The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-09-21

upon the lots were canvas tents erect
ed by shopkeepers who stocked then
with their wares and were soon doins
a thriving business.
THE CRUSH AT THE DEPOT.
At an early hour this morning the
concourse of people made way to thu
Santa Fe yard where the freight
trains OF 10 cars each, stood ready tt
pull out TO the boarder to wat unit
the signal was given to go ahead. A
each door stood deputy Unltec
States marshal with carbine present
ed to demand registration certificates
When all the cars had been filled, the
first train, to which was attached
General Manager Prey's private car
with members of the press, pulled ouI
slowly and stopped within a foot o.
the Cherokee strip. Other sections
followed closely behind. The crush
to get on the trains was awful. After
the cars were full of people they
climbed to the roofs and soon covered
them. They clung to the steps. in
vaded the engine and even crawled
upon the trucks. Inside the cars the
jam was frightful, People crushed
in and the pressure at the door could
not be stopped. The efforts Of
deputy marshals did not avail much
after the first few had shown theil
certificates. The train left hundreds
of disappointed people behind who
were unable to get q foothold. AT the
edge of the strip q horde of people
waited to board the trains, but there
was no room tor them. TheSanta
Fe sold 5000 tickets for the trains
mostly for Kildare. Last night the
weather turned very chilly and thous
ands camped on the strip did not pass
very comfortable night.
OVERLAND BOOMERS.
At day break the road leading to
the state line were iammed with
wagons and hOrsemen and seeming
ly never ending procession of people.
| The biggest crowd gathered on the
100 todt strip west of the Chillocco
school reservation. Here on the strip
tor Two miles west wagons and
horses we're literally wedged
in 50 tightly that a man passing to
the front would have to climb over
the wagons. Wheels were locked and
WeuSou lu' lelS nu Ill ilObV VI Uh0 lihO
facing south and ready to
spring forward were hundreds
of hOrsemen who had camped
there many hours. Among them
were many thoroughbred horses and
COW ponies employed by town site
companies to run for them. In the
ruck were big heavy canvas. topped
boomer wagons, sulkies, buggies, ice
wagon chariots and every conceivable
vehicle, to which were hitched mules
and big fat farm animals. Hundreds
of men afoot waited to start, with
their canteens and blankets strung
upon their shoulders, among them
many negroes.
KEPT IN LINE.
Troops rode along the line, keeping
back the impatient crowd, which
edged up continually for little more
advantage. The crowd, though eager
for the start were good natured anc
joking and chatting were very gen
eral In the crowd were many
women on horseback. Some wor,
bifrucated skirts and fully half of thu
wagons contained members of the fail
sex. Lined up behind the boomers
were water and provision wagons
which followed the crowd and pro
vided the settlers with water anC
food. AS morning wore away
| it became very hot and those
who provided themselves with but
one canteen of water undoubtedly
suffered. Nearly every wagon had 8
bale of hay tied TO it. The soldier!
have burned yer the whole strip and
there is absolutely no food for horses
unless taken in. Some horsemer
loaded themselves down with mis-
cellaneous load of belongings which
retarded them in their progress. The
view of the rush from the observatory
on the Chillocco school strip was full
of exciting interest. With field glass
a view of the long lines of horses anC
men densely packed for two hundred
feet back could be seen getting ready
| THE START.
The sharp crack of the revolver wal
distinctly heard and Immediately tht
reports of q hundred carbines. A
hoarse yell went up, softened by tht
distance and the line got in motion
Horses were seen to shoot out from
the ruck and dash across the prairie
then q dense cloud of dust was OBJ
scured in the line for moment bu
the brisk wind from tht
west cleared it away for al
instant and men and wagonI
were seen scattering as the slowes
were left behind. Now and then ;
wagon would go over with whee
knocked off. A horse was seen t.
rear in the air as he was struck by
wagon tongue and fall back, his ride
up in an instant and bent over hi
horse. Then he arose, and from tn
gestures it was plainly to be seel
that he had been left at the post. TIL,
last of them were not long in disap
pearipg over the hill into the vale.
aU the south line of the Chillocco re
servation. The rear was beint
brought up by throng of men ant
women on foot and few teams cl
walk. The trains did not pull ou
of the Santa Fe yards until long afte
u o'clock, and then the jam was aw
full. At least $1,000 people
including most of the pop
ulation of Arkansas City, were ther
to board the Grains. Special train
from Wichita, Winfield and othe
near points came in loaded with sight