Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-16
UNHAPPY sQUATTERS.
Boomers Ordered Off the
Cherokee Strip.
THE LAUGH rs ON THE sOONERs,
UnwelcOme News From Washington
Turns the Tide of Emigra-
ton Back.

all settlers OF the Cherokee strip.
Adjutant General Kelton telegraphed
General Merritt at Fort Leavenworth to
use the troops, if necessary, and, with
prudence as heretofore, to enforce the
proclamation issued today by the Presi-
dent relative to trespassers upon Chero-
kee strip lands. This order was cent by
direction of the Secretary of War.
THE LAUGH ON THE sooNERs.
K1owA, Kan, March 15-The laugh is
on the ''sooners." That is the express
sion of the sentiment with which the
Presidents proclamation was received
here. The boomers who had the good
sense to refrain from joining yesterdays
invasion are doing the laughing, while
their more hot-headed companions look
upon matters as anything but laugheble.
A third, perhaps, of the whole number
of boomers who crossed the line yester-
day have already returned or are OF
: their way to this place. They come
struggling back with good deal of their
impetuous energy lost, to await as near
their prospective claims as possible the
formal opening of the strip.
DISAPPOINTED soUATTERs.
ARKANSAS CTY, March 15.-Nearly
every qusrter-section of land for eighteen
miles south OF this city is at present
staked off, and many of them are occu-
pied by seuatters. The report that
company of cavalry would arrive this
afternoon caused some uneasiness, but as
the hours rolled by without the troops
putting in an appearance, confidence was
restored and a feeling of security pre-
vailed. This, however, was short-lived,
Tor at O'Clock the news that the Presi.
dent had issued proclamation ordering
all the settlers off the strip, was received.
In few minutes large numbers
of the men who had etaked claims
and returned here for provisions
gathered together at the street corners
and discussed the situation. Some coun-
selled prompt compliance with the Presi-
dents order, but others insisted that it
was a good plan to hold their claims
until expelled by the troops, and then as
soon as the soldiers were out of sight, re-
turn and begin farming operations. The
advocates of the latter plan are evidently
in the maj ority. The old soldier element
seem to be the most determined to re.
tain their grasp upon their claims.
Should the soldiers attempt to remove
ance, but it is believed it will take an
army of 5000 men to keep them from
getting back on the strip.
CATTLEMEN DEPRESSED.
The cattlemen here did not receive the
news of the Presidents proclamation
ordering the invading settlers off the
strip, with much interest.
From Ponca, Willow Springs, Nyceville
and other settlements in the outlet,
comes the news of burning prairies. 1t
seems to be generally agreed upon that
the first thing for the settlers TO do was
to start prairie fires, and much OF the
strip has been burned over. These
They drove most of the cattle before
them, and also destroyed the fodder
which those remaining might have fed
upon. Therefore the cattlemen are
naturally depressed over the gloomy
prospect.
Said President Hewins, of the
Cherokee strip Cattle Company,
today: "There are now. or rather were,
before the invasion, 900 head of cattle
on the strip. do not believe that the
most energetic action on the part of the
cattlemen and Government can save
them from irreparable loss. II left in
the strip the cattle will starve, for tiere
is nothing for them to eat there, and we
cannot ship provender to them it would
be losing investment. So there we are
sc, 900 head of cattle good for nothing
but hides, glue and bone dust"
sTAMPEDED LIKE THE CATTLE.
The boomers were stampeded into the
Cherokee strip much the same as the
ont 0f q
construed the passage of the Oklahoma
bill into an act providing for the imme-
diate opening of the country to settle
ment, and each colony of boomers,
alarmed lest it might not be the first on
the ground to get the choicest claims,
rushed pell nell over the border.
Fear was expressed by the cooler
heads that this premature and ill
advised movement might be entirely
useless, that the Government might de-
prive them OF their advantage and drive
the settlers out to await the formal open
ing of the country, and give all prospec-
tive settlers an equal chance. This view
was entertained by only small minor
ity; the great majority settling down on
their claims as if assured of a permanent
residence. They believed that the inva.
sion accomplished, the President would
allow them to remain, and permit others
to take up land whenever they arrived.
TOWNS BUILT IN A NIGHT.
The majority OF bona .fde settlers car
ried on their wagons yesterday enough
lumber to construct small dwellings, and
today the white tents and wagon covers
that dotted the prairies in all directions
were being replaced with less picturesque
but more substantial board shanties.
Especially was this the case at the center
of settlement at PoDca-only yesterday
a small station of 100 people on the
Santa Fe, just over from Guthrie, Okla
homa, city of 5000 inhabitants sprane
up over night. The gambling fraternity
are here in full force-monte men, whee
of fortune, walnut shells with an illusive
pea-all operating on the open stree
with the usual degree of success. Sew
eral disputes occurred over these gam
bling devices, and many fights tool
place, but nothing serious resulted.
TROOPS CALLED TOR.
At Guthrie last night a reporter
boarded train in which representative
of the Cherokee Strip Cattle Com PAM
were returning from the Fort Worth
Cattlemen's Convention. MIR. Hewins
president of the company, was amonI