The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-09-23
wagon and fr.!rh,.,rain load. of supplies

Wagon and frelght-ttain ioaos VI
followed the settlers into the strip Inc
tra,ns distributed provisions at the various
county seats and town-sites, Whefe storc'
have been opened in canyas tents peho'ns
the erection OF buildings.
Camp-hres dotted the prairies In all u'ree.
tIons where the homesteadcrs have estaDii7neu
temporary camps. The recent drought LIRE
dried up the creeks and streams, ana 'ho'e
who failed to provide themselves with water
will be forced TO endure suffering from
thirst, for water IS obtainable only IN lie"
place, on the Strip except from the rivers
The drought OF the past month has lett the
country burned dry. A smothcrlnH aust
composed OF a combination OF Tine SAND ana
ashes from the prairie fires Ills the air ana
add. TO the thirst and general discomfort OF
the unhappy boomers.
The careless building OF camp-tires has set
the parched prairies blazing in many places
and boomers are out fighting the flames. In
other places INSCRIPTIONS men started the
fires in the hope OF driving some timorous
claimant of valuable tract
Sunday was generally given over to an Ell
for. to bring order out of chaos. The farm
ers' families have put up tents, arranged
their primitive houses as comfortably as pos
sible. and have begun the search for water
either in creeks, springs or In driving wells
While the head OF the family has hurried 10
the nearest land office TO file his preliminary
papers, this work is done cy the remainder OF
the family.
The county seats and town sites have be-
come busy communities. Those reached by
the railways have been very well supplied
with provisions. In those of the lines Of
travel the commouest commodities command
fancy prices, so greatly does the demand cx-
coed the supply. At Willow Springs water
sells at ten cents glass, bread at fifty cents a
loaf, and other supplies at proportionate
amounts. Restaurants, shops of all kinds
drinking places and gambling houses have
been established IN tents, and are doing a
thriving business.
At Perry and Wharton church services were
held but were very SHINY attended, People
were too weary after the great race, too busy
In administering to bodily necessities, or too
indifferent to 90 to church.
The centers of interest have now been trans
ferred to the government land offices, and long
lines OF settlers are formed at each OF them.
Reports OF murders and fatal accidents are
beginning to come in. At one point man
started across the line before IL O'Clock. He
was warned back by soldier, but refusing to
stop wa. -hot dead. The soldier was then
shot by another settler. There are maEy
stories Of crime and casualties, but, all being
strangers to one another, names are missing
The crimes are mostly Isolated murders which
took place Saturday in the fight for claims
Many fatal accidents are reported as the re-
suit Of the rush-men trsmpled to death oy
horses or killed by falling from the over
crowded excursion tralus.
1t is now stated on all sides that the settler.
have been fooled In their belief that the
Strip was good farming country, This may
be "sour grapes cry OF those who failed to
secure desirable tracts, but there seems to be
some ground for the statement. Caldwell,
Arkansas City and other railroad points ar,
crowded with people who are trying to get
away from the Strip, aud who claim that it Is
no good. At any rate It IS certain that ther,
will be great suffering next winter, by those
who lack the necessaries OF life.