The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-09-22
SETTLED ON THE STRIP.
a Multitude OF Homc-scckers Engage In
the Great Race for Lot
or Farm

or u Farm.
The most remarkable race ever witnessed
took place on the borders OF the Cherokee
Strip at noon on the 10th. About i00,000
PEOPLE shot out as balls from u Calling gun
and raced for dear life for some point In the
territory which To them seemed most desir-
able. Confusion reigned everywhere. SO
closely were contestants packed together
that the start was \ hazardous one. Horse
men were unseated, wagons overthrow aud
pedestrians Frustrated In the mad rush TO be
OF. The cries Of nngercd men mingled with
the neighing of panic-sir!cken horses. The
shouts OF the racers, the clattcr OF hoofs, the
rafting NJ wagons and the shricklng Of loco
motives combInrd In roar similar TO that nc
companyinC the progress Of tornado.
Al the sound OF the signal gun everybody
started. Those mounted on fast horses shot
ahead and soon disappeared In cloud Of
dust. Thousands Of prairie schooncrs fol.
lowed aud many men and women on foot
commenced the race for homes for themselves
and their dependent ones
Al Que point the cowboy. on their sturdy
ponies took the lead In the race. They had
gone but short distance when they spread
out over the prairie and, dsmountlng, set Gre
10 tho thick prairie grass, hoping thus 10 turn
aside those who were following. The fires
spread rapidly at first, but the wind was blow
Ing from the north and, driving the namcs
south, they were soon stopped by a deep gul.
ly which parallels the Cherokee line three
milcs south Horses could not be urged through
the flames aud many were turned back. No
damage was done by the lame, so far as
known further than destroying the grass and
impeding the racers.
Along tho railroad tracks the boomer trains.
loaded To the guar,ls with iown.lters are
creeping along at n snall's pace, II secms to
the anxious passengers, while fleet animals
outsirip the mighty Iron horse, handicapped
BY being forbidden 10 exceed twelve miles hn
hour. Tho horsemeh shout d-risively NJ they
pass the trains, aud some ~ tho more hot
headed passengers pile on the ears forihw It'll,
scamper distance into the prairie and squat
upon the hrrt ,nean, patch Of 100 acres which
comes IN their way
AZ = train pulls Into n townsi,c or county
seat, Il disgorgcs liz load and the ,own.iters
swarm over the land like an army Of ants.
The plot Of ground which iftccn minutes be-
fore was nothing but n surveyed patch Of
prairie with not an inhsbitant, becomes a
populous community. lnnnmcrablc disputes.
many alterations aud some fights take place.
There arc no officer, Of the law TO interfere
and the lot-srckers are too busy with
their own Aifairs 10 mix In other peo-
pies business, 20 tho fighters fight Il out until
one IL incapAriiAied, while HE victor captures
tho prize. Immediately lot IL claimed.
stakes are driven, In some eases tent. arc
erected and In few instances town meetings
arc held, officers are elected, and before tho
thing seems possible municipality hns
sprung Into existence.
u the meantime out on tho prairie the
farmers continue their INC. for homes and
prescriptions. The heads Of families and
their sons Of legal age, make tho race on
horsrs or on foot, yet horse. are not numcr.
ou. enough to 20 around, while tho "womcn
folks" follow more lel.Mreiy IN prairie
.chooncrs, which pitch aud roll hbou, on the
broken prairie like n surc-cnough schooner
In = rough sea-
From the line south Of Arkansas City q
number Of young mrn make the raoo ON
safety bicycles,
Tho weather was fair with n cool breeze
blowing.
Enough people made the run 10 furnish
each Que Of tho 5000 homestead, with an
occUpab, and give each county seat and
town..itc at least 100 Inhabitants.
On the old iown..itr ~ Ferry will be ,..
,hblishcd the negro town Of Liberty. I, viii
contain 100 hcrca IN the heart Of Ferry aud
srrvr To drive the whit, people down TO
Wharton.
Wagon and freehi-,rsin loads Of supplies
followed the settlers Into tho strip, The
iralns distributed provisions n, tho various
county scat. and ,own..itrs, where s,ofrs
have been opened IN canvas tents pending
the erection Of buildings,
Camp.nrcs dotted the pralrlcs IN all diiee.
lions where ,hr boine.t.adcrs have established
temporary campo The recent drought ha,
dried up tho creeks and stftams. and those
who failed 10 proyld, themselves with water
will be forced N endure suffering FROM
tbirst. fof water IA ob,aiuable only Ia n lev
. ..sA a l-tlas.la. .fe4Hi tin fltpf.