The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-09-18
One Hundred and Fifty Thousand
People Crossed the Strip Border
Saturday.
Such n Race For Farms and Town
Lots Has Never Becn Known In
Histo:*.
Men on Horseback, In Carts, on Bi-
cycles and on Foot, All Join
In the Race.
4 Dozen Trains, Crowded From Cow
catcher to the Rear Platform
Leave Orlando.

GUTHRIE. o. T., Sept. lS.-All FRI
day night there was hurrying to and
fro and but few of the 100. 600 boomers
upon the border OF the promised land
closed their eyes in sleep. With prairie
fires raging in front of them and with
mind and body strained by the pent-up
excitement of the impending struggle,
there was no room for sleep. no inclina-
ton to rest. All night the wagons and
boomers kept pulling up from the
streams to which they had retired for
water and pasturage; all night the
loaded trains continued to arrive and
before the break of day everybody was
astir. During the night thousands of
letters were written home and at morn
ings dawn couriers were sent to the
nearest postoffice loaded down with
missives, for many and many q man,
realizing the danger that was impend-
ing, felt that perhaps this
Might Be His Last Race;
that the end might come in his long
home, instead of home for his loved
ones, and sent them farewell mes
sage, or expressed his last wishes should
the worst come. The morning scenes
were the same that have been wit
messed at all other great land rushes.
There was careful packing of all loose
articles, a looking-over of harness and
saddle, or oiling of wheels and care
full grooming of horses. At last the
hour of noon approached, and a hasty
dinner was swallowed, and the final
preparations completed.
How They Were Distributed.
The number of people massed at
various points was estimated as follows:
Arkansas City. Kan, $4,000; Hume
well, Kan, 5000; Cameron, 5000;
Kiowa, 5000; Higgins, Tex, 5000.
Hennessey, 10000; Cantonment, 5000;
Orlando. $1,000; Saltwater. 10,000:
total. l00. 1000.
Half as many more were scattered in
little groups along the 400 miles Of bor-
der line. Here and there blue-coatsd
soldier is seen; here and theirs an armed
deputy marshal stands nc ths'frnot, but
90 few Ia their number that the
might throng OF people could sweep
them ont of existence in q twin king.
1t is no armed force, bat tho Americas
peoples patriotism and respectfor ths
law that holds tho waiting thousands
in check. Thirty thousand certificates
were issued at the Orlando booth, SS,-
600 at Hennsssey and 1900 at Still
water. Everybody was registered, bat
IL was necessary for the government 10
employ 80 clerks ut some points instead
of tho three they started with. The day
started ont cloudy, with every indica-
tion OF rain. Guthrie was deserted, all
the banks and stores were closed and II
was quieter than Sunday. All the
men and half Of the women had gone
to take part in the race.
Crush at the Trains
Long before daylight thousands OF
people had assembled about the Santa
Fe depot here, and train after train
was speedily packed with people and
pulled ont for Orlando, upon the line
The rush for good places on the trair
was hard. and number were crushed
and injured. Arriving at Orlando, al
were compelled to leave the cars and
take their places with 10, 900 people wht
had spent the night upon the railway
right Of way there, or sat about th,
town. A thousand or so of people wht
had not registered were speedily accom-
modated. and then began q seen,
of pushing and crowding ant
elbowing that has never before beer
seen. Over $4,000 people wantet
to go in the first train, which had /
capacity for less than 1900. aud al
were anxious to be at the best place t.
get aboard. At 11:30 o'clock the frs
train pulled up to the line and the 9th
ers came right behind it. There wer
at least half dozen trains, but every
body wanted to ride on the first one
and as far forward In that as possible
With wild shout the crowd rushe'
forward. The soldierr on the groun'
were
Swept From Their Feet
and for moment il seemed as thougl
the mob would capture the train, 70
men and women were around and owe
the engine and tender, upon and nnde
the platforms, and even upon th
: roofs OF the coaches. The blue
; coated guardians soon recovered, how
ever, and with fixed bayonets cleare
the train and compelled everybody |
show his or her certificate before enter
ing. But on every side people tough
and struggled to get near the car
Women had their clothes torn of an
men were knocked down and trample
upon. Scores Of people wei
injured, yet the struggle kept u
until the train was filed and WI
repeated on smaller scale at each SUI
!: ceedlng train. Every train was loade
as never passenger trains were loade
before, seat and aisle, platform rot
and tender, and baggage car, in ever
!. conceivable nook, on every imaginabl
perching point, was human being.
The First Train
of ~ cars pulled across the line at moo
l rrcxvdad aa truiua uava, xxyara rxafn,.