The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-28
THE BABY BOOMER.
nY nERnrnr D. wAnp.
Copyright. 1862
pART 1.


the shr.!li tones OF the busle. AS far
as eye could fsach from wezi TO east,
| from woodland, bog nnd prairie. n non.
descfipt, ftvtriSh, impatient mas OF
rushing humanity wac Seon, fully 70
600 strong. The hundreds OF United
Stnltes marshals and troops VINO ilau
for 80 many days YEARLY guarded the
coveted Territory from treSpaSS sighed
with relief when the first notes OF the
pre-caaptlcn signal were heard. Long
before noon the thousands VINO ilau
started for Arkansas Cry, who mad
camped at Ponca, ut Black Bear creek,
who had pushed on chefrtully IN spite
OF the swollen rivers, bottomless muu
and all the woes incident 10 an fnvad-
ing army, were ranged along the wire
fence that marked the Oklahoma line.
Open wagons. prairie schooners,s ulkies.
buggies, carts pulled by dOnkeys.m mules.
oxen and horses OF all kinds and every
blood were stationed on the line The
great majority OF the settlers had
ssaked everything on Oklahoma. ana
many of these were seated OH horses
prepared to race for 'the4r future homes.
On the dead nne, next TO q wagon
which bore the following words on Us
canvas cover: "Chintz- Bugged 10 llli-
nots, SIclonei In Nebraska. White
capped In Indiana, Bald-knobbed In
AIlssoury. Prohibited in Kansas, Okla
horny or Bust" was modest ana neat
~ covered wagon. Though filled win
a MISCELLANEOUS assortment OF house
hold utensils and farm implements,
this wagon presented cur4ously FEM
Inine appearance. Harnessed on one
side of Its pole was a hopefully feeble
nag t91ait seemed inspired to pull or
die. On the seat was a boy or eight
winters, He was not tfumpbacked.
though he gave that unfortunate I'm
preston; but the SHOWS of life mad
somehow shT4veled his little form, and
he benz like a bow. He chung 90 the
battered relns. while q look OF deter.
mfnNtion was set upon his weakened
face. -
Keep a cool head, Bub; after I've
staked my claim and dug a spadeful OF
dirt and put up my shtngte, wee ana
will ride back to meet you. No matter
what happens, keep straight for the
river"
The voice was strong afld pleasant.
II came from a woman on horseback
Bulbs mother, who had mounted the
nigh horse TO make q slrer race Tor
land. In front OF her Wee was safely
tied, her baby girl. juSt three years
old. BsIb was too young and feeble TO
drive and care for his sister At the same
time, so Wee went on horseback with
the adventurous mother.
These three people were among the
great army OF immigrants who had
ataised all on the Presidents proclama-
tton opening the new territory Of OK
lalhoma to the public.
md died In the saddle booming some
where IN the Indian territory; and
Catdy Korall, his wife, was teft In
Kansas with the two children. II was
in her blood 20 scEamble for new land.
Excitement and the hope OF quarter
section were too strong, and now,
mounted ON Jerry, she cav land and
home waiting for her on the banks OF
the CImarron river.
The rustllng now became q rushing
and o shouting. Yells and shrieks
auickened the hoots OF even the most
decorous mule. The hour had come
Twelve O'Clock was at hand. The ougle
blew. AZ noon precisely, on Monday,
April %, begun the desperate race. thaf
ali the world has heard of. for Okla
good-bys now. Caddy wanted to kiss
her boy again. She couldn't reach him.
She kissed her hand Instead. and gal
loped on. Bub urged h!a horse to the
upckery Of O Erot. The land sharks
who but now had made Jokes at the
boys expense and tried to chaH the
minded mother. were or and gone
on their feet bronchos-the Indian pom
les, The day was bright and clear. The
race could be seen for miles over the
rolling pralNIe. 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 Unframed emo,
tIonan natures OF the boomers found
vent in yelling: "Ynhoo! Yahooi" NJ
the top OF their lungs, and in firing
shots from revolvers and wincheSterS,
The mother fed, well in the van. among
honest citizens and "prairie toughs,"
VITO meant to get land at any cost.
said that Caddy was well Of the head?
SO she was. Jerry outdtd himself on
that day. Yet she was not aFSt. One,
who had the bold eyes OF cosmopol-
tan belle, the assurance OF Texan
cowboy. and who kept her saddle like a
circus rider, was full quarter OF
mile atlead. She led the race on mag
nihcent roam. She turned and cIal.
Ienged Them all with a laugh and with
gestures Of defiance. Though she smil-
sympathetically at the pale, slight
mother, who with one 0rm 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 40 much 10 fleece and terrortZe
the farmer boomers. This man went by
the name Of Grizzly jim" The pace
was terrific. The three had turned more
10 the eastward away from the rail-
road. Grizzly jim began to gain on
Caddy. For fully eight miles they had
run nip and tuck. The desperate could
not overtaloe the leading girl. In his
anger the blood surged into HE eyes
rods ahead OF him in direct line. He
raised his Winchester. took rapid aim
and blazed away. AZ which OF the Two
had lle hncd? AIasi which had he bIt7
Clddy's right arm fell helpless. Jerry
gave q desperate plunge in fright. The
woman swayed-a faintness seized her,
and she fell. With an oath the brute
passed her where she lay. Jerry, con.
sclous OF a lighter weight. raced on
ward with the renewed speed.
Now, the bold rider OF the yellow hair
heard the shot. She looked around and
took IN the whole scene with her quick
eyes. With difficulty she reIncd her
wild horse and tried to intercept tllc
baby's perilOus ride. She set her teeth,
The wtldness OF her nature wrcstied
with the woTdniy. This was her hour
OF glory-that she. u girl. should beat
thousands OF mtn IN chs struggle Tor
land. What would she ntG do 10 niake
the first section on the northern banks
OF he Clmnrron river? She could 600
the sarl6Rie and tc7''el smile os GFizzly
Jim as he EIlncd upon her IN miplN.y,
bounds. But behind lay one OF her own
sex, helpless. perhaps dying.
II guess I'll have 10 give II up"
The girl turned once more To the
southwark towards the promised land.
nni then the Adventures in her yield