Evening star., 1901-07-29
BIG LOTTERY OPENS
Anxious Homeseekers Watch the
Drawing at Ell Reno, 0. T.
THE CHANCES Are RATHER Slim
Only One in Every Thirteen Can
Get a Claim.
ALL ARE VERY HOPEFUL

Ell RENO, o. T., July 23-One of the
greatest lotteries in history was begun here
this morning. 1t was conducted by the
federal government in disposing Of 1900
quarter section claims thrown open to set
tlement on the kiowa-Comanche reserva-
tions.
The drawing began at 9:45 o'clock. Twen-
ty thousand excited. expectant people
jammed and crowded about the platform
The approach of the commissioners guard
ing the precious bundles of envelopes con-
tanning the thousands of applications, was
the signal for a great demonstration. tnat
was renewed with fervor from time to time
during the progress of the arrangements.
When finally ten boys. five for the FL
Reno and five for the Lawton district, We're
lined up before the two wheels and awaited
the word to draw out the first envelopes
from the receptacle, a mighty cheer arose,
was repeated again and again and the null
titude pushed closer to the platform.
Eager, drawn faces watched every move
ment of those about the wheels, and neckS
were craned to hear the name of the first
winner A moment later when a deputy
marshal called loudly for order the crowd
was stilled instantly.
Presidents Proclamation Read.
At $50 Col Dyer, one OF the three COM
missioners, read the Presidents proclama-
tion relating to the drawing.
The envelopes were then placed In the
wheels each was turned repeatedly to in
sure generous mixing, and then the draw
ing was on. The first envelope taken from
the wheel contained
The name OF James r. Wood of Weather
ford, Okla, fho had registered for a home
stead in the Lawton district.
Matte III. Beals Of Wichita. Kan, whose
birthplace is in Missouri, drew No. 2, also
in the Lawton district.
The multitude went frantic over the an
nouncement.
Without doubt Wool and Miss Beals
who thus have the right to make the first
filings, will select the two quarter sec
tions adjoining the Lawton township dis
trict, and which are believed to be worth
$4,000 each.
When Colonel Dyer announced the wo-
mans age as twenty-three and that her
height is the same that of Mr.. Wood,
2000O persons shouted in chorus: 'They
must get married.
No. 1 in the FL Reno district was Stephen
A. Holcomb of Paurs Valley, I. T.. and
No. was Leonard Lamb OF Augusta,
Okla.
No public event in years in the southwest
has attracted 50 much attention as this
one-the initiation of new method of dis
posing of government lands. One hundred
and sixty-seven thousand persons, each
with one chance IL thirteen of winning a
homestead watched the event here or at a
distance. for the applicants come from
every state in the Union
The drawing took place on a platform
built for the purpose in the open air a few
blocks from the center of FL Reno. Sit
uated at the foot of several small hills,
which formed a perfect amphitheater, the
platform was the cynOsure of thousands Of
eyes. People occupied every inch almost
ment Of the government officials on the
small space below was watched with the
most intense interest.
FL Reno yesterday cared for fully $1,000
people. and the trains that came in during
the night and morning doubled the number.
Hundreds of others are still bound this
way.
Quiet Day Yesterday.
Sunday was spent quietly, but as night
came on and the hour for the actual draw
ing approached. men and women, many of
whom had waited patiently for months for
the morrow's events, or had come thou
sands of miles at tine last moment to par
ticipate in it, became anxious. Worn out
with days of hardships and nights Of poor
accommodations. they were keyed to a high
tension. but all were hopeful and each
seemed confident that his would prove a
lucky number. Hundreds remained awake,
walking the streets or vafnly gazing at the
drawing platform, and discussing again and
again the merits Of the particular claim
on which they intended fling Many slept
on the ground around the platform. to be
certain of an advantageous position when
the first number should be called out at 8
O'Clock, or to remain perhaps until o'clock
In the evening. wnen the last Of 1000 en-
velopes to be drawn today should have
been picked from the wheels.
No Advfces Received.
The Secretary of the Interior had re-
ceived no information concerning events
today in the Kiowa and Commanche In
dian reservations up to noon, and this
lack OF information is interpreted as mean
ing that everything connected with the
drawing for homesteads was begun with
out any unusual happening. 1t is expected
that by August the drawing for the
15O00 farms. by which each of the 167. 600
people who have registered will have an
equal chance for homestead. will have
been completed.