Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-09-21
THE STRIP RUSH.
The Entry Made by Crack of Oar
bine.
SCENES At FOUR OF The POINTS.
Just About what Might he Imagined
Take Place-The Rushing Hosts
Soon Disappear in tho
Distance.

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, Sept 1s-At
high noon 100 United States car
bines cracked In the dry air and with
exulting yells 80, 900 men and women,
all American citizens, rushed onto the
Cherokee strip-almost the last section
of the public domain that will be
thrown open 10 general settlement
The view Of the rush at ~ o'clock
from the observatory on the Chilocco
school was full Of exciting interest
just before the hour, with field glass
the long line of horses and men densely
packed for 200 feet back could be seen.
At high noon the sharp crack of re-
volver was distinctly heard and imme-
diately following came the reports Of
the carbines. A hoarse yell went up,
softened by the distance, and the line
got in motion.
Horses were seen TO shoot out from
the ruclk and dash across the prairie.
Then n dense cloud Of dust obscured
the line for a moment but a brisk
wind cleared 1t away, and the men and
wagons could be seen scattering as the
slowest were left behind. Now and
then wagon would go over with
wheel knocked of.
horse was seen to rear in the air as
he was struck by wagon tongue and
fall back. His rider was up in an in
slant and bent over his horse. Then
he arose, and from his gestures 1t was
plainly seen that he had been left at
the post.
The last Of the rushing hosts were
not long in disappearing over the hill
into the swale at the south line Of the
Chilooco reserve, the rear being brought
up by throng Of men and women on
foot and few teams on u walk.
THE RUSH AT CALDWELL.
CALDWELL, Kan, Sept. 1.-two min
utes after noon 10, 900 people who had
gathered along the border south Of
Caldwell were rushing helter-skelter
into the strip in every direction as far
as the eye could reach. Five minutes
later, the feetest and foremost horse
men were mere speclts, and in clouds Of
dust in the distance and behind them
were hundreds and hundreds of white
covered wagons and buggies trooping
into the land, leaving behind them
great clouds Of dust 10 mark the line.
The people did not become impatient
until few minutes before IL o'clock,
when the cavalrymen made their last
rides up and down the column. For
Ave minutes before the signal all had
been getting ready and there was more
excitement than ever along the lines OF
people who had stood so many hours
waiting for the opening.
At IL o'clock a cannon sounded away
off several miles east of the hills where
sightseers had assembled. There was
cloud OF dust In the distance. There
was another report nearer, but II wal
the report of "A cavalryman's carbine
The line Of dust advanced up the col
umn, the rumbling sound caused by
the stampeding of hundreds Of horses
/ increased. Another carbine was fired
and away went all the people toward
the south.
The race ut first was fast one anC
hundreds of men on horseback dartet
out OF the mass and began to lead tn,
crowd. There were some lively races
but there were too many entries TO oh
serve individual contests.
THE START FROM ORLANDO.
ORLANDO, Ok, Sept IS. -Twenty-fv,
thousand men and women with q good
ly number of boys and girls started a
the sound OF carbines held by cavalry
men sharp at noon. Hundreds went In
on trains which were jammed but thu
grand rush was by horse and wagon.
Trains both north and south bounC
ran In many sections and all vert
loaded TO the platforms. Women clunl
to the guard rails and men hung to thu
engines and the roof like bees. TIL,
rush was especially big from Arkansa
City and was made up Of men who cam
TO this side Of the strip TO run for PER-!
town lots. Conductors estimate tina
no less than 3, 900 men crossed the stril
Friday
THE SALTWATER CONTINGENT.
SALTWATER, Ok, Sept rs. 49, Tel
thousand sturdy homeseekers were lie
loose on the heretofore forbidden land
north of here sharp at noon.
All of this army of men were afte
homesteads and none wanted town lot
In consequence there was no thorough
bred racers in the line. Scores wen
into the lands in wagons with equip
ments necessary 10 begin farm work u
once.
There were OF course many excl TIM
races for quarter sections believed t
be extra good, but these contests wer
not marked features of the run.