The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-10-04
MAD RUSH Of BOOMERS.
THOUSANDS SEEK HOMES IN
THE CHEROKEE STRIP.
at the Firing Of Pistol 2OO,ooo
Homcsteaders Dart Across the
line and Enter the Wild Race
-.r the Choice Locations-Many

CT the Choice Locations-Many
suaIties-Mushroom Cities.
A dispatch from Guthrie, Oklahoma, says ::
a rising sun looked down upon six million
acres Of virgin soil devoid OF single inhab-
Xant. In setting it cast its rays over hun
dred thousand established homes. Between
the rising and setting q half score cities had
been born, Texans, Kanssns, Missourians,
Arkansans, white men, black men and red
men. all played part.
Two hundred thousand people camped
upon the border Of the land at night, and
carly morning trains brought many thou
Bands more A large force OF clerks
had registered everybody in line, and In the
morning newcomers had no trouble In get
ting certificates.
The greatest number Of certificates issued
1t any one place on the southern line OF the
strip was SO, 900 at Orlando. Hennessy came
next with close to $4,000, and Saltwater with
1900.
Tba largest crowd was at Orlando, and
sour-tifths of the &c, 900 people massed there
were bound for Perry, the county seat Of
Perry county, which Is the largest city In all
Oklahoma.
The scene on the border during the night
before the rush was one long to Be remem-
bored. The housetops Of prairie schooners,
fires OF camping boomers and tethered
horses gave the scene military aspect.
There was considerable confusion early In
the evening, caused by many new arrivals,
who were seeking advantageous places for
the race.
. Those who have been waiting on the
border for days looked upon newcomers as
fnteriopers, and would not give way one
inch OF their advantage. There was much
Alfeelin2 rs a consequence, and in some in
stances serious trouble was narrowly avoid
ed
Just at the same moment, at high noon,
the thousands in railway trains on foot, In
wagons, on ponies, and on race horses, went
over the line In one mad, wild rush, scatter
Ing over the country like cloud OF grass
Aoppers. They ran as though for life, over
xciles and ridges, and the wonder was that
Hundreds were not killed. The soldiers at no
plaoe had any trouble with the crowd. 1t
vas an American gathering and acted as
aheck upon ITSELF
The signal for the start at every place was
tho firing of the guns of the soldiers and
deputy marshals.
Tho greatest struggle OF the day took place
IN the rush OF ten thousand people attempt
ing to get aboard the first train, which could
carry but few over a thousand.
Thousands OF people had stood and sat
along tho track all night. so as to be nearest
the leaving point when the trains made up,
md thousands more crowded in upon them
during the morning. When the trains ar
xaved IT Orlando from the south scores OF
Deputy United States Marshals entered the
ears and drove the people out, waving clubs
and guns.
. Men Were pushed of upon the ground.
women jos,led rudely, and the cars cleared
81 all save a few tavoriteS in the ring. The
people III the first train were told that every
body must go up to the line to get in the
trains, and hundreds walked through mile
oi oistrsnslins dust to the line, only to find the
ira n trvm which they had been elected so
By them without stopping.
, Tho train was filled with people who had
heen gwen inside information. The thou
sands OF people who had obeyed Secretary
Ssnita's order TO wait upon the line for the
srn,r were Lott standing there until the third
,raiA came along, and lost all chance Of get
ting any property.
. When the trains pulled up to the line the
4errtbls struggle began. Women had their
clothes torn of and were trsmpled under
3cot. All decency and self respect were laid
aside, ami the great crowd fought and
pulled, shouted, and struggled like 80 many
Wild animals. At last the trains were filed,
and when they pulled out many badly 'r-
iurei people were left behind.
The first train into Perry found the best
lots taken by 'soonsrs" and fast norsemen,
and by the time the second rain arrived
most Of the town site was pr -empted. Still
tho people continued coming, and by o'clock
$1,000 people were thsre.
I Beiore night business houses were doing
business, and the inhabitants Of the new town
were talking about electing city officers. The
people ON the first train secured residence
iots in the outskirts, but those upon the Sec
end and third secured nothing.
Tho race between ths trains and horSemen
Jas an exciting one, with the odds in favor
&sf the horsemen. TIE first horseman to
Reach Perry from the line was w. II. Ram
Hae tVWn lot. He says hundreds OF ''soonerS
Hereleisurely walking into the town site
1rom The west.
Ca:i Krieg, Of Guthrie, reached the Land
Of1ics first and fled his registration at 1890,
ami by o'clock 600 were in line there. At
h-O5 the first tent was put up byI. B. Lyman,
ef Guthrie, and at 1.20 the Valley Bank was
READY 10 do business the Darlington Miller
Gnmcer Company opening their yards five
AlinuIes later.
Tho old stage route from the line to Perry,
which was followed BY most of the horsemeI
aAs wagons, had several very bad crossings,
md at one gulch twenty vehicles were
wrecked. The Rev. John 81. Angler, Of Null
hall, was badly injured.
Lorenzo Holcomb of the same place was
fatally crushed by a horse falling upon him.
Ono woman was injured in falling from a
moving train. A cowboy from Texas fell
from his horse, shot through the body, but
there is no clue as to who fired the
shot. The trail is lined with broken
down wagons and buSgies and hundred
acad horses are scattered here and there
about Perry and the adjoining hills.
The water in the Government wells was
sifong with salt, yet the people dranI them
dry in forty minutes.
At saltwater the crowd numbered about
1000, most Of whom won't into the Sawnes
country and scattered. One man was killed
there and several badly injured.
At Hennessy about $4,000 people were
massed, three-fourths OF them bound for the
town site Of Enid, and the same scenes were
enacted as at Perry. One man is reported
1hct over a town-lot quarrel, and one woman
injured by throwing herself from train. r..
Ham. Of Paurs Valley, beat the train on Il
bicycle and secured a fine claim adjoining
the town site, and ten other bicyclists got
lots.
At Hunnewell the craze to register and en-
ser the Strip had affected many who never
expected to perfect title 10 u homestead
e3aim. and hundreds, discouraged by ths
crowds ahead OF them, gave oTerthe attempt
In dispair. What we're left, however, We're
enough to form an imposing army, which
began to stretch itself as If in battle array for
niles on both sides Of the registration booth
- the dawn began to broaden into day.
The line was motley assemblace o
pr,irie schooners. buckboards, buySies
spring wagons and nondescript vehicles
with few bicycles at conspicuous places.
On some OF the running gears strange aIt