The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-09
FILED IN SILENCE
No. / Wood Was Snubbed
by Lawton Crowd.
MISS BEAL APPLAUDED
Everybody Wanted y See the
Lucky Girl.

Frank L Payne Of this city is at Law
ton and writes a very interesting de-
Bcription Of the Opening" for the Eagle.
with his usual accuracy Of detail, he
says: AT 9 o'clock this morning Reg
Istrar H. D. Mcknight stepped outside
the land Office door and in a short speech
TO the awaiting crowd explained just how
tn filings would be received and how
those who had drawn numbers would be
permitted to enter the land Office building
ing He then re-entered the Office and
rallied TO the clerks that they were to
be at their places at once and at 9:O5
eIr Mcknight opened the door and ad-
United The first ten eDtrynen-
Mr. Wood entered first, accompanied
by Ransom Iayne, who has attended
every opening since old Oklahoma was
opened to settlement. Following closely
came Miss Matte Beal of Wichita, accom-
panied by her brother Of Arkansas City,
and her attorney, John Dolman. Miss
BeaI was attired very neatly in pink
Striped shirt waist and a dark skirt. At
ter the first contingent were in, she was
clearly the most perfectly composed in
nividual in the entire crowd.
Mr. Wood was just a little nervous
And shifted his cigar from his mouth
70 his fingers frequently. The third fin
ger Of his right hand was tied up on &C
count Of a cut. he is tan, wears a soft
hat and no moustache or beard.
Mr.. WOOD presented his filing papers
ct once to the registrar and it required
a few minutes to find the registration
slip which bore his description. He filed
upon the two tracrs Of eighty acres
each adjoining the townsite Of Lawton
upon the south.
At 9:12 Miss Matte II. BeaI was called,
answered to her name and presented her
papers to the registrar. Just forty sec
onds later 2Ir. Wood rendered the S14 fl
ing fee to the receiver, Mr. MCGUIRE.
At 9:14 Miss BeaI was sworn making
affidavit to the truth Of her papers.
a half minute later she rendered her $14,
and at $3.50 the registry was completed
and Miss Beal became practically actual
proprietor Of the two eighties south of
those filed upon by Mr.. Wood. At 9:35
Registrar Mcknight congratulated Miss
Beal, followed by the other land Office
officials and at 9;SGla she left the land
office amid wild cheering from the crowd
outside
7.
but received no ovation as did Miss BeaI
few minutes later In making OUT the
papers Of Miss BeaI Registrar Mcknight
lost his temper just little and fired the
pen he was using over into corner. but
with a new pen quickly regained his
nHabl'ty.
Miss Beal retainde her outward COM
posure with exceptional GOODNESS, but
he OH che frI-f
rapidly. Once a slight flush spread over
her cheek. but soon disappeared. OF
course. she was the object of many curl
Gus eyes, but withstood It ali with adj
mirabie composure. Once a boy standing
just behind her was bawling out: Say,
where's the girl that No. .? I want
20 take look at her" A young man
quickly took him in hand and sent him
around to the opposite side Of the land
Office to find her. Miss Seal quietly
SoOl1ed her thanks. Altogether she is a
young lady whom any sensible, clear
headed young man might fall in love
with under ordinary circumstances. Fbut
now that she has a very valuable piece
OF pro erty this class Of young men VIII
maintain q respectful distance and let
the silly fellows make their advances
and get what they deserve. ana if they
had good sense. might expect. Miss
Beal has the ability to attend to her own
affairs little above the ordinary and
has tact enough to select advisers If she
needs them.
Lawton IS probably the most quiet town
at this stage of her history that has ever
had a land Office or been at all prominent
at the start since the opening of old
Oklahoma. There Is bank building and
land Office ia the center OF the townsite.
which has been kept clear of tents an.
wagons until after the lots are sold. The
people are of the better class. many
young ladies being already here. and to
stay. OF course there is a large repre-
sentation from the gambling fraternity
here but they viii soon disappear Last
night there were several fights over diff
ferent games and one case OF clear rob
berry. over which there would have been
a neat little necktie party IF the marshals