The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-07-31
GREAT LAND LOTTERY Opens
Thousands Mt the First Drawing For Ok
lnhomn Lands anh No Disorder.

Ell RENO, O. r., July 30.-Oklaho-
mas great land lottery was begun here
In earnest yesterday, and when the com
mssioners appointed by the federal gov
ernment adjourned the drawing for the
day 1000 of the choice 1900 l6O-acre
claims in the Kiowa-Comanche country
had been awarded.
The first name drawn from the wheels
was that Of Stephen A. Holcomb Of
Paurs Valley, |. r., for n homestead in
the FL Reno district and the second
Leonard Lamb of Augusta, o. r. These
two men select the two choice claims in
this district
The capital prize winners, however
proved to he James X. Wood of Weather
ford. o. T., whose name was the first to
come from the Lawton district wheel
and Miss Matte H. Beals of Wichita
Kan. who drew the second number in
that district. They will have the priv
ilege of making the first filings in the
Lawton district and will undoubtedly
choose the two quarter sections adioin.
ing that town. These are considered the
most valuable in the territory and are,
it is estimated, worth from 100000 to
$4,000 each.
The day was one Of keen excitement,
replete with interesting scenes. II is es-
timatcd that fully 25,0O0 persons wit
messed the drawing. The immense
throng was wrought up to the highest
pitch. The drawing of the first names
was followed by a nightly Shoit.
Each succeeding winning for a time
was met with shouts of applause and
merriment All was pleasantly Every
man. though he did not draw prize from
the wheels yesterday, has SteadfaSt faith
that today or the next day will surely
see him the posseSsor Of Il slip reading
him a title clear to 1G0 acres of Okla
| homa's land.
The crowds fairly exhausted them
selves and when the close Of the drawing
for the day was announced at Il O'Clock
| hundreds who had neither eaten nor
drank during the day. sank to the ground
| where they stood for sheer fatigue oI
| dragged themselves to better places fol
rest or TO refreshment booths up town
The day was remarkably free from quar-
relS and general satisfaction with the gov
ernment methods of disposing Of the land
| was felt It has been found that many
| nunufpu appuCdllS NAVE TPIPhl'u dHu
that others have applications SO illegible
| that they will be thrown out Over this
| much discord has resulted and the out
come may be an appeal to the courts.
| When the second ticket was drawn
Colonel Dyer cried out: II have the
| pleasure to announce the name Of the
first woman to draw a prize Matte II
Bca of Wichita. Kan"
Then Colonel Dyer gave her descrip
tion as 23 years old aud five feet three
inches in height. just the height Of
Woods Instantly the crowd saw the hui
NOR of the situation, thousands OF
throats sent up the shot: They must
| get married
The first names drawn from the Law
ton district follow: Three Winfield $
Laws, Langston. o. T.; /, Falcon Wood
house. Eldon. Ia; >, Marvin Hawkins
| Wayland. Tex: q. William C. Land, Fort
Worth. Tex. I, Harry 7. Foster, agent
for Harry f.. Harrison, III Reno, o. t.
8. Lee 4. Smbhefeld, Dunbar, o. T.;
Richard II. Wyatt, Henrietta, Tex; 10,
Charles G. Dobb. Shawnee, O. T.
The 18th winner in the Lawton dis
trict was Minerva McClntock, aged .
years Of Oklahoma City. She was mar
ricd Sunday and by this act forfeits hel
right to her claim. She might have
chosen claim near county seat towT
worth several thousand dollars.