St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-16
WILD RUoH FOR HOMES.
Some Squatters Inclined to Stay
Until Expelled by Troops.

Some Squatters Inclined to Stay
Until Expelled by Troops.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, March 15.-
Within the first forty-eight hours of the
invasion at least 1900 persons have
invaded the Cherokee strip from diff
ferent points along the border. They
did not move forward like troops on
dress parade, but with the impetu-
Gus charge of victorious army. In
the wild rush for choice claims the head
of the family was Oh the skirmiSh line,
astride of the fleetest animal he could
find. In the rear the family moved
along with deliberation, conveying to
the new home all kinds of camp equip
page and settlers supplies. Nearly
every quarter section of land for eigh-
teen miles south of this city is at
present staked off, and many of
them are occupied by squatters. The
report that company of cavalry. under
command of Capt. Cavanaugh. would
arrive here this afternoon, caused some
uneasiness. but as the hours rolled by
without the troops pGtting in an appear
ance, confidence was restored, and a
feeling of security prevailed. This,
however, was short-lived, for at O'Clock
the news that the president had issued
a proclamation
ORDERING ALL SETTLERS OFF
the strip was received. In few min
utes large numbers Of men who had
staked claims and returned here for
provisions gathered together on street
corners and discussed the situation as
dispasSiOnately as possible. Some coun-
seled prompt compliance with the
presidents order, but others insisted
upon wild plan to hold their claims
until expelled by the troops, and
then, as soon as the blue
coats were out of sight, to return
and begin farming operations. The
advocates of the latter plan are evil
IDENTIFY in the majority. the old soldier
element seem to be the most deter
mined to retain their grasp upon their
claims. They say the government owes
it to them for their services rendered,
and in this view they have many back
ers and sympathizeIs. They say that
cattlemen are there without any au-
thority of law, and they believe that
poor h0me-seekerS should he granted
equal privileges with the rich and pow
erful. Should the soldiers attempt to
remove them there will be no organized
resistance. but it is believed that it will
take an army Of 5000 men to keep them
from settling back on the strip. One
perpleXing trouble the soldier will labor
under will be to distinguish between
homeSeekers on the strip and home
seekers in Oklahoma. Movers have
the right to pass through the strip Oh
the way to Oklahoma. Ask any man on
the strip where he is going and
his answer invariably is "Oklahoma,"
though it is known that 80 per cent are
hunting claims in the strip. The cattle
men here did not receive the news of
the presidents proclamation ordering
the invading settlers off the strip, with
much interest. To them it was like
locking the door after the horse was
stolen. The settlers seemed to think
that the easiest way to obtain posses
sion of the strip was to
DRIVE THE CATTLENiEN Off
and the easiest way to do that was to
fire the prairies, and fire the prairies
they did. From Ponca, Willow Springs,
Melville and other settlements in the
outlet comes the new OF burning prai-
ries. 1t seems to have been generally
agreed upon that the first thing for the
settlers to do was to start prairie fire,
and much of the strip has been burned
over. These prairie fires served
double purpose. They drove
most of the cattle before them
and also destroyed the fodder, which
those remaining might have fed upon.
Therefore the cattle men are naturally
depressed over the gloomy prospects.
Said President HewinS, of the Cherokee
Strip Cattle company, this morning:
"What the cattle men can do Ill their
present misfortune cannot even be con-
jectured. Our fences have been cut.
our cattle scattered to the four corners
of the strip. and every blade of
grass on the range destroyed
by prairie fires. There are now,
or, rather, there were yesterday
morning before the invasion about 80.
600 head of cattle on the strip. do not
believe that the most energetic action
on the part of the cattlemen and thd
government can save them from ire
parable loss. The damage is already
done. The cattle cannot be marketed.
They are not in marketable condition.
If left in the strip they will starve to
death, for there is nothing for them to
eat there, and we cannot ship provender
to them-it would be losing invest
meDt. So there we are-S0, 900 head Of
cattle good for nothing but hides, clue