Telegram-herald., 1890-03-16
THEY CAN'T STAY.
Prem@tars Invasion OF ths Chero-
kee strip.
THOUSANDS CT BOOMERS EsTER
aushrooze TosHs Sprisg Up Ia Nieht
The PFssidvnt Is.aes Proslsuaa-
toz OEaer ng settlers - ~
safe he >Ecsloa-
oEDEAED oUT


passage by Congress Of the Oklahoma
Territorial bill had scarcely been noised
abroad ere the boomers began leaving
for the Cherokee strip. Tue invasion
commenced al midnight All day the
long lines OF cznvas-cOVered prairie
schooners with their many crews. drew
their lengths into the coveted land
IL is estimated that from different
points OF entrances fully 20.00j people
have passed the border and bait that
number staked their claims.
For month, IA fact ever since Presi.
dent Harrison issued the proclamation
ordering the Cherokee Strip Livestock
Association 70 vacate the outlet"
boomers have been gathering on the
frontier. anxious 10 be among the first
on the ground, that they might select
the choicest land for their respective
home aud claims when permitted by the
Government The boomers we're all
sorts Of people, and they came in all
sorts OF Ways.
At all the principal points of assembly
boomer" associations OF various kinds
with various motives, have been
formed A majority OF these associa-
tions were formed for the purpose of
taking united action upon the time of
moving into the strip, il being the gen
eral belief among the leaders that Pres
ident Harrison would not insist upon
their removal when once they had es-
tablished themselves upon their claims
Thursday afternoon all WAS quiet in
this city among the boomers. SIX hours
later scene OF excitement was wit
messed that equaled IN intensity that
which accompanied 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
Territory as we'll as Oklahoma. The
news was spread quickly, and by IL
o'clock the boomers were running to
and fro. making hurried preparations TO
move at once over the border. The gen
eral merchandise stores were besieged
by people anxious TO lay in a
stock OF provisions and the trade.men
were obliged to take down their window
shutters and supply the demands. The
prairie schoonerS were hastily made
ready for the voyage, the wagons loaded
and horses hitched in their traces. The
sun was just rising when the irst crack
OF the teaInster's blacksnake was heard
announcing departures for the outlet,
and soon long line Of wagons. their in
mates shouting joyously and waving
hats. coats and whatever came 10 their
hand. was winding its way over the
rolling prairie.
The invasion came with rush. No
one expected It. not even the settlers
themselves. The tenants OF the strip
the Cherokee Live Stock Association
and the agents-were taken entire
ly unawares. Chief Mayes, of the
Cherokee nation, had placed at
the disposal of the former a con-
tingent of Indian police to drive out oc-
casional settlers, but this was entirely
too Insignificant force to oppose the
invaders. The Government, so far as is
known, had taken no precautions to ar
rest possible movement Of the settlers,
and it was not until early Friday morn
ing that the military appeared upon
the scene. Captain Burbank, in COM
mand Of a small force of United States
regulars at Oklahoma City. marched
his force into the strip late Thurs
day night to stay the progress of the
boomers. So far as known this force
had no effect in retarding the move
ment, although no5hing concerning the
movements OF the military has been
heard since last night On entering the
strip the cattle grazing there looked
upon the unusual scene with alarm,
turned and fed, a stampede which
the cowboys were unable to either
check or control ensuing. The cattle
fed Ave or six miles. when they were
met by the boomers from Oklahoma
Between these two fires they were
driven east and west Arriving on the
strip, the settlers disembarked from
their ''schooners" and stsked their
claims
At Ponca, only small station Of 100
people on the Santa Fe. just over
the line from Guthrie, Oklahoma,
city of 5000 inhabitants has
sprung up over night Here hastily
improvised hotels, where the rates are
out Of all proportions 70 the mesger
accommodations. grocery and supply
stores have already been constructed.
and are doing thriving business. To
these there are constantly being added
the settlers shantT, and the settlement
already has the appearance Of a full
fedged frontier city. The gambling
fraternity is hero in fun force.
Another Of these mushroom towns q
exotic growth appeared at Willow
Springs. Just below Kansas City. Though
not so large IS Ponca there ara fully
1000 people living there. and the sane
bustling scenes Of excitement are being
enacted
THEY FEoFosE TO STAY.
ToFEEA. Kan. March I5-It is esti-
mated that 10000 people have entered
the Cherokee strip and that all the
troops that osa be concentrated there
can rot drive them est as tbey
have gone armed With Winohesters
sbot-Euns an3 revolvsrs and propose 70
stay
Companies srs being formed in south-
e-n Kansas hT some 70 the leading uen
nho have srple capital. - invade re
STRIP a. oree ard settis 2 community 3 .
theuseI ves. fouu3 torn s-5 huil6 it
"a Il IL not ? rfav.s he~s kv 30 STATE
oficisis thst any stseupf zil. b. ras3s
70 eiect he settlers ~ith troops
rHE oET1rr EoT VIZ oFEvrn.