The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1894-05-24
A WILD RIDE.
Tho Stirring Experience OF Ken
tuclxian In tho Cherokee Strip.
Terrible Scenes Witnessed in the Mad
Rush for Land In the Newly -Orgsn-
ICED Territory Hard Times
In Rinrc.

Lieut.. Arnold, who 10 attached to
the staff of Gov. Brown, of Kentucky,
recently arrived here from the Chero-
kce strip, where he was successful in
securing n splendid claim, says the
st. Louis Republic. On the MEM
orablo morning he made the run on n
thoroughbred race horse he had brought
there expressly for the purpose.
Starting from a point four miles east
of Hunnewell he had To ride sixteen
miles south OF u point known as Black
wells. lie covered the distance in
fifty-two minutes, accompanied by a
'cow-pnncher" thoroughly acquainted
with the country. AZ least fifty we'll
mounted men were in hot pursuit for
the same claim, but the lieutenant rot
there first. Several other Kentuckians
were similarly successful in the same
vicinity. Lieut.. Arnold's quarter see
tion OF one hundred and sixty acres is
one of the titbits of the strip. II is
close to the Shellaslsy river, and Is n
splendid tract Of land, worth between
two thousand and Eve thousand dollars
according TO experts.
Arnold Is sunburnt, sincwy-lool-
ing man OF about forty. lie said: al
was prepared for tough experience,
but, great hoavcnsl not for what saw
and underwent TO begin with, thou
sands Of mon and women were kept
forty-cight hours In the line cndenvor-
ing 20 register. The dust was simply
awful. At the time the rush was made
everyone was black and unrccogniz-
| able. There was hardly drop of wa
ter to drink, and washing was an inn
possibility. Fifteen thousand grimy
human beings tore mndly into the new
| domain, reminding me more OF the
maggots on carcass than anything
else. The sooncrs were in possession
almost everywhere. Lots of them were
shot, and saw one Gooner hanged In
short order. In my ride noticed near.
ly twenty dead horses and quite a
number OF dead and dying men.
'"Thcre was fighting and bloodshed
enough 10 satisfy the very worst of the
bad men from Bitter creek. Not far
from my claim two men were quarrel.
ing with drawn pistols, when third
interfcrcd and endcavored TO separate
them lie got n shot through the wrist
and then the two proceeded to kill
each other. | saw one fellow lying
dead with n handkerchief drawn
tightly around his neck. He had beer
Strangled, and when searched fou,
hundred and fifty dollars was found or
him. When | made the rush wor,
mighty little and carried no arms, bu
| felt more comfortable when my Win
chester was in my hands. The scene,
after the rash were terrible. | saw
two women who were buracd by Tn.
prairie fire and the soldiers shot by IN,
soouor5. In fact | have seen enough
Of that sort Of thing TO last me the res
OF my life. Blackwell, the so-callc
Indian, who gave his namc to the tow
site and owns every other lot in 1t. Ia
'squaw man He put His hay up I
one dollar n bale after the rush, bu
the boys went to him with 70,
double-barrelcd pcrsuaders on thei
shoulders, and he was glad TO re
down To fifty cents after brief discrs
sion. They also made him stand l..
original prices for his town lots.
shouldn't be surprised IL they were 4
hang him any morning.
well, l'm glad TO get away from th
strip awhile, although. now that tn
rain has come and the dust settled
there ID not so much hardship.
at was fearful ut first, especiall
Tor women, and am afraid even nov
an awful winter is in store for many o
the Gettlcrs.
my clabn Is disputed, like all the re
but hove u clear case. My papers ar
all rigat, and | expect to return in
month or SO and commence improve
ments."