People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-09-22

on horseback. ALI were waiting
patiently. A Gordon of mounted SOL
diers could be seen at the extreme
south line of the 1Oo-yard reserve strip.
These served a double purpose-to
keep out intruders and to fire the sig.
nal shot. All were good natured, and
chatted among themselves.
Finally, just as the hour hand stood
over the dot on the dial that marked
the hour Of noon, the soldier in the
center of the line OF videttes fred his
rifle. In quick succession, the Others
did likewise. Before the last shot was
fired, which was only few seconds,
the mad race for home began, and
eight hundred people in sight of hun
dreds Of spectators rushed pell nell In
TO the Strip. There was nothing In
sight but some poor looking land.
Horses with riders and horses to wag-
ons Of all sorts were being urged to
their utmost speed. In five minutes
the foremost horsemen were mere
specks, and apparently not moving,
That was all OF the rush; it was q
queer sight.
One man, G. F. Haskins, had q
house erected, fitted up nicely and
had taken it down, loaded it on a
wagon, and stood beside the booth,
He stood, himself, with a post augur
in hand, within three feet of the
booth, which is erected on the 100.
yard reserve strip. At the first shot
lie drove his augur into the earth and
in minute or two he had his post
hole dug and he had his first
fence post up. He pulled barb wire
enough out Of his wagon to fence
five acres, and tonight it is nearly all
fenced. He sleeps tonight in his own
house, but is it his farm?
At almost the same instant Mrs. Fl.
M. Davis, who stood at the west end
of the booth not more than twelve
feet away, drove stake into tho
ground. The stake was a broom
stick to which was fastened a little
flag bearing this legend: Taken by
Mrs. II. NJ. Davis" Is it Mrs, Davis
farm?
These little flags can be seen from
the streets here, and tonight the
little fires of those who have taken
to themselves new homes in a new
country, can be seen in numerous
places not far awaw.
The Santa Fe trains, three Of them
loaded, could be seen a mile wes'
waiting for the signal to go, when
they, too, went.
The actual number who the run
from here was small, being estimated
ut from SEQ to 500, Notwithstanding
there were over $500 registered here.
They were scattered along for twenty
miles, so we are informed.
PERRY sooYERIzED.
This town, the county seat OF coun.
ty o., and the principal townsite on
the line Of the Santa Fe railroad, fell
into the hands of sooners. Seven
minutes to IL o'clock, a number OF
horsemen were seen scampering in this
direction from the flint hills over to-
wards the east. and five minutes later
! a party OF two hundred horsemen, de.
seconded upon the townsite and occu-
pied the choice lots. They chose lots
Immediately surrounding the land of.
flee where he best portion of the town
will doubtless be built. That they
were sooners who had been hiding in
the flint hills. :hcre was no doubt. No
horse has been found that can make
nine miles in twelve minutes. Atl2:44
o'clock the boomers began TO come in.
They, too. were well mounted on
horses, and they beat the Santa Fe
excursion train eight minutes. II is
estimated that 5000 people claimed
lots during the afternoon.
Early in the morning the United
States troops made last hunt for
sooners. They discovered an even
score. among them being Mrs Silvers,
known all over the west as the pro-
prietrcss OF dancing halls in mining
camps and border towns The troops
brought them to the guard house here,
and kept them in confinement until
this afternoon. Up to s o'clock this
evening there has been no serious dis
turbance.
ENID LAND OFFICE.
At noon today there was but four
inhabitants in this city; at o'clock
p. m. the population was estimated to
be not less than l2,GO0. The people
are scattered over about 500 acres OF
land, which they haye stalied ofr into
town lots. Some OF them haze put mp
tents and are doing rushing bust
ness in them, but the great majority
have made 10 Improvements whatever
and are inst sitting down on them, in
hopes that somebody will come along
and buy them out for a fabulous sum.
Tonight there issleeping a.'commoda-
tions for perhaps 500 of the II, 600, and
the remainder will be compelled to
sleep out of doors. A hotel is now run
ming in full blast, and the crowd that
sought admission into it for supper to-
night was so dense that one or two
men tainted and had to be taken away
in cots to more comfortable quarters.
There are also several restaurants in
full blast, and doing land Office bust
ness.
Steps have been taken TO organize
city government at once.
FOND CREEK.
The government townsite of Pond
Creek was first entered to-day at 2:10
o'clock p. III. IL now contains about
5000 inha bitants who have had
hard scramble for town lots. A we'll
has been dug by the government, and
it affords a good supply OF water, not
withstanding reports to the contrary.
The townsite is nicely located, and
handsome city can. and no doubt will
be built here. 1t has all the appear
ance ofpermanency as the county seat
as many good and substantial build
ings will be erected at once. A good