Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-05-24
PLENTY OF CLAIMANTS
Opening of the Kickapoo Reservation
Attended With Exciting Scenes.
Many Honest Runners Handi-
capped by Sooners.
OIney and Aurora Consolidate Interests and
Become City Of McLoud.

OKLAHOMA CITY, May 24.-The Kicka-
poo opening was much in the nature of
huge farce. At 1910 yesterday nearly all
claims had from 10 to 20 claimants on
them, and those farthest from the line
were reached from the border in 30 min
utes. On one section 100 claimants, who
had run in from both borders and those
who were sooners, were cOngregated. The
honest runners combined to drive the
sOoners Off Several fights occurred, and a
number of shots were fred A colored
man named Blackford, from Oklahoma
county, Is reported badly wounded.
At Shawnee, as the noon hour ap-
preached, the crowd become restless. At
minutes to IL by some watches, it was
precisely noon by others, there was break
here and there in line. a wavering, and
then all broke into a run. The race across
the level plateau was "a very pretty sight.
The Rush at Sweeney's Ridge.
Sweency's ridge, on the north ford of
the Canadian river, in Township 12, was
one Of the principal points Of entrance to
the new land. There were 300 men gather
ing, and just before noon there was much
suppressed excitement, as the minute hand
licked near tho hour. Watches were held
in the other.
The scene thai followed the shout "GoW
was intensely exciting. The first man to
dash across the bridge was in n little
buggy drawn by pair of bays. The
driver brought his whip down. shouting
at them, and the horses bounded across
the briuge and off up the road with good
start, running away. Following him
came eight horsemcn, jostling one another
on the narrow bridge, trying to pass each
other. They whipped their horses and
struck at them and Mt each other, and at
last got across and scattered, racing like
mad.
The recklessness of the drivers in whip
ping their horses down the bank and
across has seldom been cqualed. Horses
would fall, only to be dragged to their
feet again. Men were hatless, and their
faces and forehcads were wrinkled and
strained. In five minutes the last wagon
had passed over.
Interests Consolidated.
Wednesday night 1t was made evident
to many of the boomers that all could not
get claims. So it was resolved to organ
ixe towns. About midnight big crowd
left Sweeney's, and rs the procession went
along, large additions were made to their
ranks. Two towns had already been pro-
jected, Olney and Aurora.
A council was held between the pro-
jectors of both towns, and 1t resulted in a
consolidation of interests the new town
to be called McLoud, i'm honor of the gen.
eral solicitor of the Choctaw road. The
procession 5000 strong, then took up the
march to Douglass Mills ford, at the sec
tion Of which McLoud was to be situated
DIR. J. w. Gillen Of Perry was chosen
mayor. Green B. Raum, Jr., Of Washing
ton Is q leading member of the town or
panization. The site Is a bank covered
with cactus and undcrbrush.
At noon the crowd passed over tho ford
in very quiet way and drew lots for posi-
tions on the town plot. A corps of survey
ors was on hand and mt once laid out the
town. Wagons with liquors, groceries
and cots came In, tents were erected, and
soon stores, restaurants and hotels were
opened and "a new town had been born.