The Red Cloud chief., 1893-09-29
scenes In The cherokee strip,
A. Soon by an Eye MttnC,s.

our reporter some interesting facts
concerning that country, its resources,
&c. On the Sh Of September he
in company with Sammy Spry, started
forthe opening Of the strip, and having
two horses besides the team which he
drove, and being Litched to light
rig, they took Their time, knowing
they would have no difficulty in
reaching the strip in time to make
the race for land. They ~journsycd
nearlcy due south and after passing
farms rough and improved, sterile
prairies, sand hills, burnt districts,
and various other features Of minor
Importance, they arrived in Caldwell
Kan. two days before the race, and
from this place they with many thou.
sands made the run for tho precious
government land. Mr.. Oatman said
that .fter passing the two north tiers
Of counties 10 Kansas, the effects Of
continued drouth were more obvious,
and an examination Of the corn in the
fields Of which there is a large acreage,
disclosed q decidedly bad condition OF
the same, the ears being shrivelled
and soft, and probably unstable, and
with the deception Of small! fields in
The low lands and valleys, there will
be little corn Of any kind. Farmers
we're sowing fall wheat, and said thai
the average yield Of wheat there this
year would not exceed 10 bushcl pei
acre. Having arriyed at Caldwell,
which was only 25 miles from Ponc
creek, a place laid out for a count.
scat in the strip, they stopped ano
were Obliged to 60 through the pr"
liminaries required, of forming into
companies, and making registration
Mr.. Oatman said that Notwithstanding
the thousands present, the best OF
order was maintained and every one
was good natured and striving to ex
eel. Hundreds Of families in desti
tate circumstances, and people Of all
n~ationalities were there TO secure a
home. Now the strip is about zoe
miles long and GO miles wide, and
is SO divided by the government
that it 10 exactly two counties in
in width, and in each county was
staked off and laid out a county seat
The strip was then divided in to three
equal parts, known as the eastern
central and western, the eastern divi
sion being the most expensive ant
the western the cheapest. FINAL,
the 10Th came around which was tn,
day to make the race, and the entire
north end of the strip was a line o
people 200 miles in length read!
to start for land, but unde
; penalty Of death, could not g
until the given signal at high noo'
on Saturday, Sep. 10th. Now was tn
time for shrewd schemes which wcr
not neglected, and as near as can b
learned, a combination Of merchant
and bankers, bought up the swiftes
E broncho ponies, and secured the light
est riders who wero accustomed I
= such animals ana formed them in III
procession. Thou they preceded
sweeten the trainmen which they di
q to perfection, ard when the train wit
q three engines and 35 box cars q
r. loaded to the utmost with an aversg
Of 100 people on top, it was a 20 mi
race between the train and the horse
The conductor kcptthe train slowe
), down and tie ponies belonging to ii
combination sped onward their ride
alightcd and stuck their pins on Il
choicest corner lots of the city
s. Pond Creek, while tho wagons al
Is slower horses. and the thousands {
e. the train were csntent with land Of i
or ferior quality, aud poorer location
Mr.. Oatman told of many ludlcro'
occurances. At one time anoth
party of land seekers harnessed O.
of Mr.. Oatman's horses and drove aw'
i'll in the night causing him to search
10 good share of the next day, and
zee chance came ACROSS the horse viii
, rn was Immediately turned over to
lG: proper owner. lie also saw ride
ill thrown from their horses. WACO
Is wrecked, people injured on the ira
nF