The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-17
CHEROKEE'S BOOMERS.
WILLOW SPRINGS FAST BECOM-
ING A REAL TOWN.

Boomers Still Arriving, While Others
are Leaving the strip-Troops to be
Brought Into Reqa&sition to Force
Them Out-Great Activity at Fort
Leavenworth- - Preparing to Move
Troops to the Scene.
WILLOW SPRINGS, 1. T., March 10
Neither the Presidents proclamation nor
the order for troops to oust the boomers has
yet been received here, consequently
boomers are arriving. Some are returning
to Kansas and Oklahoma, but for every
one that leaves there is now a couple to
take his place. Many town-site boomers
are here, and a considerable portion of a
town has been laii OFF and surveyed. A
large tent has been erected, where the
boomers met to-day, and organized
the town of Willow Springs. The streets
are to be laid out to morrow. and town
lots are to be secured by lottery. Two fe-
male boomers were accorded the privilege
of making the first and second choice Of
corner lots. A large lumber yard is to be
erected, and building will begin at once.
TROOPS TO BE SENT.
ST. LOUIS, March 16-Word reaches here
3
worth in preparing for the departure of
troops from that post to expel the boomers
from the Cherokee strip. There are five
companies of infantry, four of cavalry, and
one of artillery at the fort, aud all except
the artillery are expected to go to the strip.
Gen. Merritt has received orders from the
war department to GUST the boomers, and,
while no definite Information has been OBJ
tained when the movement of troops will
take place, the indications at the fort are
that they will start on short notice.
MANY BOOMERS ON THE RETREAT.
GUTHRIE, /. T., March 16-The Presi-
dents proclamation ordering all the settlers
on the Cherokee strip to vacate is already
having the desired effect. This, together
with the orders received by Gen. Merritt at
Fort Leavenworth to use troops if neces-
sary to eject the boomers, has already
caused considerable of an exodus from the
forbidden territory: All day the trains
were loaded down with boomers leaving the
strip. number went to Arkansas City,
and about 100 came here. Many poor peo-
pie who tiocked to the Cherokee strip under
the wrong impression that it was open to
settlement have not the means TO return,
and will remain till the troops drive them
out.
SIX TROOPS SENT.
Fort LEAvENwoRTH, KAN, March 16.
ten. Merritt has ordered six troops Of
cavalry to proceed to the Cherokee strip
and oust the boomers there. Two troops of
cavalry have been ordered from each of the
three towns of Oklahoma City, Fort Reno
aud Fort Supply, to proceed at once to Guth-
rie. AT that point the forces will be united
under the senior captain aud a
concentrated movement on the settlers will
be made. The forces started from the towns
mentioned this morning and will probably
not all arrive at Guthrie before Monday
night or Tuesday morning. Lieut. Dodge,
staff officer of Gen. Merritt, was dis
patched yesterday from Fort Leavenworth
to the strip to at once make full report by
telegraph of the state of affairs.
THE CONTINGENT AT THE FORT.
The troops at Fort Leavenworth will be
put in readiness to move should the report
from Lieut.. Dodge make such action nee
essary. 1t was learned this evening
that Gen. Merritt has given instruc
tions for the troops to give the settlers
ample time to vacate before ordering fore
ible measures. Under no circumstances
will such measures be taken, unless the
boomers, after being given full opportunity
to vacate, refuse to leave. In any case the
movement on the boemers will not be hasty
A day or two will probably elapse
after the arrival of the troops at Guthrie
before the march to the strip is taken up.