New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-14
BOOMERS DYING IN THE LINES.
SUFFERING OF IOMESEEKERS AT TIE
REGISTRATION BOOTHS.
DOWN BY THE TERRIBLE HEAT
WHILE WAITING THEIR TURN TO REGISTER
-APrEALS TO SECRETARY SMITH.

Arkansas City. Kan. Sept l3.-The mercury IN
Arkansas City this afternoon indicated a tempcra-
ure Of 10 degrees Fahrenheit. the hottest day of
the season in this part OF the country The scenes
enacted yesterday more than repeated to-day,
and many persons overcome by the heat were car
ried from the lines. Some OF them will recover. but
others will die. Six have died to-day. There
is great discomfort among the home-seekers because
the forces at the booths not large enough 10
register more than one-haf OF the people who wish
certificates OF registration. Great pressure Is be-
ing brought to bear upon the authorities at Wash
ington to-day to induce them to move the booths
to Arkansas city. to discontinue all registration
and to permit every TO enter the Strip and To-
cate claim.
Lieutenant Caldwell this afternoon sent a tele-
gram through his superior officer. Colonel Parker
to Secretary Hoke Smith advising him OF the
conditions existing at the booths. and suggesting
that as the registration has proved almost
complete failure. 1t be discontinued All OF
the newspaper men representing metropolitan
papers this afternoon united in the following dis
patch to Secretary Smith:
Arkansas City. Kan. September H.
Hon Hoke smith, SECRETARY Of the Interior Washington
In the name tho papers represent We respectfully
request that you take Immediate stops N alleviate the
suffering the homesc kers who are seckins ieei'ta,
iion az Booth q hi, city. The booth Is Stirred
on dusty rad four mile, from water and shelter thr
weather i extremely hot and hot winds blowing
gale. Tho suffering Is great. A large number "i thr
homc-cck,r. have been stricken down and some o u'm
have died Registration is progressing - slowly u'1
thou-and Of men aye compelled to stand In I'm" Tor day.
exposed to the sun dust and thirst Can you not Cause
the booth be removed this city and put on larger
force Of clerks or abandon REGISTRATION at once For me
honor welfare OF tho Administration We neg you "
take immediate action Humanity demands IT,
So bitter has the feeling become against the
registration system that when Friday night arrives
and it is apparent that the thousands in waiting
will he unable to have their names placed on the
list. riot will be prccirtatel. Practically the
same condition exists at Orlando, saltwater Hume
well and Caldwell II will be impossible TO enforce
the order issued by Secretary Smith Monday, for
bidding anyone TO board the trains entering the
Strip at noon who are not armed with registration
certificates Trains loaded to their fullest capacity
arrived here to-day. and this influx Will be kept
up constantly until Saturday noon.
At Hunnewell this afternoon boomer was
killed In his wagon and robbed OF all his money
The murderer was captured and quickly removed
from town 10 prevent his being lynched
Washington. Sept 13--A telegram received At the
Interior Department from officials OF the General
Land ono. now in the Cherokee outlet says that
rcpors from All Of the booths show that there have
been ~ 600 people registered up to last night Ad-
ditional clerks have been put duty at Arkansas
CITY and the Office will be kept open day and night
as long as necessary to acCOmm )datc the crowd.
Special Agent Womack. in telegram 10 com
missioner Iamoreaux OF the General Land Office
states that 1000 persons registered AT the IicnneSsy
booth Yesterday and that there arc now 100 IN
line nv actual count waiting their opportunity To
register Tho clerical IDrce . Hcnnessy has been
increased to meet this unexpected rush.