The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-30
BIG LOTTERY BEGUN
1000 OF THE 10000 QUARTER SEC
TIONs AWARDED.
SOME GOOD PRIZES DRAWN,
WOMAN GETS A LOT VALUED AT
OVER $4,000.

Fully $4,000 Persons witnessed the
Drawing and Cheered the Win
ners-CrOwd Remained Standing
Until Drawing Closed mt o u. m.
without Eating or Drinking-AII
Expect TO be Winners-CrOwd De-
cIared Tint Wood and Miss BeaIs,
who Drew the Two Valuable Law
ton Lots. Must Get Married.
FL Reno, o. T., July 29.-Oklahomas
great land lottery was begun here in
earnest to-day. and when the commits
sioners appointed by the federal gov
ernment adjourned the drawing for the
day 1000 of the choice of the 10000 160-
acre claims in the Kiowa- Comanche
country had been awarded.
The Two Grand Prizes.
The first name drawn from the wheel
was that of Stephen A. Holcomb Of
Paul's Valley, l. t., for a homestead
in the El Reno district, and the Sec
ond, Leonard Lamb of. Augusta, o. T.
These two men select the two choice
claims in the district. The capital prize
winners, however, proved to be James
b. Wood of Weatherford, o. T., whose
name was the first to come from the
Lawton district wheel. and Miss Matte
II. Beale of Wichita, Kan, who drew
the second number In that district.
They will have the privilege of max
ing the first filings in the Lawton dis
trict, and will undoubtedly choose the
two quarter sections adjoining that
town. These are considered the most
valuable in the territory, and are. it is
estimated, worth from $4,000 to $4,000
each.
The day was one of keen excitement,
replete with interesting scenes. 1t is
estimated that fully $4,000 persons wit
messed the drawing. The immense
throng was wrought up to the highest
pitch. The drawing of the first names
was followed by mighty shout,
The announcement of each succeed
ing winning for a time was received
with shouts of applause and merri-
ment. Every man who did not draw
prize from the wheels to-day had
steadfast faith that tomorrow or next
udY Will surely StG MN l0t DttHSHSHoi
of a slip reading him a title clear tr
160 acres of Oklahomas land.
When the close of the drawing fol
the day was announced at O'Clock
hundreds who had neither eaten noi
drunk during the day sank to the
ground where they stood from sheer
fatigue or went wearily to find places
for rest or to refreshment booths UP
town. The day was remarkably free
from quarrels and general satisfaction
with the governments method of dis
posing of the land was felt.
Are Many Reporters.
1t has been found that many hun
dreds of applicants have repeated" and
that others have applications so illeg-
ible that they will be thrown out. over
this much discord has resulted, and the
outcome may be an appeal to the
courts.
The drawing had been set for 8
o'clock, but the transferring of the
bundles of envelopes holding the appli-
cations from the general receptacle
into the wheels, which was by lot, was
so slow that it was 1880 o'clock be-
fore the first name was drawn. Twen-
ty-five names were first drawn from
the FL Reno district and tMn an equal
number from the Lawton district
When all was ready Ben Heyler placed
his hand in an aperture in the FL Reno
wheel. and, withdrawing an envelope
handed 1T to Col Dyer. 1t was passed
to Chief Clerk Macy. stamped and
handed back 10 Col. Dyer. The com
missioner walked to the front of the
platform, raised his hand for order and
in a loud tone exclaimed, stephen A.
Holcomb of PauPs Valley. l. T., draws
the first number"
The crowd yelled for three minutes
apparently as much delighted as II
every man had drawn a prize.
When twenty-five names had beer
taken from the El Reno district whee
attention was turned TO that repre-
senting the Lawton district.
The Two Prize Witnesses.
The first name brought out for this
district was that of James II. Woods
Of Weatherford. O. T., and the crowt
again went wild. This meant thai
Woods would be liable to claim tn,
quarter section adjoining Lawton town
one of the choicest in the entire coun.
try.
The second ticket was drawn and
Col. Dyer cried out:
Il have the pleasure to announce
the name of the first woman TO draw
a prize, Matte II. Beal of Wichita
Kanl"
Then Col. Dyer gave her description
as % years old and 5 feet inches In
hight, "just the hight of Woods"
Instantly the crowd caught the hu'
NOR of the situation, thousands o
throats sent up the shout: 'They mus
get married"
Minervn's UnIucky MarrfaRc.
The eighteenth winner in the Lawtor
district was Minerva McClintock, aged
25, of Oklahoma City. She was mar.
ried yesterday and by this act for
feits her right to her claim. She might
have chosen a claim near county sea-
town worth several thousand dollars.
The drawing will be resumed to-mor'
row morning AT . o'clock, and Il Is be
lieved viii have been completed bS
| Thursday evening.