Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-09-21
SETTLED ON THE STRIP.
A Multitude Of Home-seekors Engage in
the Great Raco for = Lot
or Farm,

A Multitude Of Home-S0okefs Engage In
the Great Race for . Lot
or . Farm.
The most remarkable race ever witnessed
took place ON the borders Of the Cherokee
Strip at noon on the 18th. About 100, 900
people shot out - balls from . Calling gun
and raced for dear life for some point In the
territory which to them seemed most desir-
able. Confusion reigned everywhere. 30
closely were contestants packed together
that the start was hazardous one. Horse
men were unseated, wagons overthrown and
pedestrians prostrated In the mad rush to be
of. Tho cries Of angered men mingled with
the neighing Of panic-stricken horses. The
shouts of the racers, tho clatter of hoofs, tho
rattling of wagons and the shrieking OF loco
motives combined In Q roar similar to that ac-
compauying the progress Of tornado.
At the sound Of the signal gun everybody
started. Those mounted on fast horses shot
ahead and soon disappeared In cloud Of
dust. Thousands Of prairie schooners fol-
lowed and many men and women on foot
commenced the race for homes for themselves
and their dependent ones.
At one point the cowboys on their sturdy
ponies took the lead In the race. They had
gone but short distance when they spread
out over the prairie and, dismounting, set nre
TO the thick prairie grass, hoping thus TO turn
aside those who were following. The fires
spread rapidly at first, but the wind was blow
ing from the north and, driving the flames
south, they we're soon stopped by deep gull
ly which parallels the Cherokee line three
miles south. Horses could not be urged through
the flames and many were turned back. No
damage was done by the flames so far a.
known further than destroying the grass and
impeding the racers.
Along the railroad tracks the boomer trains,
loaded TO the guards with townsiters are
creeping along at . snaips pace, IL seems to
the anxious passengers, while feet animals
outstrlp the mighty Iron horse, handicapped
BY being forbidden TO exceed twelve miles an
hour. The horsemen shout derisfvely ~ they
pass the trains, and some Of the more hot
headed passengers pile OF the cars forthwith,
scamper distance into the prairie and squat
upon the first vacant patch Of 16O acres which
comes in their way.
As train pulls into . townsite or county
seat It disgorges its load and the townsiters
swarm over the land like an army Of ants.
The plot of ground which fifteen minutes be-
fore was nothing but a surveyed patch Of
prairie with not an inhabitant, becomes q
populous community. Innumerable disputes,
many alterations and some fights take place.
There are no officers of the law to interfere
and the lot-seekers are too busy with
their own affairs to mix in other peo-
plc's business, so the fighters fight 1t out until
one 10 iucapacitated, while his victor captures
the prize. Immediately . lot is claimed,
stakes arc driven, in some cases tents are
erected and in few instances town meetings
are held, officers are elected, and before the
thing seems possible . municipality has
sprung into existence.
In tho meantime out on the prairie the
farmers continue their race for homes and
pre-emptions. The heads of families and
their sons Of legal age, make the race on
horses or on foot, yet horses are not nuuer-
ous enough 10 90 around, while the "weusa