, 1890-03-16
Lively Times on the Strip.

CTTH, Nam, March Is
The boomers stampeded into Cherokee
much the same as the cattle stampeded
out OF it. They misconstrue the passage
of the Oklahoma bill into an act provId-
ing for the immediate opening of the
country to settlement, and each colony of
boomers was alarmed lest it should not be
the first on the ground to select the
choicest town sites and claims. The fear
is expressed by cooler heads that this pre-.
mature and i'll advised movement NAV be
entirely useless, and that the government
may deprive them of their advantage and
drive the settlers out to await the formal
opening of the country and give all prog
pectlve settlers al equal chance. This
view IS entertained by only a small minor
lty, the great majority already settling
down on claims as if assured of permanent
residence. They believe that now that the
invasion has been accomplished the presi-
dent will allow them to remain and per-
NIT others to take up land whenever they
arrive.
The majority of bona fde settlers car
rled on their wagons yesterday enough
lumber to construct small dwellings and
today the white tents and wagon covers
that dot the prairies in all directions are
being replaced with the less picturesque
but more substantial board shanty, espe.
clallY Is hat the case in the centre settle
ment at Ponca, only yesterday a small
station of 100 people.
The gambling frateritY is here in full
force. Monte man, wheel of fortune.
walnut Ghalla With Tho II,,,o III
being manipulated in the open street with
the usual degree of success. Several dis
%turbances have occurred over these gam.
bling devices and many fights have taken
place, but nothing serious has resulted.
At Guthrie last night a reporter
boarded the train 10 which the repre-
sentatives of the Cherokee Strip Cattle
company were returning from the Fort
Worth Cattlemen 8 convention. Hewins,
president of the company, was among the
number. The first intimation they had
OF the invasion of their leased lands was
gained at Guthrie. They could not be-
lleve 1t, but a few minutes later camp
tires s~urroundedby the invaders them
selves we're seen glowing in the darkness
and confirmed the report. The cattlemen
were greatly disturbed at the invasion and
have appointed a committee to notify the
secretary of the interior of the act and
ask for troops to restore them possession
of their lands.
No military force is on the ground
now, and as far as known zone has been
ordered to proceed thither. Capt. Cave
naugh, commander of the forces at Guth-
RE, and Capt. Burbank, at Oklahoma
City. have both officially notified Gen.
Merritt, commanding the department of
the Missouri. of the invasion, and the
cattle company has requested protection
from Washington. No replies, so far as
known, have been received to these dis
patches, and surely no orders have been
given to move troops into the invaded
country. The cattlemen were completely
routed, their fences cut, grass burned,
cattle stampeded and the range complete
ly destroyed for the near future at least.
They will be compelled to get their cattle
together as well as possible and hunt
other pastures.
Prof. Coppak OF the Indian ehildren's
school, telegraphed last evening for troops
to expel the boomers from the Indian
school lands, as many not knowing its
boundary have located therein.