The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-06
TOLD OF OKLAHOMA HARRY.
Some of the Adventures of a Leader
of the Old inns Boom ers.
Elrntn The Nam York SIM

of the Old Inns Boom ers.
From the Nelo York sun.
WICHITA, KAN, April 23-Harry Hill
known as Oklahoma Harry, who, as noted
in the Sun of April 81, was shot TO death by
Fred Grimes during arunning fight be-
tween a party of Kansas aud one of Tex
ans on the day tho new territory was adced
to Oklahoma, was one of the most noted of
the original Oklahoma boomers. More
over, he was man of wealth aud infuen-
tial throughout all this southwestern coun-
try. He came to Kansas about the close of
the war between the states. and began life
here as trappe- aud buffalo hunter, for
in those days the pralries were alive with
buffaloes. Next, having acquired a thor
ough knowledge of the country in his hunt
ing trips, he was employed as a scout by
the government troops, and was 80 em-
ployed when the Cheyennes went on the
warpath and laid waste southern Kansas
1t was at that time that he first showed his
metal as frontiersmaE.
A troop of cavalry was in search of the
Cheyennes in the Cherokee outlet, and had
camped on branch of the Cimarron river
one night, when very unexpectedly band
of the Indians, outnumbering the troops
ten to one, SURF ounded the camp. They had
expected to wipe out the whites on the first
dash, but the arrangements for the night
had been so we'll made that they were re-
pulsed, 80 they settled down to a regular
siege, and for two days kept the camp
carefully surrounded. Their numbers were
so large, and the chief handled them 50
well that IL became apparent by that time
that the whites must obtain reiuforcements
or be killed to a man. In this strait Harry
Hill offered to try to.work his way through
the Indian camp and go for help. His
offer was accepted and the next morning
about three hours before daylight, he slip
ped away. It was particular desperate
adveeture, for the reason that he had TO go
on foot, and the country was without bush
or shrub to afford shelter. Nevertheless he
got past the Indians, captured pony, and
eventually road away:on it, and brought
the needed help on time.
1t was not an unequaled adventure, for a
number of other scouts have done the same
thing during the Indian wars on the plains,
but it was none the less the deed of brave
mao.
Along in 1878, when the people connected
with the Atlantic and Pacific and Santa Fe
railroads first began to think OF opening the
Oklahoma country for settlement. Harry
Hill was selected for leader, along with
Capt. David H. Payne. Payne was the
orator of the NJ ovement, but Hill was the
real leader-the organizer of the first move
ments The 6rst invasion by an organized
band or boomers lnU0 OklanOmd was ulauS
on the night of April Is, 1880, and Harry
Hill was the guide. There were twenty,six
men in the party, all in prairie schooners.
Hill, with another Wichita man, led the
way some two miles in advance of the rest
in order to keep a good lookout for
cowboys and soldiers They had made no
secret of their intentions, and several
patrols were in the Cherokee outlet coun-
try waiting TO intercept them. The rest Of
the party we're unfamiliar with the coun-
try, and it was not always or even usually
possible for those behind to see the wagon
in the lead so TO mark the trail Hill carried
some dozens of buffalo skulls IN his wagon,
and every time he crossed a ridge-a hogs
neck. in the vernacular-he threw out a
skull on the crest The followers, when at
fault. looked for the skulls, and the old trail
is known to this day as the Hogs Back
route to Oklahoma.
Hill landed his party safely In Oklahoma,
where they proceeded to lay out city,
while Hill returned TO Arkansas City for
sunplies Then came the troops and es-
corted Payne by roundabout route back
to Kansas. and when Hill, with his wagon
load of bacon, beans an6 flour reached the
new city. be found only a desolate waste.
The soldiers had Destroyer the improve
ments. so he drove over to Fort Reno, sold
the supplies at a profit to the traders there,
and then drove back to Kansas.
In 1884 the efforts of the boomers brought
to9ether several hundred men on the oor-
der and all were determined TO 20 over