The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-03-20
CHEROKEE STRIP.
1T is SUDDENLY INVADED AND OVER
RUN BY THE BOOMERS WHO
NOW HOLD 1T.
THE NEW CITY OF PONOA
Rises in a Single Night While the Boomers
are Stalking OF Their Claims-The
Cattlemeu Routed.

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, March 15.-The
strip much the same as the cattle were
stampeded out of it. They misconstrued
the passage of the Oklahoma bill into an
act providing for the immediate opening of
the country to settlement, and each colony
of boomers alarmed lest it would not be
the first on the grounc to select the choicest
town sites and claims, rush pell nell over
the border regardless of consequences.
Some fear is expressed by cooler heads to-
day that this premature and ill advised
move may be entirely useless; that the
government may deprive them of their ad-
vantage and drive the sssettlers out to await
the formal opening of the country to give
all prospective settlers an equal chance at
the public land.
This view of the case is entertained by
only a small minority of people and the
great majority are already settling down on
their claims as if assured of their perma-
ment residence there. They believe now the
jnVasion has been accomplished that Pres
7dent Harrison will allow them to remain
and permit others to take up lands when
ever they arrive. Hopeful in this belief
they have already begun to improve theil
ls~nds. A majority of bona tide settlers
carried on their wagons yesterday enough
lumber to construct a small dwelling, and
today white tents and wagon covers that
dot the prairies in all directions are being
replaced with the less picturesque but more
substantial board shanty.
Especially is this the case in the centers
of settlement. At Ponca. only yester-
day, small station of 1C0 people, on the
Santa Fe railroad, just over the line from
Guthrie, Oklahoma, city of 3OOO lnhabl-
tants has sprung up over night Here are
hastily improvised hotels, where the rates
are ali out of proportion to the meagre ac'
Commodntions. Grocery and supply stores
have already been constructed and are to-
day doing a thriving business. TO those
there are constantly being added the set
tiers shanty and the settlement already has
the appearance of full tedged frontier
city,
The gambling fraternity are here in full
force Three card monte men, wheels OF
fortune, are all being manipulated in the
open street with the usual degree of sue
cess. Several disturbances have occurred
over these gambling devices and many
fights have taken place, but nothing seri.
Gus resulted. Another of these mushroom
towns of eXot growth appeared at Willow
Springs Just below Arkansas City this
morning though not so large as Ponca
There are fully 1000 people living there and
the same busting scenes OF excitement are
being enacted.
Nvceyille almost came into existence
within the past twenty four hours. That
city contains about 900 people who went
under the leadership Of Mayor Nyce from
Caldwell yesterday.
AT Guthrie last night reporter boarded
the train in which the representatives ol
lNnN Ia nInNy
returning from the Fort Worth cattlemen's
convention. w. A. Hewins, president OF
the company was among the number.
The first intimation they had OF the lnva-
sion of their leased lands was gained at
Guthrie, where they were told of the move,
ment. They could not believe 1t, but
few minutes later camp fires
surrounded by the invaders themselves
were seen glowing in the darkness and con-
firmed the report. The cattlemen were
greatly disturbed at the invasion of theil
lands and meeting was called in the Pull.
man smoking room. Mr.. Hewlns presided
and appointed committee 10 noIlly tne
secretary of the interior of the facts in the
case and ask for troops to restore to then
the possession of their lands.
But" remarked President Hewins, ~ IL
afraid its all up with us. The boomers have
got the strip. Goodbye, Indian Territory.
An expression of the government IN
tention in the matter is awaited most anx
iously. ,-,
An unusual scene accompanied the rust
Yesterday by the presence among th'
boomers of two women armed in cowboy
style with knapsacks on their backs, Win
chesters over their shoulders and brace o
revolvers in their belts. Trey were mounteC
on Mexican PONIES. They were May Cieve
land and Hattie Waggoner, from Guthrie
and secured adjoining claims near Ponca
The cattemen are completely routed
their fences cut. grass burned cattlt ptan
peded and their range completely de
stroyed, for the lear Iuture at least. INel
will be compelled to get their cattle to
gether as soon as possible and hunt othe
pastures. c,..,
drens school, telegraphed this evenini
for troops to expel boomers from tn
Indian school lands, as many not known!
its boundaries had located thereon. Prai
rie fires could be seen all over the strip las