The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-27
THETECUMSEH RACE,

ne lEOOMoGn hHNCs
TECUMsEH, O. T., Sept. 25.-[Speciall-
The race for the Tecumseh townsite of
County B was an exciting one. Although
Governor Steele had exerted himself to the
utmost on Tuesday before the race to in
form all that the tOwnsite would not be
opened, the majority of those on the con-
fines of the reservation had failed to re-
ceiYe the message, and when the long
looked for hour of u o'clock came they
started on their racers for the TOWNSHIP.
Words fail to express their infigEa ion
when they found upon arriving at the
townsite that they were forbidden TO enter
until Wednesday, Sept. Esd Indignation
meetings were held and the most wRr-like
sentiments wers expressed. Many advO-
catedi going on anyway, the governor and
the military TO the contrary notwithstand-
ing. Better counsels prevailed. and after
washing down the remains OF the lunches
brought from home with Canadian river
water, they wrapped themselves in their
blankets, and despite the mosquitoes
wooed the drowsy god.
At dawn the heterogeneous crowd arose
and made their coffee, fried their bacon
and put on their war psint There were a
lot of heap big chiefs" Soon the cry was
raised, "A meeting on the squared and
the crowd rushed TO a wagon, where Grist
Mill Jones, as chairman, called the people
to order. A committee of five, of which
{. l.. Jones was chairman, was appointed
TO wait on Governor Steele, who was
quartered at the camp on the reservation,
and request an order that the run for the
lots should be made on foot.
At Ten o'clock government wagon con-
tanning Governor Steele, his wife and
daughter, and Captain Stiles and his wife,
drove from the townsite to the crowd
Governor Steele explained first to the
crowd why the townsite had not been
opened. He then told them where the
park, school and courthouse reservations
were, and also the location of the principal
streets. Then he, being Intercepted as to
how the run should be made whether GO
Rs-you-please or on foot, decided that the
law gave him no discretion in the matter
Personally he urged upon the crowd that
they should 90 IN on foot The expression
of the crowd was taken In the matter and
vast majority was in favor of foot race
hut it was plainly TO be seen that a num-
Der proposed to make the race on horse
back The governor did all he could in
the matter, and had he ordered the run to
be made on loot and the military to shoot
offenders he would not have been sustained
in the cOnrts or out This was case where
a man had to decide against his preferences.
The governor announced that the town
site would be thrown open at - O'Clock
Long before that time the people were
massed on the north and south lines pre-
paratory TO making the race. On the north
line the horses and teams were upon the
right and left wings of the line. The time
drew nigh for the race. but the fates had
decreed that the governor should not give
the signal, which was TO have been the
raising OF flag. IL seems that some of
nm ha 81
that the race was TO be made on foot had
hltched their horses to trees, but being
urged by their friends To 90 aud get them
did SO, and upon their return were cheered
The crowd on The north side, hearing the
cheering. thought that the signal had been
given, and made a grand rush They had
covered about one hundred yards before
those on the south side saw it. These at
once started Lieutenant Penn, who was
standing by the governor, said: Cover
nor, give the signal; YOU cannot stop
them, and tearing his red handkerchief
from his neck, handed it TO the governor,
who waved il.
The south line of COO mounted on the.
finest horsetleSh that this country pro-
duces, made a magnificent spectacle as they
swept forward in perfect alignment The
officers could not refrain from cheering
hey said II was finer than any cavalry
charge they had ever seen. Following the
horsemen came the crowd in wagons and
on foo some holding on to the saddles
of others and making steps of TWENTY-FIVE
leet; others holding on TO wagons and go
sag over the ground with phenomenal
speed. The north line came in
ia the form OF a wedge. the pedestrians
being In the center. In a twinkling the
crowd scattered and every lot had AN oc-
cupant and some two or three. 1t required
Just three minutes by the watch TO settle
Tecumseh.
Tecumseh is situated on sloping ground.
in the west side Is a grove, reserved for a
park The nearest water Is five miles
away. The soil l. a beautiful sand war
lanted 10 raise good crop Of fleas and. in
the summer. TO roast eggs The nearest !
good land Is owned by Indians, who are
proverbial for their enterprise and indus !
Try. There Is one recommendation that
the town has: II Is quiet. darned Quiet-z
good place TO read Far from the Madden
ING Crowd and books of that character
Inc nearest railroad is forty miles. but
then one likes a little drive sometimes.
The lot owners are jubilant, but they
want 10 sell There have been some heavy |
sales since the opening, principally of |
people An eligible lot IN Tecumseh is |
really worth live Cents-for the flea bust |
lnesSS only. The town saw more people |
" eanesday night than it Will PROBABLY
ever see again.
People, as a rule, are disguised. Whv
the beautiful Burnett was not selected is !
beyond the comprehension of all At that
place there Is an abundance of water and |
shade. Surrounding il Is some of the
most fertile land 10 the territory and al /
ready hundreds have taken lots aud that
place will be the town OF the pottswoso- |
nile country. The countyseat will STAY ar |
Iecumseh no longer than the first vot.
taken by the citizens OF that county. Rur-
nett has quite a number OF houses cam
pleted and is thronged with people. Peo-
pie believe IN Uncle Billy.
II Won decide IN hnv Hoods Sars.~o-sr1