Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-09-23

ALyA, o. T., September 16, 1893.

| to tell our readers something of our trip
to the borders of the promised land
which has been the theme of so much
speculation and interest for many
months past, but the journey was de-
void of interest until we reached Kiowa,
about Is miles from Alva, the county
seat of M and one of the land Offices on
the Santa Fe It is hardly necessary to
speak of the scenes attendant upon reg
istration as the newspapers have given
fuller accounts than our time and space
will allow. About 5000 people were
camped in and around Kiowa. The heat
was intense and there was more or less
suffering on account of the scarcity OF
water. The citizens of this place did a
good business selling water and it was a
very poor quality at that. This county
is nearly all under cultivation and land
sells from SIS to 500 per acre, but we
think Trego county is better agricul-
tural county and the water here is unfit
| for man or beast.
On the evening of the 18th Blair, Law
renee, Hille and ourself moved west of
town about six miles so as to get nearer
our objective point and prepare for the
contest on the morrow Saum remained
in town to take the train. We would
have given almost anything if we could
have had our kodak along so as to give
our readers picture of our camp that
night. We had left our tent and outfit
in town and had only mother earth for a
bed and the starlit heavens for canopy.
Of course our saddles were utilized for
pillows and the buggy wheels served for
wind break. Quite romantic we as
sure you, but there are some people who
are more pratical than romantic of
which we are one. About the hour when
graveyards are said to yawn and the
graves give up their ghosts we silently
contemplated the scene and made our
observations. For miles on either side
of us, along the 100 feet allotted for the
use of prospective settlers, were the
white tents and covered wagons of the
camper. To the north of US were the
cultivated fields of Kansas. To the
south was the boundless illimitable
prairies which were covered with rich
grass and beautiful flowers, to our mind
the most beautiful scenery we had ever
beheld. But it was not of the scenery
we wished to speak in this connection.
Packed together as close as sardines in
box, with their heads to the north and
their feet towards Alva, were Blair, Law
renee and Hille. They were peacefully
sleeping, this we could tell by their gen.
tie GU breathing and the pleasant smiles
that fitted across their sun-burned faces
as they dreamed of the corner lots which
they would secure in the future metrop-
| oils of Oklahoma. The scene shifts and
a shade of anxiety followed by one ofan-
guish indicates that the stern realities
have only temporarily vanished. With
frantic and decidedly earnest gest-
ure Blair clutches wildly in the
vicinity of his back collar button ex-
claiming "a centipede, by thunder!"
With yells like Comanche Indians Law
renee and Hille sprung to their feet ex-
claiming "What is it?" "Where is it?"
A hasty examination revealed the fact
that it was only stray grasshopper that
had caused so much CONSERVATION and
SO rudely awakened the boys from their
blissful slumbers. There are some
things said in moments of great excite
ment and at times of real or fancied
peril that would not read well in print
and we draw the veil as once more the
boys huddle together in the cool, mid
night air, in their efforts to refresh
themselves for the eliminating act on
the memorable 18th of September.
The boys all saw the sun rise on the
morning of the 10Th. This is official.
The morning was spent in caring for our
horses and in specializing on the best
starting point there being no roads and
everybody anxious to obtain any van
tage ground that might present itself.
About 10 o'clock the crowd ranged itself
along the line and waited patiently for
the firing of the signal gun which was
to proclaim the territory open for settle
ment. Up to this time there had been
much levity and numerous were the
witticisms and jokes perpetrated by the
good natured crowd. But, as the hour
approached, feeling of nervousness
seemed diffused and laughter and hilar-
ity were, by common consent, as much
out of place almost as at religious
gathering. Many had camped along the
line for weary months and some for
more than year waiting for the presi-
dents proclamation and the hour was
almost at hand when they would know
their patience and suffering
would be rewarded or whether specula-
tors with their fast horses would secure
all the desirable homes. A. glance up |
and down the long line, at the magnifi-
cent horses, assured us that the whole
scheme was as uncertain as lottery