The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-10-05
HHE CHEROKEE BOOMERS.
The Adventures Of the Gig Stone
Captains in the WILD and
moort,, 1Hact
WooI.y West.

termont Hotel just after his return
from the Cherokee strip, and he kind
" consented to he interviewed in re-
gard to his experiences out west.
In reply to the request to give the
particulars of the adventures and
success Of the party, who went from
this place, Mr. Wright said: 1--WE
! left Big Stone Gap On the 9TH of
September, and arrived at Caldwell,
Kansas, On the north line Of the strip
Sunday night. On Monday morning
we took the Rock Island road to
Henncssy, four miles south of the
southern line OF the strip. There
we found things lively. The town
Of IIennessy has 5000 inhabitants,
bat when we arrived there were at
least 10000 people there. All the
hotels and houses were full, aud YOU
could not hire horse at any price;
YOU had to buy it.
"i'hcrc were four i'll our party: j.
". Goodloc, W. +. Culbert, j. +.
YouclI and myself We purchased
four good ponies at very reasonable
figures, and were ready for the race.
"Thc registration booth was on
part OF the strip, four miles north OF
the town Of lIenne>sy, and so great
was the rush to get registered, that
many stood in line two days and
nights, and towards tie latter part Of
the week much bribery was rcsortcd
to, to bay the places ol those next to
the booth. Some men made a bust
ness oi Standing in line until they
got near the booth and then sold ont
their places, for $40 or $l5.
The ace Vas mrda sor Saturday,
at > q clock. and there were from
Is, 900 to 10000 people ready to
make race for a future home
".Nbout 5 minutes before II O clock
5 one COWBOY fred his pistol, and
many people taking it for the signal,
broke loose. The Soldiers tried to
stop the rush, but were utterly pow
ereSs to do so, and we got away five
minutes before the train on the Rock
Island road Whcn we started on
the wild race it was like Il stampede
of bull'alocs. Man and horse took
the fever at once, and the peculiar
roaring sound, as the 10000 riders
dased away, will never forget. 1t
reminded me Of great cavalry
charge. The ponies became so eX-
cited they could not he controlled,
and dashed hcadlong at terrific
pace. After running this way for )
or 4 miles our party managed to get
out of the rush.
"rhe worst difficulty we had to con-
tend with was the canyons, some oil
them from Is to 20 feet deep, and
from 5 to s feet wide We were so
intent looking after ourselves, that
we did not notice the incidents and
mishaps Of the others, but as we rode
bacl, to IIenneSsv the road was strewn
with dead horses. Mr.. John Good
loe dvkcd out in COW boy costume,
nourishing two big Colts revolvers,
and his cantecn SWING across his
shoulders, looked the very picture OF
Wild Bill Cow boy. But he was
not soccer; he was a later. He ran
about fifteen miles and stopped on
! section, which lie held down for
two DAYS and nights, when to his
establishment, he found he had locat-
cd ON Il school section. Alas: for
his dreams Of fortune. those pict-
nrcs OF second jay Gould were
dashed away, and oar popular towns
man was very wrathy. indeed. !,
too had the same bad luck, and land
ed ON school claim, and seeing 1t
was useless to run any further, !
mounted my pony and rode into
Enid. arrived there about 3
o'clocl, AMI fonnd at least 10000
there. | tried until II o'clock to
hnl bed, but could not and had to
sleep on a piece of tent cloth with
COW boy from Texas was awak
encd about o'clock by a horse
stamping his feet within three inches
of my head, and did mol sleep any
more that night.
eve had great time and u Il en-