklahoma City,
have both officially notified General Mer-
rift at Leavenworth, commanding the Da-
partment of the Missouri, of the invasion,
and the cattle company has requested pro-
lection from Washington. No replies, as
far as known, have been received to these
dispatches, and surely no orders have been
given TO move troops into the invaded
LATER The cattle men are completely
Fences have been cut, the grass is
burned, cattle stampeded and the range
destroyed, for the near future
at least. They will be compelled to get
their cattle together as well as possible and
hunt other pastures.
Professor Coppsk, of the Indian chill
dren's schools, telegraphed last evening for
troops to expel the boomers from the In
dian school lands, as many not knowing
the boundary, located therein.