Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-09-17
MAD RUSH FOR LAND
Boomers Are in Possession Of
Coveted Cherokee Strip.
WILD BoRDtRscsNEs ENACTED



ing Of the Cherokee strip today was
characterized by Wholesale frauds
widespread physical suffering and
bloody deeds. just before noon. when
the strip was opened. II was discovered
that the booths at Orlando had been
robbed of certificates of registration and
the government official stamp. and
thousands of forged certificates are AMI
have been for two days on the market
La this manner bona iide settlers have
been cheated of the rights they
paid 80 dear in privation and
hunger and thirst To gain. and
the strip is flooded with des-
perate men who have resolved 10 hold
al any cost the lands they have thus
obtained. -Four OF these "sooners" were
shot by soldiers north OF Saltwater this
morning. They had crossed the boun.
dary line and were making for the inte.
rior when. quite by accident. squad of
infantry intercepted them. The soon
ers, showed fight. but were finally over
powered and captured. At another
skirmish. near Kildare. between "soon-
ers" and soldiers one of the latter was
fatally woundedby cowboy and "Just >
Craig Of Indiana was accidentally
killed.
Prairie Fires Are Isaging.
Prairie tires are raging in every part
of the strip. 1t is believed that numer-
Gus fatalities have been caused by them.
for the boomers. who have been driven
nearly 10 insanity by the heat and suf.
feriags Of the last week. plunged madly
into the blazing country the minute the
clock hands were on the point Of noon
and the signal guns were fired. Their
thoughts for days have been fixed upon
the lands they courted. and in their
eagerness to get them they disregarded
danger and needed neither smoke nor
fire. At this writing. however. only one
death has been reported. that OF Thomas
rapidly moving flames and burned to
lime.
The scene today was indescribably
stirring when the men and women who
had stood in line for days under the
burning sun and in the noisome damp
ness OK the nights learned that after all
their sufferings were likely TO prove use
less. and that others were fraudulently
TO enjoy the lands for the sake Of which
they had endured so much. At one
time it seemed probable that a riot
would arise and that great slaughter
would ensue. but the sound OF the signal
ayerted this danger and they who a
moment before were ready 10 devour
one another were racing furiously into
the flames girt territory.
Strip Opened at Noon.
ARKANSAS CITY, han. Sept. 15.--At L.
o'clock today the bars that have so long
inclosed six million acres IL public land
in the Cherokee outlet we're let down,
and over a hundred and fifty thousand
men and women joined in the mad rush
for land and lots. Men who had the
fastest horses rode like the wind from the
border only To find other men with
sorry looking animals ahead OF them.
Fast teams carrying anxious home
seekers were driven at breakneck speed
only to find men on land who hal gone
in afoot. Every precaution had been
taken TO keep out the sooner" element.
and yet that same element. protiting 10y
former experiences. had captured the
land.
At the meridian hour the start was
made For an hour before a hundred
foot line marking the border OK the strip
was black with men, horses and teams.
From the elevation at Orlando the line
could be- seen for distance OF eight
miles east and ten miles west In each
direction the line was crowded until
there appeared but black ribbon out
lined on the gray surface about them.
Half dozen times some one shouted
that the hour OF noon had arrived. and
fifty 20 a hundred horsemen would dart
out Of the line only 10 be driven back by
the cavalrymen who were patrolling the
strip in front OF the impatient throng
Mad Rush OF 10000.
The number of people massed at vari.
ous points on the line this morning was
estimated as follows: Arkansas City
Kan. 35.0o0; Hunnewcll, Kan. 5,O1O
Cameron. 5.Uo: Caldwell. 1900, kiowa,
$500. Higgins. Texas. 5000; HeBnesscy
10000. Contonmcnt. 5000: Orlando
l5.cO. Saltwater. 10000 total. 100000
Half as many more were scattered in
little groups along the 400 miles oi
border line. Thirty thousand certificates
we're issued az the Orlando booth. .ki1oC
AT iIenneasey and 30.ooO at Saltwater
Every body vas rcgist red. but u was
necessary for the government ia employ
tifty clerks at eome points instead Of the
three they started with.
nIepite 81 all the scouting. eatrolling
and riecting by the United States troops
eevefal hundred people succcc,led in get
ting within the borders illegally befors
the strip az opened.
signal Gun Firef,
At last pufT n smoke was seen away
ont on the plain 10 the north and soon 4
dull report - a cannon was heard
dozen carbiues aioml the line fred ir
respooss 81 the signal and the line vas
broken AZ though hurled from caia
puita hoFsemen darted cut at hreakneck
speed. som dotfing tho plains in esery
direction. Foiiowing came light vehicles
driven 9th msdneea that Disregard
every obstruction. the drivers yelling
and urging their horss-s with whip ~
well a. voice. Then foiloWed heavispi
wagons. enxeloped IN clouds - tlust
Behind thcse vent anxious fooiaen
carrying blankets. uafer and stake.
regardless - the heat and iuet ll,.fus
them wse the unknown. behind then
were al tho discoaafsrts ~ that hel
upon earth. Drlsnlo.
The traiHe wsF~ loaded rapidly. Al