The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-13

| CAIADN ELL haS., sept. ll.-Ine L.
| 600 strippers awaiting the opening of the
| Cherokee strip to settlement began regis
| tefing at the government booths today.
! The booths opened at o'clock and the
| first man in the long line. which crept
back in serpentine curves into the
| prairie for mile or so, stepped into the
registration booth and entered his name
in the big registration book. As he
passed into the next booth to secure his
| certificate another man took his place
in the former booth and SO on all day
| long the numbers in line were admitted
one by one and fulfilled the first re-
| quirement of homesteading a claim in
| the strip. AS a rule the boomers are
men and women of average intelligence.
| They had studied the presidents procla-
| nation carefully and most of them knew
| Just what they wanted and how to get
it before they applied for registration
and their certificates. The clerks went
at their business in a business like man.
ner and the result was that. there was
little trouble.
The work went on rapidly, and dur
ing the first hour $50 homeseekers had
been given certificates. During the fol-
lowing nine hours the rate Of the is
suance of certificates increased until 200
were issued in the last hour. The crowds
were very patient and good humored,
| and not even a dispute occurred to de-
| stroy the tranquility of the strip. Sew
eral hundred ladies were registered be-
fore noon today. a large majority of
the male shippers have proved them
selves to be true disciples Of Chester
| field and very gracefully resigned their
| places in line To some member of the
fair sex. This. courtesy was highly APP
preeiated by the women, as many OF
| them would otherwise have been COM
PEELED to stand in line for hours. The
strippers are all numbered as they fall
in line and are allowed to leave their
places and return to them at will. This
plan was agreed upon by common con-
sent and the rule is being enforced by
the same authority So far there has
been no violation of or objection to it.
| The fortunate ones near the front are
turning their advantage to good account
| by disposing Of their numbers and places
for cash. Some have been paid s. fer
place near the booth.
The First Certificate.
The first certificate was issued to
Jonas Covey at 7:o1 q. m. AS fast as
the strippers procure their certificates
they begin skirmishing up and down the
line looking for a level track of coun-
try over which to make the race. Every
| nation on the globe is represented and
a knowledge of many foreign languages
is necessary on the part of the booth
officials to make them able to register,
a great many of whom speak only a
few words of badly butchered English.
The sight Of so many blooded horses
is working the poorer class into frenzy
ana IL all doubt OF a train entering is
destroyed, many will grow desperate
and turn Sooner" Everyone Is excited
and all are talking and no one listening.
It will be the greatest handicap ever
run on American sell and worth COM
ing 1000 miles to see. There is not the
least doubt but that all viii be regis
tered, but IL will require great patience
on the part of the officials and home
seekers.
Every conceivable kind Of eatable is
being pedd1ed up and down the line and
decks of cards are in demand. Those
in line are playing ''seYen up for places
and amusing themselves in every way
their fertile minds can originate. The
road from the city to the booth is more
crowded than a busy thoroughfare IN
big city, with the greatest variety of
vehicles ever congregated on one road.
Many have two, three, and some have
as many as six wheels. One man will
make the race with mule and a COM
mon bob-sled with steel runners. He
claims the runners will glide over the
grass with more ease than wheels.
d. B. Calhoun, living on the line, has
built on the wheels Of a separator and
will eat dinner in his house on his
claim In the strip FIVE minutes after
10 ON fhe Openine dav