The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-09-18

black with human life as were the In
sides. Following this train, with an
interval of only two or three minutes.
went another, and another until the
last, consisting of fat and coal cars, all
crowded, had pulled across the line fol-
lowed by at least 5000 disappointed.
painting men who were determined not
to be deprived of their rights. The run
to Perry was made in three-quarters of
an hour. Before the train stopped men
began climbing out of the windows and
jumping From the Platforms
in their haste to secure the claims.
Ahead of the train were at least 1000
horsemen who had come over the 10
miles from the line in unprecedented
short time, and claimed all the lots i'm
mediately about the land Office and the
public well. They were rubbing down
their weary horses as the trains were
unloading. Soon the last of the trains
pulled in and the scramble for land con-
tinued with increased vigor. The quar-
ter sections about the town had all been
taken, but in every direction lines were
being run and additional towns laid
out, to be called North Perry. East
Perry and West Perry. By . o'clock
fully 10000 men and women OF all
nationalities and colors were on the
site of what it is believed will be city,
without food and without water.
The scenes at Enid were but repe-
tition OF those at Perry. Many acci-
dents were reported, but 30 far none of
serious nature. The south line OF
Cowley county. with Arkansas City as
the center, presented scene almost as
animated and exciting as that at Or
lando. In many instances men leaped
their horses down the 18-foor embank-
ment, landing In the water and hastily
scrambling out again. Others were so
unfortunate as to cripple their horses,
and abandoning them. started on foot.
just east Of the school q heavy
wagon loaded with six men was driven
over the bank, which was concealed by
clouds Of dust that came up from the
burned prairie. As the horses went
over. the men jumped and all escaped
| unhurt but one man, who had his leg
broken.
or Every Condition.
There was the greatest difference in
the character. looks and aims Of the
different people standing ready FOR the
start. In the first wagon was grizzled
old Texan drivinga mule team attached
to an old freighter wagon loaded with
household goods and a goodly sized fam
lily. Next to him were dozen cow
boys, mounted on bronchos, and beyond
them speculator or two mounted on
trained race horses Next was an old
time boomer. with dilapidated outfit
and numerous children. and beside him
a Mississippi negro. sitting calmly in
his ox-cart. Two-wheeled, four
wheeled and six-wheeled vehicles were
to be seen, and people Of all sexes.
ages. sizes and racea The Indian was
here present with the rest, sitting upon
his pony, and gazing vacantly into
space.
Here and there in the line was q
i plucky man or woman upon foot
standing ready TO rush for one of the
nearby claims that the horssmsn might
leave unoccupied, and an occasional
ons-lsggsd soldier could be seen mount
cd upon horse. TO risk again his Mfs
In racing for the home the govsrnmen,
should long ago have given him.
| Harki the sound. the booming Of tn,
signal gum. and with mighty shou
that shook the very earth.
Ten Times Ten Theusand
homssseksrs rushed madly forward
Whips descended, and with one might,
bound the trained race horses and tim,
tried cattle ponies ieapsd forth and sho
like arrows across the green prairie
All mp and down the line they shot on
like flashes OF lightning from tn,
ragged summer cloud, being In sigh
but moment and then disappearin,
over the first hill or dropping into
ravine. Here and there horse STUN
bled and fell, but perhaps with an ex
ception'o or two was up and away again
in moment, with the plucky ride1
still clinging to the saddle Soon thes
meteor-hke horsemen were lost 20 sigh
save where here and there they ap
peared and reappeared, mere dots o.
some faraway hilltop.
Next to them were the carts igh
, wagons or buggies, skimming over tn
, level places of the prairie like swallow
over the lake, and soon disappearin,
, with the horsemen in the distance.
Typical Boomers.
Now came the typical boomers, i
their great prairie schooners A fe,
J rushed ont to some nearby claim
jumped from the wagon, pulled ont
plow and at once began show of work
but the great majority followed til
: trails to the interior. A short distanc
, ont from the line they fell into singl
: file and went winding like huge snak
}. across the billowy land Here an
. there man or woman upon foot car
tured claim along the line, or rushe
J across . piece of broken land or throug
deep ravine, beating the horsemen |
some fertile stretch Of bottom land, an
J far in advance Of the white topped ca
: avian, riding for life on q beaten trai
r was an occasional sweating. working
: straining bicyclist.