The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-09-23
ON TO THE STRIP
The Mad Rush for Homes Began
at Noon Saturday.
Some on Race Horses, Some on BIZ
cycles, Thousands on Foot
Ia Howling Wilderness Populated
in a Few Minutes.
Municipalities Organized and Men
Seeking Office.
-
The Widest Scramble for Land the World
Ever saw--Horses and Men 0isap.
pear in a Cloud OF ouss-.Many
Accidents and There vii,
Be Fights and
Bloodshed.

GUTHRIE, Okla, Sept. 16.-The man
who has eve witnessed or participated
In the opening of any of the Indian
lands in the great southwest will
never forget tho occasion. 1t is a
scene of wild excitement, rush and tur-
moil that can be likened only to times
Of war.
Three times before this have the
thousands gathered upon the border of
indian lands in this territory, to enter
in q wild scramble and race for homes
1t the appointed hour, but on no oc-
:asion have the crowds been so large,
nor the excitement SO great as it has
been for a week past, and was today.
Think of 100, 900 people gathered in
little companies all along a line border
Ing q land for nearly 500 miles, in
wagons, on horseback and on foot,
waiting from early dawn until noon
Tor the signal to start in the widest
face the world has aver seen; think of
the terrible strain. the pent-up excite
nent, as watch and suns shadow tell
them the momentous hour has almost
arrived, and twill be but q few mo-
mcnts more until the great signnt gun
will boom forth the summons 10 begin
1.-THE strife.
Description of the Throng.
Many of these people mad been en-
ramped upon the line 4tor months, some
even for years, ans, .heir battered out
its and worn asa weakened animals
%roetokened thss;lsappointment that was
certainly ipsstore for them, for like the
nan whs7dly waits for anything, they
we're apt to be outstripped by one
'resher for the race.
Others had been but n few weeks in
~aiting and were non the worse for
t, save for Il coating of dirt and dust,
IN unkempt appearance, and a skin
sanned to a mulatto shade. The
greater portion of this motley crowd
lad, however, been in waiting but q
lew days or hours, and We're fresh
rom city or country home, from store,
from shop, from mine and from farm.
The great majority of the waiting
ihrong entered the land on horseback,
Ind for hours their horses had been
yroomed and saddled and bridled.'
The camps We're astir unusually early
this morning, and after the thousands
Of breakfasts of bread, bacon and black
coffee had been prepared and eaten the
packing began and everything was
flowed carefully away in wagon, in
xnapsack and saddle bag.
Eleven o'clock found all eating a hur-
led dinner of cold leavinRs from break
last, for few stopped to cook anything
aow, and o there swas a hurrying
md pushing forward to get starting
places of advantage.
There was the greatest difference in
The character, locks and aims of the
iifferent peopla standing ready for the
start. In the first wagon wa a grizzled
Did Texan driving n mule team attached
o an old freighter wagon loaded with
household goods and a goodly sized
'amily. Next to him were a dozen
cowboys, mounted on bronchos, and be.
tond them a Spectator or two mounted
IN trained race horses. Next was an
BID time boomer, with dilapidated out.
1T and numerous children, and beside
aim a Mississippi negro sitting calmly
in his ox-cart. Two-wheeled, four.
wheeled and six-wheeled vehicles were
10 be seen, and people of all sexes,
ages, sizes and races. The Indian was
here present with the rest, sitting upon
mis- pony, and gazing vacantly into
space.
There were dry goods clerks on
horseback and in wagons, who were
already getting sick Of camp life and
fare, and would not know what to dc
with a claim when they secured it.
Here and there in the line was q
plucky man or woman on foot, stand
Ing ready to rush for one of the near
by claims that the horsemen might
leave unoccuppied, and an occasional
one-legged soldier could be seen mount
ed upon Il horse, to risk again his life
In racing for the home the government,
should long ago have given him.
The Townsite Scramble.
As n reached a point nearest some
town site, there were found severa,
hundred horsemen massed, ready fol-
the most exciting race of all-the rush
to the town site and the scramble fol
lots. Back of them were n hundred OF
more wagons loaded with freight, that
were to come on after the horsemen,
bringi ig tents and food, lumber and
stocks of goods with which to set the
business machinery of the town il
motion. So it was all along the line,
an ever changing scene of the kaleido
scopic variety, all kinds of people, but
all on one mission bent-the securing
Of a home or a fortune.
A thousand watches, held in a thous
and excited, trembling hands, beto
kened the near approach of the houl
of noon, and there was IA tightening Of
saddle girths, and adjusting of bundles
and n hasty mounting all along the
line. Reins were frightened, horses be
gan to shift about uneasily, a thousand
,uhins rvnre nnrnisad 1uhiln m11sclns