The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-17
THE RIDE TO CROSS.

Cross, O. T., Sept. 16.-[ Special. l-As
the sun reached high meridian and the
click OF the clock marked II. with the
boom of gun and blast of trumpet, with
one simultaneous forward movement. as
of the giving way of the wall of a mighty
reservoir freeing pent up food of water,
the sea of animate creation that surged
and swelled upon the border went out
upon the lands that for decade have con-
tanned the imaginary goal OF thousands of
good American citizens, and the strip was
no longer neutral ground. but became the
homes Of as many as were permitted, by
the grace of Smith, to enter aud as the
claims were reached.
The start from the line south Of Arkan-
sas City was made from the 100 foot re-
serve, and was fair neck-and-neck go -
Luckily for everything that breathes, the
intolerable heat OF the past week had
given way to a pleasant breeZa from the
north, and but for the suffocating cloud
OF dust that increased ia density with the
leap OF every animal and whiri of every
wheel, the day would have been q perfect
one for the great run.
Who wers in the rush, and how did they
go Men, women and children, of all ages,
colors aud conditions; afoot, horseback
sometimes two on horss-in jumpers,
snays, bugglss, phaefoEs, carriages, wag-
ons, and every other conceivable contrI-
vance that could be rugged for transporta-
ton. How fast did the leaders go ! Faster
tnan a railroad train running fifteen miles
An hour. The foremost man, double for
Governor Riddle of Minneapolis, kau.,
rode his horse abreast or the engine that
pulled the first train 70 within mile OF
Cross-eighteen miles-whea the bottom
fell ont IF his steed aud the train gave
h. -. = h,.s rA tlr
ahead of the next followers TO come In on
a jog, au easy winner.
The first tgaia la Was in charge OF Con.
duc5or j. Il Maermsa, drawn by engine
No. 439. with Uacie jim Hayes at the
throttle. Tha tran crossed the iins at
12:u2, and a pFstt.er raee between the
thousand on board aud tha thousands
afoof AMI awheel was never seen upon a
regulation course. No accident of note
occu red save a occasional broken wbesl
or u winded horse. Ten trains OF ten cars
each. all losied as long as person could
hang on. followed each otssr IN c!oss
order. Nos pf the crowds wenk Tor town
lots at Kirk The county seat OF II couHty.
Kildare, Cross aud The PoncA togasiie on
tue boTder of the reservation Fully one
third were spect atois, simply. and most OF
these went back on the returning traias-
As claims were taken tas claimant
quietly settled down Tor rest, bis nrst
prcCau1}Dn - CGIAk 10 QAfu AEtsuAtN-
Tas smoke troIl tasse, added 10 TIE dusf,
hung ss = taiek veil bsfors tae face of the
sun.
Kansas is is the new lands bodily. and
WicaIsa is visible a. every poans Al
Cross townslts company organ zsd at
Arkansas City eou sht txo StaeFe Indian
si-otments west OF aad adJosaias the Ssasa
Fs rigas of way, and tie Impression e
that tAis viii es the principal tosa noTta
OF the Panca RESERVATION II Is twenty
five miles soa:s OF Arkansas Gag Aad four
miles from tae Ponca agency, II good
coult-y. we'll water-d fae town Will az
cupy both SIDES of me Taisroad- TIE SITE
is good, Just Gad du.ai.ag enough To sa9Ei
good sugfsc. draisags- Two hoars sisss
fne asx5vt: Of the first settlers tae gr3u3a
was o-iaz snrveyei and plAEt@1.
ki.da-e seemed 10 be bfadicapgej 5y the
Iacisa aiIoslneats: tas csosd a. the
trains gave Is lae <, by :asa- dasU, AL
tie OF asii.rs u s:Sat canaaS s1c- taEes
hoars istas lnc@ea "a tsr fe. Ia E1ssssSr-
Ey.dentiy tse esslsrpgisia. istiaaa esil@szs
oF-rdsa tae oas.acsa
Tue great rusa - bsea fp- soga .ss=-
not aaif the claims viii us aA@t Is ss
esAl dsyA Iais VIII bs d5.- s.-4sS