The herald., 1895-05-23
STRANGE PROCESSION
Boomers and Earnest Home Seekers in
the Race
Oklahoma City Deserted and Railroads Are
Running Excursion Trains to
the Frontier

OKLAHOMA CITY, o. T.. May o.
All night long the roads leading to the
kickapoo lands we're crowded with men
on horseback going to the border. The
crowd is much larger than was antici-
pated here. There will hardly be an able
bodied .nan in the town by tomorrow
morning.
The banks have given notice that they
will close for the day and the report was
started thas a raid by outlaws was feared.
1t will be great holiday event and the
town has today an air OF gaiety. No one
seems to be working. People stand about
the streets talking the matter over.
EYenty OF queer outfits are going out.
This morning bus drawn by four
horses took out townste party. On the
bus was loaded big tent and wet and
dry supplies and inside were the town
projectors and the men who will open the
first hotel and restaurant. A large body
OF horseme n, over one hundred strong,
started out this morning. 1t was fin o
sight as they went through the streets,
four abreast. with Winchesters and can
teens strapped to thir saddles.
The red uced fares on the railroads went
into effect last night and the trains are
crowded. Many of the passengers arriv-
ing were compelled to walk the streets all
gagged the night before. There is not
horse in town for hire and very few for
sale at even an enormous figure. The
weather is very cool and the sky has b an
overcast for two days. Everyood is
praying for rain. There will be no crops
IN this country unless there is rain very
soon. In the Kickapuo country every
thing looks much better
Marshal Nix has deputies and large
number OF horsemen in the country. At
the land office nothing is known of any
trouble. The purpose of the marshal in
the country is understood to be more in
the nature of detective work than arrest
ing sooners or driving them out.
Hiatt. the Kansas boy who was first in
the line at the land office, sold his place
last night for $500 to lady who wants a
claim. He has been engaged by her to
hold the place for her file and will make
the race out to the land for her.
United States Marshal Nix sent dozen
deputies into the kickapoo country to ar
rest sooners and take them before United
States Commissioner Wilkinson, who is
stationed at Kickapoo Falls. The sooners
are liable to fine OF $1,000 each. 1t is said
that some OF the sooners are desperate
that the deputies are likely to have
trouble in taking them. A man VINO
came from Shawnee says that the coun-
try is filling up with sooners, so there
will soon be more of that class OF men
than honest home-seekers.
1t was reported here yesterday after
noon that Big Jim's band of Kickapoos
had been in council on the Deep Fork
since Sunday night, talking about the
coming OF the settlers. The man who
brought the report in said they were all
armed with Winchesters and had plenty
OF ammunition and mum bered about $50
braves and squaws. The story is laughed
at but Marshal Nix said they might make
trouble, and he has wired for instruc-
tions.
Settlers are forming along the west
bank of the North Canadian river from
Sweeney's bridge south for two miles and
the woods are full of camps. 1t Is esti-
mated that at least 10000 men will make
the run from that line. run two miles
across the Kickapoo allotments and meet
the runners from the south. When the
two bodies get there trouble is predicted.
The streets of Oklahoma City resemble
those of Arknsas City just prior to the
opening of the Cherokee strip. Men on
horseback and in covered wagons are on
Their way to the border of the Kickapoo
country. Street auctions of ponies are
going on in half dozen places. Horses
that two days ago were not worth $40 are
selling readily for $50. From the country
around Oklahoma at least 1000 men will
run for claims.