The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-28

Missoury. Prohibited in Kansas, Okla
homy or Bust" was a modest and neat
ly covered wagon. Though filled with
u miscellaneous assortment of house
hold utensils and farm implements,
this wagon presented Il curiOusly fem
inine appearance. HarncSSed ON one
side of its pole was Il hopefully feeble
nag that seemed inspired to pull or
die. On the seat was boy of eight
winters. He was not humpbacked,
though he gave that unfortunate i'm
pressiOn but the SHOWS of life had
somehow shriveled his little form. and
he bent like bow. He Clung to the
battered reins, while a look of deter
minatiOn was set upon his weakened
face.
Keep cool head. Bub; after I've
Staked my claim and dug a spadeful of
dirt and put up my shingle, Wee and |
VIII ride back to meet you. No matter
what happens, keep straight for the
river"
The voice was strong and pleasant.
1T came from woman ON horseback
Bulbs mother. who had mounted the
nigh horse to make Il Surer race for
land. In front of her Wee was safely
ried. her baby girl, just three years old.
Bub was too young and feeble to drive
and care for his sister at the same time,
NenturouS mother.
These three people We're among the
great army of immigrants who had
staked all on the presidents prOclama-
tion opening the new territory of Ok
lahOma to the public.
Tom korall, the children's father
had died in the saddle booming some
where i'm the Indian territory: and
Caddy korall his wife. was left i'm
IL I,il.I
In her blood to scramble for new land.
Excitement and the hope of Il quarter
section We're TOGO strong, and now
mounted on Jerry, she saw land and
home waiting for her ON the banks of
the Cimarron river.
The ruStling now became a rushing
and, a shouting. Yels and shrieks
puickened the hoOfs of even the most
decorous mule. The hour had come
Twelve O'clock was at hand. The bugle
blew. AT noon precisely. on Monday.
April 90. began the desperate race. that
all the world has heard of, for Okla
homa land There, was no slime. for
govdbyeS now. Caddy wanted to kiss
her boy again. She couldn't reach him.
She kissed her hand instead, ana gal
loped off. Bub urged his horse to the
mockery of Il trot. The land sharks
who but now had made jokes at the
boys expense and tried to chafY the sin
gle-minded mother, We're off and gone
on their fleet bronchOs--the Indian
ponies The day was bright and clear.
The race could be seen for miles over
the rolling prairie. Bub strained his
eyes and kept the two flying figures on
horseback in sight as long as he could
see for tears and dust. He heard men
swearing violently and saw many
brandish weapons. The untamed emo
tional natures of the boomers found
vent in yelling: "YahoO! YahOo." at
the top of their lungs, and in firing
shots from revolverS and Winchesters.
The mother fled, well i'm the van. among
honest citizens and "parairie toughs,"
who meant TO get land at any cost. I
said that Oaddy was well at the head?
So she was, Jerry Outdid himself on
that day. Yet she was not the first
One. who had the bold eyes of cosmo-
politan belle, the assurance of a Texan
cowboy. and who kept her saddle like a
circus rider, was full a quarter of u
mile ahead. She led the race on mag
nifcent roam. She turned and chal-
lenged them all with a laugh and with
gestures of defiance. Though she
smiled insolently at the men. she looked
sympathetically at the pale, slight
mother who, with one arm around the
child and with the reins in the other
hand, urged jerry by sharp clucks.
Close behind Caddy rode the leader of
the notorious gang of desperadOes who
had done so much to fleece and terror
fze the farmer boomers. This man
went by the name of "CiriZzly JIM"
The pace was terrific. The three had
turned more to the eastward away
from the railroad. Grizzly Jim began