davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23

Of woods toward the east was dusty line
filed with struggling mass of humanity,
horses and wagons. On they came in this
wild desperate race, horses wet with sweat
and riders dusty and grim IL their de-
termination 10 secure and hold their farms.
Far up 10 the north a line OF dust marked
the trail Of the advancing legions ii Ihat
direction Now and then a footman nun
ming al the top Of his speed, came in sight
as a rider stopped his horse 10 aiight and
waving his nat announced that he was
an owner OF part Of the great Oklahoma
country Then there seemed 70 ooze OF,
OF the very ground itself a crowd of men
and boys. 1t was not five minutes after
ward until little white tent with a flag
waving above il appeared upon the hill
side west OF Guthrie. People came bo5oing
up from every direction. The stalking out
OF town lots, commenced in the morning
Illegally, was now commenced under the
law. Two women, the first 10 take claims
in Oklahoma, Mrs. 2. r. Nesting and
Mrs. Anna Beard, Two widows OF Arkansas
City. went upon the hillside near the land
Office and sat down upon their lots Peo-
pie commenced to stretch ropes. Soon n
the distance a man came riding in a full
speed upon a fine horse. He said he had
come from thirty-five miles east II he did
he had made the distance in fifteen min
utes. II he had started a L o'clock II
was 10 when the first train Of ten cars
came rolling in from the north L was
densely packed and crowded and the people
commenced 10 roll 10 the platform from the
domes OF the baggage cars and tops Of
passenger coaches. Baggage. tents and
supplies were pitched from the windows
Before the train had stopped. many OF
the passengers had aIighted from the cars
They commenced running up the hill 70 the
land Office, passing all the lots staked out
before and then continued until they found
place which had no claimant. Every
man had in his hand a Ratchet or an ak
and carried four pegs with which to mark
the boundaries OF his lot. With each sue
ceeding train there came in new townlot
seekers. The last train from the north
was as heavily loaded as the first and the
scramble and the excitement at the IN
loading was intense. Upon the hillside east
Of the station stood the only frame build
ing. IT was 16x20. one-story. implanted.
Near the railroad track had been put up
the first hotel IN Oklahoma. II was owned
BY General J. H Reece, Colonel Jake
Wheeler and Colonel J. c. Bell Of Spring
field. H.. and called the Santa Fe house.
The hotel consists Of fifty tents, five large
ones being used as dining rooms, with a
capacity of 300 beds. The register for the
first day showed thirty-seven names. The
first man to get the attention Of the land
Office authorities was NJ. B. Calm OF Ar
kansas City, who fled as attorney ten
homesteads for old soldiers. The first
name appearing upon the books is Thomas
Johnson. his claim being the northwest
quarter OF section S. township 10 south,
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23
wICHTTA's MEMORABLE DAY.


Ten years ago yesterday was famous
day for Wichita. Oklahoma was opened
70 settlement. and Wichita had the leading
part in the struggle to settle this tract
Of land. During the civil war Senator jim
Lane and Senator Pomeroy had a. scheme
TO open Oklahoma and make II territory,
70 be Differed completely by Kansas men.
Lincoln partially agreed 10 the scheme,
but # afterwar5 fell through J. 5 Kali
lock was TO be governor of Oklahoma,
T. c Sears. territorial Judge; Jacob Stot-
Ter, secretary Of territory; NJ VI. MurdOck,
territorial printer; 5. s. Prouty, receiver
of the land office. IN 1863 Dave Payne
located IN Payne township, Sedgwick eoun-
~. calling il Payne's ranch, and early In
the seventies ran against Henry G Sluss
for state senator. Sluss got the most
votes but was disqualified because ne had
neglected TO resign his position as United
States commissioner. Payne became state
senator. Two years later Payne was again
nominated for the senate by the Demo
Gratis. holding their convention il the old
Keno block, standing where the Kansas
National bank IS now. ". II. Murdoch
was nominated by the Republicans in the
Old Eagle nall now over the Boston store.
The election was unprecedentedly riotous.
NJ " Murdock was elected over Payne,
the latter carrying only one county.
Payne then went 10 Washington, D. c,
and became a member Of the Capitol build
ing police force and afterwards door-keeper
in the national house Of representatives..
he and Boudin0t, a Cherokee Indian,
planned together 10 get Oklahoma open
10 settlement. and worked on the scheme
for years. Several times David Payne,
operating from Wichita, invaded Oklahoma
and was routed out. at one time being
forced to walk, strapped behind a wagon,
clear 10 FOr- Smith. Payne dropped dead
az Wellington some time before the open
ing Of Oklahoma.
But Wichita's long agitation and pr0x-
unity 10 the leading spirits in the Okla
homa matter. made II the prime factor in
the movement. For years the Eagle pound
ed away or the subject, aided by the Kan
sas City Times. then the principal paper
IN Kansas City. and finally. the opening
Of the country was accomplished at the
last hour Of congress.
Wichita had held big conventions de-
manding the opening Of the territory, and
it had been the main local talk FOR years.
So great was the Oklahoma spirit here
that the city lost 1900 Of its inhabitants
ten years ago yesterday.
The close alliance started 50 many years
ago between oklahoma and Wichita stiu
exists. Immediately after the opening the
Eagle started its Oklahoma Outlines
then the first column Of the kind in the
country. and Il has never been absent from
its columns L. r. Delaney. the agent
Of the A, T. & s. T. railroad here, was
then agent at Guthrie, the only .nhabitant
Of the town. Dennis Flynn was postmas
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23

applied for tovnsi1e purposes and 10 pro
vide police regulators
Following IS a dispatch from Oklahoma
City:
Oklahoma Station. .. T. Aprn 22-Your
correspondent arrived here last night and
upon gong out this morning instead %
not finding any citizens here. found num-
Der, among them Bill Hackney OF Win
field. whom We thought was SIN IN Wash
ington- General Merritt. and stan are here
and have their headquarters in a special
car. Four companies Of the Tenth tnfan-
tcy are also here. under command of
Colonel Switzer. General Weaver Of Iowa,
= here for the purpose Of takingup
claim. T 3. Bjedler os Philadelphia. Ia
postmaster. he is HarTSon's sppointee.
There are about fifty deputy ma-shals IN
der command OF Colonel Charles Jones.
The train from the south arrived al about
Il m. and was loaded with boomers
who had hoped that the train would not
arrive al Oklahoma before noon. They
we're not allowed 70 land but we're warned
by the soldiers that they would place them
under arrest. place them under guard and
keep them there two days II teey did not
take their seats on the train. which after
ward reached Guthrie about 1870.
Following is a dispatch from Pond Creek;
Pond Creek .. T. April 2s-Two stock
men. Messrs. Regain and Cochran. arrived
IN Pond Creek this morning, bringing the
FRS. rews from the camp under Captain
Woodson At the Caldwell trail. At 10
o'clock yesterday morning. two thousand
wagons and several horsemen were drawn
UP in lire Two miles tbs side Of the Okla
homa line At that hour Captain Wood
son gave the command 70 advance and al
= 30 all had arrived al the Okishoms Inc.
ready for the great free-for-aH race over
the prairies. Captain WoOdson addressed
the boomers and n the name o. the United
States government thanked them tor tactr
good behavior. At precisely L-,o5 O'Clock.
the tug.e sounded and the boomers COM
menced Their mad race across the p-s.rIss.
\ few yards from the starting point a
boomers horse stumbled and tel upon
him. breaking the mans neck Another
boomer In a buggy wishing 10 insp.rit ne =
energy into his tagged out horses fred a
shotgun and accidentally killed a ne sh-
toring boomer. y. P. Reese. a ph0togra-
pher. who also returned from Ca-dSel
Trail camp ms morning. says that en-
sunday night the boomers held church and
during the sermon two men got into an
cItercaton regarding a horse swap and
enc OF the men was fatally stabbed The
first stage coach from. King6she-. which
vas expected IN Pond Creek at p. n,
With first tdinss from Kingdsoe- district.
had not arrived AZ : o'clock
The following dispatch was: King
fisher. via Fort Reno.-Kingfsher = a
grown town already. except the titles are
somewhat in dispute. and no town officers
are yet elected. Chicago avenue Is nalf
a mile long. The officers q the Rock Island
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23

save only for those students, who, awe
struck and glum. stood around her. Now
I Lay Me Down 10 Sleep was pitifully
murmured forth on the damp and fever
stricken air; that was all. As though the
voice of Jehovah spoke out from the night
stiffness came that simple yet majestic
and solemn sentiment. On her clothing
pinned against the rich fabric of her baby
dress, was the world wide token of the
square and compass, the universal and
time worn emblem OF the Masonic frater-
nifty. One Of the students recognized It.
and he bent forward andtenderiy picked
up the robes which enveloped the wonder
ing baby and modoned TO the surprised
group to follow him. He bent his steps
toward the path which led them Out into
the open where the wagon and team were
left, but the intricate paths were conflict
ing. and they missed the trail. All night
they wandered. regularly firing pistol shots
and breaking new paths and lighting sig
nal fires, but all were friutIess and OF no
avail. At sun-up the next morning relief
parties who had met the horses, who had
torn loose from their post found them,
wet with falling dew and worn with the
nights battle for life. But tenderly and
peacefully sleeping as though in fond
mothers arms was the easily breathing
baby girl, each young man taking turn
about all night in carrying her Detect
ives from Detroit and officers FL over the
state spent many fruitless days in the e.
fort 10 determine the identity Of the child,
and after all clues were exhausted she
was sent to a Masonic Home. and though
this was ten years ago. she Is yet n care
OF this body. being educated and trained
by the fraternity, one OF whose members
50 accidentally found her and by direction
seemingly OF Divine Providence rescued
her from q horrible death by starvation,
because her parents had unwi,tingly
brought her into the world by mistake
and cared not 20 assume the responsible
iJy Of ler rearing.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23

Of the south, they began 10 dLsmount and
take possession. Soon, as far as the eye
could carry. boomers could be seen stand
ing alone or in pairs upon the green prai-
RE. Some went to work Immediately build
ing shelter and protection from the hot
sun. Stretched far along the Cimarron
valley could be seen the immense wagon
train going TO the south. Some OF the out
fits would stop for camp. There was not
manifest on the part OF the moving cara
van any great expedition. The camp fires
were TO be seen rising in all directions and
at one place embers had started quite q
prairie fire.
Beside the crowd With a right TO entry
there were concealed in the bushes and
woods a large number Of people. When
they heard the ougle blast they seemed To-
rise right up out Of the ground. Many
a man who had started from the line at
noon and reached his chosen claim found
that some one was already in possession.
Whence ne had come or how was mys-
terry. Sometimes they both stood 10 con-
test it; at other times the man on horse
back continued until he had reached a
second desirable spot of ground. One man
who had started AZ the line said he had
stopped upon seven different spots 70 see
some one rise out Of the ground 10 claim il.
AT Guthrie during the whole forenoon
from mysterious sources tents came TO
light and before 10 O'Clock, TWO hours be-
fore tho proper time, tents began TO arise
from the ground, and by L o'clock, the
legal hour for the opening, there was a.
ready a city Of tents. The presence Of
so many deputy marshals and other United
States officials was thus easily explained.
They were simply townsite schemers and
could not wait even the time when they
could legally act. The poor devils who had
been driven from the ravines and woods
could not draw much from the fact that
United States officials had been commits
stoned by the hundreds 10 come in and
secure all available sites for future great
cities. The poor devils, It Is true, wanted
only to till the soil. The population Of
Guthrie this morning was then about 1000,
about twenty of which were legally here.
The town boomers were present from Ar
kansas, Texas, Missouri and far-off Cali
fornia.
A party Of the deputies moved upon a
body Of boomers concealed in the bushes
near Guthrie and rounding them up drove
them across the river. Leaping from their
teams they fired of their guns and COM
menced turning up the soil and set them
selves torth as the owners of the very
claims from which they had just driven the
boomers. The feeling tonight IS intense
and bitter against these men who took
advantage of Official position to violate the
law and rights Of the poor. but true set
ter. In regard to this there will be begun
a bitter contest for claims near Guthrie
and lots on the townsite. At this place
there was no announcement of the noon
day hour. But at Z o'clock a long stretch
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23

ter at Guthrie. having been appointed at
the request Of Congressman Sam Peters
Of Newton. Governor Barnes was receiver
Of the Guthrie land office, being appointed
from Arkansas.
Among other notable things ten years
ago was cartoon in Lon Holdings Arrow
showing Wichita as a mother nursing a
fat infant labeled Oklahoma
The opening took place on Monday and
Wichita began 10 empty Sunday morning
and sunday evening, either TO participants
or witness the great race.
On Tuesday morning the Eagle in dis-
patches chronieled the race in dispatches
from Arkansas City and Guthrie and other
points. TIE contents OF some OF those
disDatchs are here given:
Guthrie, Oklahoma, April 22.-Lieutenant
Foster OF company G. Fifth cavalry, stood
at the north line Of Oklahoma, watch IN
hand. Guards held a rope marking the
line. When the noon hour came he
turned 70 the bugIer and told him 70 give
the signal The bugler blew the blast
and Immediately there sprang across the
line, with a loud yell and cheering, a
thousand riders, urging their horses on at
the fullest speed. Behind they left their
families, wagons and supplies, expecting
them TO follow. Many man paid $50
for a horse for this special occasion, for
much depended upon the result Of the
race. Others rode horse and took a sec
ond as a relay. Il was race for valuable
lands. and every one went az the full trot
Of his speed. On. on they few, first in a
bunch, then separating they spread in all
directions. Many kept in a bee line for
Guthrie. others Went to the southeast.
while a few went To thu southwest. IN
ten minutes some Of the feetest were three
miles 10 the south and were still going at
full speed The wagon train moved on
south slowly and Al o'clock many had
crossed the Cimarron, others had reached
their claims and holding their horses
were the prof=ssed owners Of a quarter
section Of what they choose to claim IS the
finest land the sun ever shone upon. In
some places two were now upon the same
section. The rich valley Of the Cimarron
was covered with men. South Of Alfred
there were men urging their horses on
at full speed. Two young men who had
evidently a team from farm wagon fell
behind an older man with a feet race
horse. \ valuable tract in the C!marron
valley was attained and the old man. stop
ping his horse, leaped from the animal
and turned UP the soil with MS spade and
leaning upon the handle Of that implement
waved his hat 10 the distanced competi-
tors. Few seemed TO care to stop around
the north line as there the land was con-
s.dered less valuable and inferior in rich
ness to that below. For this south c0un-
try most Of the men struck boldly out
One man had struck his tent just over the
line, and lying within waved his hat in
joy TO the passing crowded wagons. When
tbs riders began TO reach the good lands
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23

Ire scow-g zaa aeea rsrsiTss
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w5ca.ts IS sstzrew.zz tts country we
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w ezy gaia rast a9 1s~ ear
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The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23

read. TIE Cannon BAN stage line ard other
corporations are in one building. whlcn =
a canvass tent l0xl2 feet Not TIE slight
est trouble OF any kind has occurred.
though in many instances there are sew
sral claimants 10 one town lot Home
stsads are occupied in al directions. Car
tain woodson gave the settlers under his
command fair start az noon. TIE horse
back men dashed rsckleSsly a-ross the
prairie. The wagons and carriages followed
in haste and confusion. The first arrival
n KiagdSher was w. B. Guthrie from
Custer, Nebraska He rode sim Say
mare and covered the TWENTY-FIVE niles IN
one hour and three-quarters- Not tewnty
feet behind him was ". 9. Yokurn OF Ha--
per. Kansas. The Two rode side BY SIDE
the whole way. y. II. Donneley % HR--
Per. and Jerry Mercy OF I.eot. came just
behind. They were after town lots. The
sreat majority OF those % whom Captain
Woo6son gave the starting signal weas
straight 20 their claims Many passed
through here southwark last night. Almost
every Ksngishsr man wears & s.x-Shcoter
and wears IL where he car get it very
easily. out al are IN good hgmor and nat
town IS spreading oyer the whole sectioa.
Accounts from the line say that the start
there was an exciting spectacle. The Has
vas formed az 70 O'Clock and vas ten
miles Ions Captain woodsoa's manage
nent Vac perfect. Al the signal TIE noise
that burst forth Was terrible. Wagons
were broken IN the rush and others hroks
down IN the glliias. and sharp turns n the
road. and al the way from here 70 tie
Among the first vehicles 20 arrive Wss
lgat wagon drawn BY pair q horses.
The occupants we're George V. Morris. W.
r Brovulee. both formerly % ths I.srnsd
land Office. ard George WorreiL also %
Lsrued. They took lots II Klngasher I've
young ladies named GiEt,and took up
claim just this s!de % Ire north line. The
men gave them a show and their claim -
not disputed. They were IN ar open buggy
With a osrrei mule and tent dangling BE-
hind. A farmer named Hopper has Iat
here and his sign reads, Keep OF tAis
claim. 7 nave gun" This evening the
ladies' were on hand and StrollinE about
as spectators. 4 few gamblers have sp-
peared and two lawyers sings are 10.
T-hg Rock Island. which y the crack hos
telry. Is fun % guests. Unless Guthrie a.
some other a. the eastern Oklahoma
towns chats this tozn. tbs Is me BveHest
place In America today. IN the great race
everybody wants credit % being ahead ard
discussions on that point are IS animated
as tho>e about claims.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23
TOOK HORSESHOE ALONG.

There is a colored man in this city who
attributes all Of Judge Myact's success in
public life 10 the darkeys fav0rire omen
Of good luck, which is The rusty Old horse
shoe above the d00-. Years ago VIM.
Holmes. a good-natured and trusty col
ored man. was working in the employ Of
Judge Myatr. and in 80, when the judge
was a candidate for the appointment Of
city attorney, William went into the office
one day with a rusty old horseshoe which
he had picked up among, some rubbish.
He tied q string TO it and quietly hung
II over the door of the Office. When the
judge asked him what that meant, William
said.
DIS var race is gwine ter be a little
tight. Mis,ah Wyatt, and dat hoss-shoe
VIII do de work, sho.
To please Mr.. Holmes. the judge allowed
the horseshoe to remain. Mr. Cox was
elected mayor and M Myatt sol the ap-
pointmelt Of city attorney.
In 1894 Judge Myact was brought out for
the nomination for probate judge ten days
before the convention. The time was so
short that William almost despaired Of
success. 50 he turned the horseshoe 50 as
u hang with the other side TO The wall
Il worked. Judge Myatt was nominated
and elected. The judge began TO believe
in the virtue Of the horseshoe himself
after that and il has remained over the
door Of his office ever since. and good luck
has ever remained perched beside it above
Judge Nyatts door. When he landed the
appointment of solicitor for the board OF
Visitation recently. William Holmes re
memaarzd the horseshoe and came Gown
town 70 again remind the judge.
Il to,e you a. tole YOU So, tole you
81. judge. The ole horse-shoe's stu dem
de h.zznsss. Now rsn= mber me. and Loan
you ne5oer take II from de doah."
When Judge HIya-t moved in with NJ.
Bru5achs- the other day. he was careful
70 have the rusty old horseshoe taken
along and now -- occupies selected place
5usc above the.door leading 10 the private
consultation room.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23
A MrsrrAL coINr1prNrf-

remarkable coincidence vas noticed "a
the streets Thursday a.ghs. as the saliva
tioa Army ard tas American Volunteers
were returning t1 the.- respective halls
after the street service EaS over. Ju>f 40
the Salvation Army l-ig4Ie Ess turing
tse corner % Main and Doag.as he leu
tenant turned the bel o. h.s c5rns' skr-
wtrl and began TssyiaF e SRA "a % "Ccrss
% tie Lord ard - & salvation" Whca
the nigh tones q tas hymn wsrs rsscss1
ne captain ~ the Volunteers Eas heard
Staging the same song. and ere 40 ssrs
precisely together on ths same Key. 81
though three blocks apart. ard ns.t-er
knew what the osser was doing. Pe--s1s
r79 n0ticsd the c151-.feEes continues 20
lsi~1 and tae comet man and ere ra8ts.1
kept exactly igzethfr. beth .n tsEs snA
tine. uutl gre eHHrs Eymn vas enishst
This fear would have been f11pase be Raj
either kn0Wa % the others EFFORT
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23

Es- - g~r- eusr were e1r5sr Z
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re Fs--f s--ssea - ever IL rsrss n
re nas~f srt+-t 81 -r.sa-z va t7 asss
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q. 80 cares