People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-09-15


900 strip homeseekers in this city with
more coming during the next five
days. That they will fail to do so is a
foregone conclusion. At the rate they
are progressing 1t will take six weeks
By 5 o'clock Saturday evening men
had begun to gather at the registration
booths four miles south of here in the
Cherokee strip. An hour later about
1900 had formed in line ana from that
time until this morning the line stead
lily increased and two more lines
equally long were added. At fair
estimate there were 10000 men and
women waiting for a chance to get a
certificate, without which they will
not be allowed to claim a piece Of
public land.
The scene at the booth is indescrib-
able. 1t is situated on the Cherokee
strip at the northeast corner of the
Chilocco reservation. On the one side
is the barbed wire fence which en-
closes the reservation and on the
Kansas side the hedge which sur
rounds farm. Between is narrow
road foot deep in dust. Along the
fence stretching west from the booth
are three lines of men standing and
sitting on the ground. The air is
still with dust which hangs in the
tent air. Around the three army
stres, which compose the booth, is
sidetched wire fastened to posts in
filled of which are three or four SOL
diers keeping the crowd out and put
ting out those who have registered.
So great was the movement of
horsemen and wagons towards the
booth yesterday that by last evening
the roads leading there were so con-
gested by horses and wagons that it
was impossible for a horseman to get
through and very difficult for a man
on foot The air was so filed with
dust that looking south from the city
the sky was concealed. Along the
roads leading south constant move
ment Of wagons and men kept up all
night long. As early as daylight,
men on foot, with canteens strapped
to their backs, were moving along
through the suffocating air on the
roads, with handkerchiefs tied across
their mouths.
When the clerks stepped into their
tents to begin business at Z o'clock a
cheer went up from the grimy, half
choked crowd. This was carried
along the line and could be heard a
mile away by the throng hurrying
along the roads to join them. Such a
good natured crowd never was seen.
1t mattered not to them that they had
sat in the dust for thirty-six hours,
that they were thirsty, unfed and un-
washed. They wanted to be regis
tered and get in line and any prospect
of doing so revived their spirits.
Rough jokes were exchanged with
the soldiers and one another.
The night had been very chilly and
the hot coffee peddlers moving along
the line all night had not relieved the
GOODNESS. Men stood in line wrapped
in blankets and canvas overcoats and
everyone had canteen, jug or bottle
which held his limited supply Of
precious water
The first fian in line was a real
estate man from Kansas City, John B.
Cameron, who had been there since 8
o'clock Saturday afternoon, and he
received certificate number one. After
him lot of women were let in and
registered, the first one, Miss Kate
Durand, of this place. They had not
stood in line for their opportunity and
chivalry ceased to rule the weary men
VINO had paid dearly for their privil-
eye, so the troops were compelled to
make the women take their places in
line.
During the first hour the total in
adequacy of the registration system
became apparent. Less than 100 peo-
pie got their certificates and great i'm
patience was beginning to be exhibit
ed. The clerks were badly ratified
and stopped to discuss the question OF
registration with boomers. A good
many men were of the opinion that
their certificate should bear the num-
Der of a certain quarter section to
which they were entitled and the
clerks tried to argue the point with
them AS the day progressed the
clerks became more used to their
work and got along little more rap
idly.
Lieutenant Caldwell of the Third
cavalry had charge of the line and
stood on his horse at the head of the
lines with half dozen troopers keep.
ing order.
1t will take four times the number
of clerks at work to make any head.
way with the crowd, as the line is in.
creasing rapidly instead of being de.
creased and the three roads leading
to Arkansas City are filed with
boomer wagons and horsemen Oh
their way to the booths.
Great suffering is experienced along
the line. Many delicate women anC
at least dozen men were carried ou
this forenoon entirely Frustrated with
the heat, dust and exhaustion. There
is a great scarcity of water The sup
ply is being hauled from Arkansa.
City in tank wagons and it costs
twenty-five cents to get a canteeI
filed and ten cents for a cup full
Along the hedge tents have been Sc
up where beer, pies aud sandwiehe.
are sold. Everything is covered will
an inch of dust and the color of thu
men in line cannot be distinguished
so covered with dust are they.
The interior department is beinI
bitterly condemned for its action il
locating the booths on the strip ava,
from water and shelter
Word was passed down the lonI
lines of weary waiting applicants TO
registration at noon that certif