The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-05-31
MAD RUSH FOR LAND.
Scramble Of 10000 People for 47 Klcka-
poo Claims.

poo Claims.
Rapidly the Indian reservations are be-
Ing settled up by the white man, and in
another few years the last of the great
rushes for land will be over. A week
ago today 10000 eager, greedy men and
women rushed pell nell into the lidtle tri-
angular reservation Of the last remnant
of the once powerful Kickapoo Indian
tribe, and jostled scrambled and fought
for the 437 claims that were opened TO
settlement by President Cleveland's pro.
clamation.
The majority Of the bark homes
built by the Indians are located In the
uplands, far distant from the rich bot
tom lands which were allotted to them
by the agents of the government. Now
they shelter the white, man who has
taken possession Of the upland as his
own.
The race of the Kicloapoo tribe is about
run, and 1t will be but few years be-
fore the last brave will have passed to
the happy hunting grounds of his fathers.
OF all the Indian tribes in the territory,
the Kickapoo is the least fitted to enter
Into active competition with civilized
races. He has made no advancement
in the 300 years he has been known TO
clothes himself in the same scanty prim-
tive glrb, and prepares his food in the
same manner as did his warlike ances-
tors AS the lines of progress advanced
from the north, east and west, ne was
gradually driven from one point to an
other until he was hemmed in on all sides
In the narrow confines Of the reservation.
Today the handful of Kickapoos that
have survived has been set adrift, their
tribal relations sundered, and the braves
squaws and papooses will soon become
wandering vagabonds. All of their al.
lotments have already been leased to
large syndicates, for the Kickapoo Is
constitutionally opposed TO work of all
kinds, and he win visit his land prob,
ably only when payments are to be
made.
An Oklahoma City dispatch of the 23rd
gives a graphic description of the mad
race for lands, and is in brief as follows:
The largest crowds that participated in
today's race were camped last night along
the south banks of the Canadian river.
They selected as points for the start the
fords used by the Indians lying between
Shawnee and Sweeney's ranch, the
stream being spanned by substantial
bridge at the latter point. The line or
HedNy IlInDtT IHdL SRlTlS WHe river was
made bright with the burning campflres
Of the boomers on the south side, the
light giving golden hue Ito tine foliage
Of the trees and making fantastic shad,
ows behind their massive trunks. Their
reflection could be seen glstening over
the water across bends in the river, and
evidences of the despised "sooner" who
occupied the forbidden ground on the
other side twinkled through the trees on
the north bank.
At break of day coffee pots were boil
ing over the fires and as soon as the
morning meal had been eaten camps were
packed away, horses Slddled or hitched
to vehicles, and each party went to the
particular spot selected from which TO
make the dash. 1t was in getting pos
session of desirable points at which to
cross the river that the first signs OF
Immature came TO the surface, and tn
numerous controversies that occurred In
dicated the serious troubles that were
to follow in the reservation in the after
noon.
At Sweeney's ranch the best equipped
class of settlers congregated. Sweeney
had built bridge in the rear of his
house and inclosed a largs grove with wire
fence. This grove was transformed into
a camping ground last night, those oc-
cupying 1t paying a good toll to the
owner for the privilege of using the
bridge and crossing on the ford just be,
low within the inclosure. AS the hour
of noon approached the boomers crowded
close to the bridge approach and wltted
in their saddles or wagons for the time
to go.
BY common consent Sweeney was the
master of ceremonies. All watches were
set by his that There should be no mis-
understanding as ITO when noon should ar
rive. AT 11:S0 men were waiting in their
saddles with watches in one hand ana
whips in the other. The strain was in
tense as the hand crept over the dial at
snail,s pace. Faces were white with sup
pressed excitement and it was with the
greatest difficulty that Sweeney prevented
them from startling.
Three, two, one minute ahead of time.
He stood near THE bridge with one
hand holding the watch, the other up
lifted. When the second pointer reached
the sixty mark, indicating noon, his right
hand fell emphatically as he shouted,
Cor and the START was made.
A man driving high spirited gray team
to a light Concord buggy was first on
the bridge. He dashed his horses into a
dead run and was half way over before
a troop Of horsemen were fairly started.
AS he cantered down the narrow roadway
which winds it's way through thick trees
on the Kickapoo bank horses and vehicles
were crowding onto the bridge in an
indiscnminate mass. Men were shout
ing, cursing and whipping their horses.
Riders struck one another in their efforts
to make their way through the jam.
team struggling to reach the bridge
was crowded off the approach and wagon,
horses and driver went down the steep
embankment fffteen feet to the shallow
walter in the river below. One of the
horses broke leg and was promptly shot
by its owner. The other was eXtricated
from the debris, clambered up the bank
on the opposite side and ran away in the
cloud of dust left by those who had gona
before. In the roadway through the
woods numerous wagons were wrecked
in collision, and a mile from the bridge
a blockade was caused by an unfortunate
break down.