Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-26
THE Berth OF A TOWN
Now Is the Most Interesting Feat.
ure of the Oklahoma Rush.
A DIFFICULT SITE TO LAY OUT.
Crowded-0ut Boomers Expect to Overflow
Into the Outlet.
IMMENSE DAMAGE BY PRAIRIE FIRES

CHANDLER, o. T., Sept. 25.-Governo,
Steele arrived here yesterday afternoon.
AS soon as his presence became known
large crowds gathered around him to in.
quire when the town site would be opened
He addressed the people in brief speech.
He said the surveyors were fastening thei,
work as rapidly as possible, but he could
not say when it would be completed. 1t is
expected the opening will take place to-
morrow at noon. The people are scattered
about so that it is impossible to make g
very close estimate as to their number.
Enthusiastic men placed the number at
5000, but not including the military, 1,50C
seems to be fair estimate.
One tract has been reserved for public
park, possibly because it is SO cut up with
cliffs and gullies that it has been impossible
to make a survey of it. The site occupies
the edge of cliff 1t is impossible to go 20
yards without the use of ladder.
DRIVING OFF INTRUDERs
Governor Steele intends, just before Civ
ing the signal for the occupation of the town
site, to have the military deployed facing
both north and south, and drive all the
people from the town site. There will be
soldiers and deputy marshals enough to
place the men at intervals Of about %
yards
The water supply is still source of con-
siderable annoyance, There seems to be
plenty of water just below the surface, and
wells are now being dug. Considerable
lumber is arriving, and as soon as people
who intend to transact business get loca-
tion they will begin to put up buildings.
The reported killing of the man Wood, a
former resident of Guthrie, has been con-
frmed. Another man was killed south of
this place while engaged in the race Mon
day, by his horse making Il plunge over a
deep gully. Horse and rider were both
killed. An amusing feature of the prepa-
rations for the rush is the practicing for the
race. Expeetant claimants strip them
selves of all superfuous clothing, and with
watch in hand note the time it takes to
make the race.
OVERLOOKING ON THE STRIP.
Adispatch from Arkansas City, Kan,
says: A great many wagons are trailing
back over the Cherokee strip with people
who failed to get claims in the Indian
lands. Almost all of them will drift about,
living under canvass waiting for the strip
to open. They seem to feel as if every one
on the strip is their enemy, and are said to
be firing the grass in hundreds of places.
They do not know when they are on the
strip or when they are on the Indian reser-
vations, and the reservations along the
Santa Fe have suffered greatly.
About Ponca yesterday the grass was
burning on every side, and it was only after
hard fight that the houses little way
from the station were saved. West Of the
whole line of the horizon was a wall Of
smoke looking like a great chain of mount
aims covered with snow to the base. The
grass is getting very dry and burns readily,
and the fires are sure to cover the larger
part of the strip and render it useless for
winter grazing.