The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-04-27
A MAD RACE
For Quarter Sections and Town
Sites in the Promised Land.
The Cheyenne and Arapahoe Reservations
Formally Opened to settlement-The
Signal Given at Noon and 10000
Land Seekers Make the Race
In Sea of Mud.


Signal Given at Noon and 10000
Land Seekers Make the Race
In u Sea of Mud.
Ell RENO, Okla, April 2O.-Tuesday
morning broke upon the camps of the
land hunters with a heavy fog and q
light drizzle. This turned the ground
in the vicinity of the streams into a
quagmire of mud and filled the owners
OF fast horses, who had counted upon
their animals to carry them first across
the line, with dismay. On the other
hand those who were on foot looked
upon the lowering clouds with glee, as
heavy track meant an equal chance
for all. All the camps were early astir.
On the line west Of this place most of
the boomers were up and broke camp
long before daylight. Wagons were
creased. harness overlooked, horses
rubbed down and every precaution TAX
en- to insure the best possible results
when the final struggle came. The
same was true of the camps at Hennes-
sey, Dover, Kinghsher and other spots
where the land seekers had gathered in
large numbers.
A ride along the line early in the
morning disclosed innumerable small
parties moving northward or southwark
in search Of the best road into the res
ervation, and glance into the reserva-
tion itself showed that, despite the ef-
forts of the United States deputy mar
shals and the soldiery, men had taken
time by the forelock and entered the
promised land in advance Of the time
set by the government. Here and there
a head would bob up from the bed of
an arroyo only to be quickly withdrawn
at the sight Of anyone on the outside.
Occasionally, too, a horseman could be
seen scurrying across the hills along
the water courses, but at such dis
tance that 1t was impossible to de-
termine whether the figure was that of
an Indian, deputy marshal or law
less but eager boomer moving towards
some chosen county seat.
Throughout the territory, on all sides |
of the land to be opened were innu-
merable small parties, ranging in
strength from ten to 200 persons, and |
banded together by some community Of |
interest or by agreement to protect one
anothers rights in the event of disputes |
over claims, Many Of these associations
were formed, Remembers being pledged
to assist their comrades with money or
at the muzzle of the Winchester II nee
essary. Making allowances for all these
scattered organizations and taking the
known figures Of the larger camps, 40
900 is probably about the number of
persons who entered the territory when
the cannon sounded the signal.
At noon gun in the center of the pa
rade ground belches forth cloud of
white smoke thatrolls along the ground.
This is followed by flash and few
seconds later the waiting crowd hears
dull heavy boom. 1t is followed by
another and another Musketry rattles.
A cheer goes up. The long line of
horsemen and footmen plunge forward
Red mud flies in every direction, plas-
tering man and beast. The lines string
out, the weaker falling behind. Soon all
have disappeared. The Cheyenne and
Arapahoe reservation is open.
HENSEssEY, Okla, April 90. - The
boomers were sent away in the race for
sie line promptly at noon, the signal
being the firing of volley of musketry
by adetachmento of United States troops.
There was no disorder and the entire
affair was marked with the utmost good
nature.
KINGFIsHER, Okla, April 2O.-No one
lost any time when the signal gun was
hrcd at noon. The entire crowd was off ,
before the echoes had died away and
within few minutes only the soldiers
and few railroad men were left where
thousands had camped Monday night
The Cheyenne and Arapahoe reserva-
lion, where 10000 citizens found new {
homes, is situated in Indian Territory
between the Cherokee outlet on the
1orth and the Kiowa, Comanche and
apache reservations on the south. It's 7
'astern border joins Oklahoma and its
western the Panhandle of Texas. It's
lrea would make two 0lxlahomas or five
Rhode Islands, while the states of Con-
lecticut and Rhode Island could be set
lown in 1t and there would still remain
Dom for four Districts of Columbia. IL
ontains about $500 square miles, or :
bout 100000 acres. Out of this the
esident Indians have been allotted by
he government 536, 800 acres, giving TO
ach of the $3.50 aborigines 100 acres.
here was thus left for general settle 9
lent about 3,5O),OOO acres, which. al
owing quarter section, or 100 acres 10 !
lch home seeker, would accommodate
bout $4,000 settlers outside of the town :
ties.
GUTHRIE, o. r., April 2O.-A riot oc- u
nrred in front of the Oklahoma CITY u
md office at the hour of opening yes {,
'rday and number of people were
adly injured. Register Leach an c
ounced that no lines would be recog. o
lied and the first person TO get in the
DOR would havcsthe first fling and 9th
rs in succession rs they arrived. This
wild rush and in few h
Ioments hundreds Of men ana women is
ere engaged in disgraccful scramble !,
fighting. pulling, trampling on each >,
.her-and for time Il seemed as :,
lOuQh MANY wOuld be killed Ono man VI