Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-21
ON THE MARCH.
The Troops Find it no Easy Task to
Get the Boomers Oh the Strip.
They Hide in the Creek Bottoms and Bob Up
Again After the Boys in Blue Have
Passed-SOms Resistance.
Securing the Strip.
~" "a AZ - sAAS -
Special TO the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette
HENNEssY, ]. T., March 20.-(By
courier from the head of Skeleton
creek, Cherokee Strip. Troop K
OF the Fifth cavalry. under the com
mand of Capt. y. Z WoodSon, arrived
here at u O'Clock to-day, after verv
eventful ride through the Strip. The
early morning ride was quiet enough,
but as soon as the troops got well into the
Strip the signs Of invaders were to be
seen on every hand, and the captain or
dered sharp lookout TO be
kept on every side for boomers
camps or cabins. The instru ctiOns were
that every one should be treated
firmly but gently. No harsh measures
were to be used, but all must be made TO
understand that they must get out OF the
Strip at once. Every rise n the rolling
prairie showed evidences of the presence
of boomers, but not living soul was to
be seen, and the whole country had the
appearance of having been stricken with
q blight which had swept of the inhab-
itants. On every hanG was titled
ground, and in some places the burrows
had undoubtedly been turned this morn
ing, yet nowhere could be found man,
woman or child. There was something
so suspicious about this desolate appear
ance that Capt. WoOdson concluded to
see what
LITTLE SCOUTING
would develop and sent out parties to
the right and left to search along the
creeks and drains for refugees. Scarcely
had squad departed toward a water
course when a boy on a mustang was
seen to ride swiftly away waving a cloth.
Chase was given, but he evidently knew
his business and the heavy cavalry horses
were left far in the rear. Close search
ID the timber, however, revealed camp
in which were collected five families, who
had fed at the approach Of the military
in the hope that they would be passed by
They were told to take the back track
and leave the country, and were shown
that their remaining would in the end
cause them to be entirely
BARRED FROM THE TERRITORY
when It was opened. They were inclined
to argue the point until they found that
they would do themselves more harm by
remaining than by going, and they gath
cred up their belongings and left for
Kingfsher. They said that the timbers
along the creek was full of people who
were lodging the soldiers, and that the
troop would have q hard task 70 find them
all as they had scouts out in all directions
and were warned of the approach Of the
troops in time to get to cover. In addi-
ton to this, they were familiar with the
country and could go around the soldiers
and get back to their claims behind
them. Just about noon the command
came upon a man who had erected a
cabin and was blowing small patch OF
land. His appearance reminded one or
the pictures of colonial times, where the
settlers are represented with rifles ready
where they work. AS soon as he saw
the soldiers he
GRAsPED HIS GUN
and ran TO the house and barred the
door. When the troops arrived he babe
them defiance and said that he intended
to remain ''in spite of all of the soldiers
out Of HI"
Here was an emergency that needed
decisive action, and Capt. woodsou was
equal TO the occasion. He dismounted
his troops and told them to prepare for
dinner. They went into camp and lit
their fres, apparently as uncOncerned as
II there was not a boomer in sight.
In about half an hour
the door opened and the squatter came
out. He was told that he must get of
the Strip at once, and was handed q copy
of the proclamation of the president,
and also told that his remaining would
jeopardiZe his future right to the claim
He said that he had been done out OF his
land in Oklahoma by jumpers, and he
was going 20 have farm in the Strip or
someone would have his blood spilled.
He Was amenable to reason and packed