Gilpin observer., 1901-08-01
BIG LAND RATTLE.
ONE THOUSAND FARMING TRACTS
AWARDED THE FIRST DAY.
Name of Stephen A. tlolconb 0T-vh1
Firet-Woraan Wins Coveted Prize
In Lawton District-Ail Ars Salts
fled With Lottery.


El Reno, o. T., July 30.-OElahoma's
great land lottery was begun here in
earnest yesterday, and wnen the com
missioners appointed by the federal
I government adjourned the drawing for
the day, 1000 of the choicest of the
claims in the eKiowa-Comanche country
had been ayhrded.
The first came drawn was that of
Stephen a. Holcomb, Pauls Valley, In
dian Territory fer homestead in the
El Reno district and the second Leon
ard Lamb Of Augusta, o. II.
These two men /salect the two
choicest claims in this district.
The capital prize winners, however,
proved to be James r. Woods Of
Weatherford, o. T.. whose name was
the first to come out of the Lawton
district wheel, and Miss Matte II.
Beals 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 win 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 100000 to
$4,000 each.
The day was one OF keen excitement,
replete with interesting scenes. It is
| estimated that fully $4,000 persons
witnessed The drawing. The immense
throng was wrought up to the highest
pitch. The drawing Of the first few
shout that revorberatod between the
hills and could have beqn heard for
miles over the prciries.
Each succeeding winning for time
was met with shouts of applause and
merriment. All was pleasantry.
Every man, though he did not draw 4
prize from the wheels. had steadfast
faith that tomorrow or the next day
would surely see him the possessor of
slip reading him tiJle clear to $50
acres Of Oklahoma land. So in the
success of friends or relatives, unfor-
tunate ones, instead of bewailing their
lot, cheered Justify as familiar names
were called out.
The crowd fairly exhausted them
selves and when the close OF the draw
ing for the day was announced at 6
O'Clock, hundreds, who had neither
eaten nor drank during the day, sank
to the ground where they stood from
sheer fatigue or dragged themselves
to better places of rest or to refresh
ment booths up town. The day was
remarkably free from quarrels. and
general satisfaction with the govern
80 Il ,f b<sl In n
was felt. tf "a
1t has been found that many hundred
applicants have repeated" and that.
other applications are SO illegible
that they will be thrown out. Over
this much discord has resulted and the
outcome may be an appeal to the
courts.
The 18th winner in the Lawton dis
trict was Minerva McCiintock, aged
20 years, of Oklahoma City. She was
married Sunday and by this act for
feits her right to file for claim. She
might have chosen a claim near a
county seat town worth several thou
sand dollars. The drawing will be
resumed today and. it is believed. will
have been completed by Thursday
evening.
Iowa and Nebraeka Winners.
Iowa and Nebraska winners are:
Joseph Schultz Schuyler, Neb., No. G1,
Ell Reno district; James II. Dainty, He
bron. Neb., No. 106. El Reno district;
Allen Tingley. Verdon. Neb., No. 273,
El Reno district Alexander Hamilton,
Wymore. Neb., No. 1862. El Reno dis
271, Ell Reno district; Virgil Bard,
Tama City. Ia. No. 270, El Reno dis
trict: Martha Laird. Bedford, Ia. No.
$50. Ell Reno district; Adolph Luers.
Columbus. Neb., No. 147, Lawton dis
trict: Jacob Ridinger. Sutton. Neb.. No.
lat. FL Reno district; Joseph w. Curl,
Bloomfield. Ia, No. lag, El Reno dis
trict; Falcon Woodhouse. Nidon. Ia.
No. 4. Lawton district (this gives him
claim worth 100000; Walter E. Otis.
Perry. Ia. No. II. Lawton district, win
get claim worth $4,000; Rueben Il.
Rodgers. East Peru. la. No. %. El
Reno district; Jacob Il. Mayer. Audu-
bon. Ia, No. 1O9, FL Reno district;
Guy j. Stewart. Helvey, Neb., No. 1l2.
El Reno district; Wilton Rhodes.
Mount Pleasant. Ia. No. 291, Lawton
district; p. l.. Rowen. Marshalltown,
Ia. No. $40. Lawton district; Dora
Roberts, Councn Bluffs, Ia, No. 1928,
Lawton district: Albert j. Harvey.
Atlantic. Ia. No. 392. Lawton district
Samuel r. Curtis. Audubon, Ia. No.
d51. Lawton district; John Z. Long.
Omaha. Nob,. No. 49G. Lawtor district.
i,b,retton cafue.J