The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-09-23
SETTLED ON THE STRIP.
4 Multitude of Home Seekers Engage In
the Great Race for = Lot
or n Farm

took place on the borders Of the Cherokee
Strip at noon on the 10th. About 100, 600
neoplc shot out as balls from n Calling gun
and raced for dear life for some point in the
territory which to them seemed most desir-
able. Confusion rclgncd everywhere, So
closely were contestants packed together
that the start was hazardous one. Horse-
men were unseatcd wagons overthrow and
pedestrians Frustrated In the mad rush to he
on The cries of angered men mingled with
the ncighlng OF pAnic-stricken horses. The
shout. OF the racers, the clstter of hoofs, the
rafting of wagons and the shrieking of loco
motives combined In roar similar to that ac-
compsnying the progress of a tornado.
At the sound OF the signal gun every body
started. Those mounted on fn.t horse. shot
ahead and soon disappeared in a cloud of
dust. Thousands OF prairie schooners fol-
lowed aud 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 wher they spread
out over the prairie and, dismoua ting, set fre
10 the thick prairie grass, hoping thus TO turn
aside those who were following The fires
spread rapidly at first, but the wind wa. blow
ing from the north and, driving the flames
south, they were soon stopped by deep gull
ly which parallels the Cherokee line three
mile. south. Horses could not be urged through
the flames and many were turned back. No
damage was done by the flames so far
known further than destroying the grass and
impeding the racers.
Along the railroad tracks the boomer trains
loaded to the guards with townsltcrs are
creeping along at a snail's pace, 1t seems to
the anxious passengers, while feet animals
outstrlp the mighty iron horse handicapped
by being forbidden to exceed twelve miles an
hour. The horsemcn shout derisiyely a. 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 100 acres which
comes In their way.
As train pulls into townsite or county
seat, 1t disgorges its load and the townsiters
swarm over the land like an army of ants.
The plot of ground which fifteen minutes be-
fore nothing but surveyed patch of
prairie with not an inhabitant, becomes a
populous community Innumerab!e disputes,
many alterations and some fights take place.
There are no officers of the law to interfere
aud the lot-seekers are too busy with
their own affairs to mix in other peo-
pies business, so the fighters fight 1t out until
one Ia incapacitated, while his victor captures
the prize. Immediately a lot is claimed,
stakes arc driven, in some cases tents are
erected And in a few instances town meetings
are held, officers are elected, and before the
thing seems possible municipality has
sprung Into existence.
In the meantime out on the prairie the
farmers continue their race for homes and
prescriptions. The heads of families and
their sons of legal age, make the race on
horses or on foot, yet horses are not numer-
Gus enough to go around. while the women
folks" follow more leisurely in prairie
schooners, which pitch and roll about on the
broken prairie like = sure-enough schooner
In rough sea.
From the line south of Arkansas City a
number OF young men make the race on
safety bicycles.
The weather was fair with cool breeze
Enough people made the run to furnish
each one of the 81, 900 homestcsds with an
occupant and give each county seat and
town-site at least !, 500 Inhabitants.
On the old town-site OF Perry will DO es-
the negro town of Liberty. 1t will |
contain 100 acres in the heart Of Perry and |
serve 70 drive the white people down to
Wharton.