The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-11
ghe aalieha Daily eagle: Sunday gBormo

were among the thousands who were pre-
pared to run for a claim They rugged
wooden bows on a farm wagon and
stretcheda canvas cover on in the usual
way to make camp wagon. Their team
was pretty well matched for speed,
though ill-mated, being a horse and a
mule. Laying in a good supply of pro-
visions for a long trip, they left Rice
county, Kansas, for the line to be ready
ON the appointed day.
Thousands of home-seekers waited on
the line south Of Kiowa for the hour
when the discharge of gun would give
the signal to start. As the time drew
near everyone seemed TO gather energy
for the rush, and when the report rang
out on the air the motley throng in
camp wagons and carriages and on horse
back. broke at once in wild race, yell
ing like Indians. Some became entangied
and nearly overturned their rigs. Seri-
Gus accidents did occur and one proved
fatal. A young man was thrown from
his horse and dislocated his neck.
The madly flying claim-seekers seemed
not aware that man had been killed,
for all rushed blindly on. The riderless
horse made off to follow the boomers
who were plying whip and spur and 60
ing like f1ends No one could see through
the cloud of dust that hung in their
wake, and the desire to secure a quarter
section Of Uncle Sans domain knocked
out every other thought
The white-top wagon out of which
Graves and Rolf reached a rawhide TO
lash the mule and horse, was throwing
its share OF the dust in its rapid fight
across the open country. huge roll OF
new wooden blankets appeared directly in
their way and was a tempting bit of jet
sam to a camper on an adventure like
this, but they passed it by on the jump,
fearful of losing a second for others to
gain in the race The thought that some
one might set there before them caused
the two men to have less pity on the
team than they would have shown under
other circumstances.
The swiftly galloping horsemen in adj
vance were scattering out and the wheel
ed outfits, too, were becoming widely sep
arated. BY the time Graves and his COM
panion sighted the fringe of trees along
the Eagle Chief they We're alone and
felt gratifed that no one had preceded
them to their chosen claims.
After driving their stakes and noting
the time by Graves watch they were sur
prised.- Considering the time made by
the horse and mule they deserve a place
in the history of claim running in Okla
homa. The run of thirty-two miles had
been done in the incredible space of three
hours. The team was blowing hard and
were evidently wind-broken. The mule
lay down and rolled; got up and shook
himself vigorously and seemed as good
as ever. The horse by dint of kind
nursing came around all right. Both an
imals have since done good service on
their beautiful claim they won for their
master.
During the following winter there was
not a stack of hay in the whole country
and Mr.. Graves had to winter one hun
bred head of horses and cattle brought
from Rice county to his new home. He
got them safely through with no other
provender than the native wild grass that
cured standing on it's stalk. The cattle
thrived and fattened on it without
grain of corn. which the new settlers
a luxury they could not af-
ford. and Mr.. Graves sold beef butchered
in February on what was then only cat
tie range. j. R. B.