Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-03-15
ALL ON THE GRAB.
GREAT RUSH OF EXCITED BOOMERS TO THE
NEW CHEROKEE STRIP.
Long Lines Of Canvass Covered Prairie ShOoners
on the Coveted Land-FaIl 10000 People
Have Passed the BOrder-Great
Excitement Prevails.

CALDWELL, KAs., March 1.-THE
Cherokee Strip boomers who have con-
gregated at this point have finally set
the time for their invasion of the strip.
Hon. J. w. NoyeS, Mayor Of this city,
and captain Of the Caldwell boomers,
has issued proclamation to the colony,
setting Sunday. March IL, aS the day
for the movement.
Capt. Burbank, L. :. A., arrived yes
tcrday from Oklahoma City and at
tempted to persuade the boomers TO
delay their movement upon the Strip
until the Government shall give its
formal consent. The prospective colo
nistS, however. were firm in their de-
termination TO move on the day APP
pointed by their leaders. Capt Bur
bank has only small troop at his
command and has tclcgraphcd for rein
fOrcemcntS.
\ dispatch from Arkansas City says:
The reception of the news of the pas
sage. through the House of Representa-
tivcs, of the bill extending the Terrific
fial Government over the Cherokee
Strip. together with the Oklahoma Ter
rtorial bill was received here by the
Cherokee boomers with great joy.
When the news became general this
morning rush for the Strip was made
by thousands of families congregated
between here and the Indian Territory
line. Intense excitement prevails
among the boomers, and they are deter
mined To stake their claims regardless
of whatever opposition may be made by
the military.
"On to the strip" That was the sig
nal for the invasion of the Cherokee
outlet by the anxious ''boomerS" who
have been gathered ON the border Of the
Strip for the past forty-eight hours. 1t
re-cchocd around the outlet from mid
night until dawn this morning. and
when the sun rose over the promised
land the invasion had fairly begun. All
day the long lines of canvaS-coyercd
prairie SchoOncrS wich their many crews
drew their lengths into the coveted
land.
Tonight it j. estimated from the diff
fcrcnt points of entrance fully 10000
hryc passed the border and half that
number Stakcd their claims. The strip
is invaded For month past, in fact
ever since President Harrison issued the
noted proclamation ordering the Chco-
kcc Strip Live Stock Association To va
cate the outlet" boomers have been
gathering ON the frontier onXioms to be-
among the first on the ground. that they
might select the choicest lands for their
prospective homes and claims.
The settlers at all principal points Of
assembly formed boomer associations Of
various kinds with various motives. \
majority of these associations are form
ed for thl purpose of taking united ac-
tion upon the time of moving into the
strip. Yesterday morning all was
quiet in this city among the
boomers. Six hours later scene
of excitement was witnessed that
cquallcd in intensity that which accom-
panied the invasion Of Oklahoma 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 IL rs well aS over
Oklahoma. The news spread quickly.
and by II o'clock thcmalc boomers were
running To and fro. some Of them only
half dressed, in their excitement max
ing hurried preparations to move at
once over the border. The invasion
came with rush. No one expected il,
not even the settlers themselves. The
long line of procession was soon taken
up, the inmates shouting joyouSly, and
waving hats. coats. and whatever came
to their hand, was winding it way over
the rolling prairie.
Arriving on the strip. the Squattcrs
di. embarked from their ''Schoon crS
taxed their claims.