New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-23
A MAD RUSH TO GET HOMES
OPENING OF THE NEW LANDS IN OKLA
HOMA

ACROSS THE BORDER AHEAD OF TINE
TWO NEGROES KILLED AND
WOMAN woUNDED-soME RACE
TROUBLE FEARED
tBr TELEGRAPH TkiBuNE.I
Guthrie, o. T., Sept. 22.-When Oklahoma was
ipened to settlement two and half years ago
was thought that never again would such scenes
be enacted but the occurrences Of the past twenty
four hours have discounted the wild scramble
which was noted at that time. Where last night
all was quiet and dark, tonight is alive with
struggling throngs Of humanity. Camp-fres dot
she lands In every direction as far the eye can
reach. Cities have sprung up as if by magic, ana
now fully 10000 people of the white and black
races occdpy the lands which heretofore have
been the sole possession of the red men. 1t is a
noteworthy fact that all the watches along the
whole border line were two hours faster than the
central time. At 10 o'clock the word went down
the line that it was noon, and no one was willing
10 take the time 10 make a correction
There were some features in the opening OF
Oklahoma, twenty nine months ago. which were
not noticed in this rush, and there were many
features to-day which were not seen then Al
that time on April %, 1889. the people VINO
went to the new lands were compelled to cross
the Cherokee Strip before they could reach the
coveted land. and the entry was made race
across that twenty-mile tract and ended in
scramble for the best portions of the territory
Now the rush has been made at close range, and
while there have not been 50 many people here as
there were then, the scarcity Of land compensates
for the difference
careful man estimates the number of actual
settlers who went into the Indian lands to-day
10 be close 10 10000 OF these it is estimated that
10000 will settle in the new cities and towns
which will spring up. The other 10000 are men
and women who want farms. The total number
OF acres which have been thrown open TO settle
ment is 900 This divided into tracts OF
100 acres each, will give farms to 5000 people,
and the result is that not less than 5000 others
will be disappointed. When in connection with
this is taken the fact that Of the 100000 acres
ready for settlement at least One-eighth is unfit
for cultivation it can readily be seen that there
will be much suffering in the new lands.
Long before daylight this morning the whole
army of settlers was astir BY S o'clock the line
presented a most peculiar appearance. Every veh-
Gle WAS ready, and all along the whole border
stood the line. becoming each minute more and
more excited The slightest excitement was sufh-
cient to send dozen or more men across the
line in hot haste, only to be driven back again
amid the ieers Of those who did not start. The
experience gained at the former opening has borne
fruit and to-day there came into this part OF
the territory men who had determined TO make
q fortune or die in the attempt. Men were not
alone in this instance, for not less than 800 women
married and single, have joined in the race and
have taken their chances with the stronger sex
in a scramble for a home. Over l 90 young women
canned fast night on the border. and wben the
start was made went in with the first and staked
off their claims as we'll the men, who, with a
courtesy scarcely to be expected under the cir
cumstances, made way for them
At LangstOn negroes had been gathered by the
negro colonization society there TO the number of
800, and they were TO move TO the Cimarron
Valley, most fertile region, and locate in
bunch Five hundred whites, mostly cowboys,
also had their eyes on that section, and each
party had made all sorts Of threats of taking the
land by force force of deputy maTshalS and
deputy sherfs under the sheriff of this county
had been dispatched there TO preserve order.
Samuel Ayres, a cOlOred man, arrived from
Iangston at 6 o'clock. lie says Some shooting
occurred about a quarter of a mile from where l
was, but | cannot tell whether any one was hurt
or not. am here to place a fling on the first
claim the line adjoining the city,
McCabe, the founder Of the negro town of
IangstOn. arrived half an hour later lie says:
"Our people agreed this morning to form a line
and at the discharge of shots rush for the lands.
This was done at 12 o'clock. | located my claim
and Immediately left for Guthrie. There was
much firing going on when ! left, but | do not
know whether any one was killed or injured. The
bullets from one mans gun whstled so close to my
ears that it was uncomfortable"
Mr.. Robertson, photographer who came in
at o'clock, says: Two negroes were killed
at LangstOn, about a mile south Of the town. One
of them was dead when | first reached there and
the other died few minutes before 1 left"
II is reported by Lee Whistler, the Treasurer
of the Sac and Fox Nation. whe came here in
company with Joe" Springer, another Indian,
that they were passed on the road sixteen miles
east by the Dalton boys. The leader of the
gang was seen here at 4 O'Clock this afternoon.
Guards have been placed around all the banks, as
it is feared the desperadoes are planning
attack Mayor Spcngel has supplied tie places
Of the policemen that have deserted the town for
a claim lie says he is creiibly informed that
the Daltons are planning raid on the town.
lying for success upon the scarcity Of officers and
the semi-deserted condition of the city
In the case Of the Oklahoma opening there was
much indignation over the TACT that few hun
dred people evaded the soldiers and had their
claims stalled OF when the main army of set
tiers arrived, but those few were nothing to the
hundreds who delied the officials and were on their
claims here several days before the time signi-
he'd in the Presidents proclamation All along
the Canadian River clear across the Pottowato-
ME lands, there was not claim vacant when the
watches OF those not interested marked the noon
hOur IL was in this part of the country where
trouble was looked for, but up 10 this hour there
has been no report Of bloOdshed. At Tohee,
the capital Of the iowa Reserve, the greatest
crowd assembled, for it was the best point from
ia Ep In hod
gagged by the newspapers 10 accompany their cor
respondents, and they stood all along the line at
the most available points ready to fly to the near
est telegraph station with the news
as soon as the start was made
Three minutes before 10 o'clock this morning
the patience OF the people was well-nigh eX-
hausted and every one was on the nlert for the