Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-21

Day Long TO DO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
of the Tragedies of the Great Scramble
adjust Filed Up Like Snow.
GUTHRIE, OF. Sept. l6.-Itis impossible
to describe the manner in which the pas
senger trains were loaded when the start
was male at noon, to-day, in the great
rush for the Cherokee strip, or to give an
idea of the excitement which prevailed
among the people. Inside the cars men
and women were crowded worse than any
double deck sheep car that was ever pulled
out OF a stockyard, while the roofs the cars
were covered with daring ones. Men on
horseback showed more concern than
jockey would be expected to who was
backed by the talent to win the greatest
purse over offered. And when the gunshot
at high noon rang out and proclaimed the
strip open to the homesteaders mighty
shout went up from ali; the great crowd
started and the race was on.
WILD RACE ON THE ROAD.
Engineers handled their engines as II
their regulations were at stake. II she
slipped, he nursed her with just enough
sand to make her hold the rail, and not
enough to make the train pull bard. The
iremen kept the pointer at the top
notch OF the steam gauge and all that was
IN the machine was gotten out OF her
BLOCKING BY TRAIN.
AT least 10000 people bivouacked upon
the border of the great strip last night.
Long before daylight this morning thou
sands of people had assembled about the
Sante Fe depot here, and train after train
was speedily packed with people and
pulled out for Orlando. The rush for good
places ON the train was hard and number
were crushed and injured. Arriving at
Orlando all were compelled to leave the
oar and faE n haiF MIA s.,,Nk -. 4
people who had spentthe night there upon
the railway right Of way, or stay about
tho town. A thousand or so OF people
who had not yet registered were speedily
accommodated, and then began scene OF
pushing and crowding and elbowing that
has never before been seen. Over 1900
people wanted to go in on the first train
which had a capacity for less than 1900,
and all were anxious to get aboard.
AT ii O'Clock the first train pulled up to
the line and the other came right behind
it, There were at least half a dozen
trains, but everybody wanted TO ride on
the first one, and as far forward in that as
possible.
WITH WILD SHOUT
The crowd rushed forward. The soldiers
on the ground were swept from their feet
and for moment it seemed as though the
mob would capture the train, for men and
and tender, upon and under the platforms,
and even upon the roofs of the coaches.
The blue.coated guardians soon recovered,
however, and with fixed bayonets cleared
the train and compelled everybody to show
his or her certificate before entering. But
on every side people fought and struggled
to get near the cars. Women had
THEIR CLOTHES TORN OFF
and men were knocked down and trampled
upon. Scores OF people were injured, yet
the struggle kept up until the train was
smaller scale at each succeeding train,
WAITING THROUGH THE NIGHT.
With mind and body strained by the
pent-up excitement of the coming struggle
there was no room for sleep, no inelina-
ton to rest. All night the wagons and
boomers kept pulling up from the streamS
to which they had retired for water and
pasturage. All night the loaded railroad
trains continued TO arrive, and before
break of day everybody was astir. During
the night thousands of letters were written
home, and at mornings dawn couriers
were sent TO the nearest post.otiice, loaded
down with missives, for many and many
a man, realizing the danger that was inn
pending, felt that perhaps this might be
his last day.
PREPARING FOR THE GRAND RUSH.
This morning the scenes are the same
that have been witnessed at all other great
land rushes. There was careful packing
OF all loose articles, looking over harness
and saddle. or oiling Of wheels and a care
full grooming of horses. At last the hour
of noon approaches. and hasty dinner IL
swallowed, and the final preparations com
pleted. The number of people massed al
various points is estimated to be as follows
100000 WArTING.
Arkansas City, Kan, $4,000; Hunnewell
Kan, 5000; Cameron, 5000; Caldwell
$4,000; Higgins, Tex, 5000: Hennessy
10000; Cantonment, 5000; Orlando, 15.0OO
saltwater, 10000; Kiowa, 5000; total, 100,
QUO.
MORE IN RESERVE.
Half as many more are scattered in httl,
groups along the 400 miles of border line
Here and there blue-coated soldier il
seen; here and there an armed deputy
marshal stands at the front; but so few Il
their number that the mighty throng o.
people could sweep them out of existenc,
in twinkling, 1t is no armed force, ,bu
the American peoples patriotism and re
spect for the law that holds the waiting
thousands in check,
Thirty thousand certificates were ISSUED
at the Orlando booth; $4,000 at Hennessy
and $1,000 at Saltwater. Everybody wal
registered but it was necessary for tn
government 70 NNplOy on clerks AT som
points, instead onthe three they starte'
with.
scESR NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.
The sight of rushing horsemen. will,
drivers Of vehicles and the flying train
was one never to be forgotten. 1t took til
first passenger train 40 minutes to max
the run TO Perry, where the people Tough
harder to get out than they did to get in
Then began the race for town lots.
CoNTENDIHa CLAIMANT.
A number of horsemen beat the trail
and secured fine corner lots. Before tn
second train pulled in most of the bes
lots were taken; some by half doze
claimants.
"sooNERs" GET THE BEST LOTS.
Men who had the fastest horses rode lik
the wind from the border, only to fin
other men with sorry-looking animal
ahead of them. Fast teams, carrying an,
ious home-seekers, were driven at breal
neck speed, only to find men on the Ian
who had gone in on foot.
Every precaution had been taken
keep out the sooner" element, and "
that same element. proftlng by former O.
periences, had captured some of the be-
lots.
ARKANSAS CITx, KAN, Sept. H.
The first Sunday in the Cherokee stri
n = - a. L