The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1901-08-02
THE FINAL ACT IS NEAR
Many Thousands Are in Ell Reno to Wit
ness the Great Land Lottery.
EXPECTANCY AMONG HOMESEEKERS
holder of the Lucky Few-Not as Ex-
citing rs a"Run"-Applicants Have But
One Chance In Thirteen to Gef a Prize

Ell RENO, Okl, July 29.-All is ex-
pectancy tonight among the thousands
lottery that begins tomorrow morning.
There are $4,000 claims to be distrib
uted, and SO each of the 1886 per-
sons VINO have registered during the
last firtecn days has about one chance
in thirteen of winning. 1t is long
shot, but every one apparently feels
confident of being numbered among
the lucky, and in consequence the best
of good nature prevails.
While the scene lacks the great ex-
citement of the run" which has here
tofore been part of other land open
ings in this part of the country, the
last act in the throwing open to settle
ment of the Kiowa-Comanche reserva-
tions will not be without life and ami
nation. The drawing will take place
in the center of the city and will be
witnessed by thousands of people. 1t
will be accomplished on large plat
form in the open air, around which
the sloping hillsides form a natural
amphitheater.
A commission appointed last week
by Secretary Hitchcock and composed
of w. A. Richards, assistant commits
sioner of the general land Office, and
who has had charge of the registra-
ton, D. P. Dyer of st. Louis, former
United States district attorney, and
Frank Dale, ex-chief justice of Okla
homa, will have the drawing in charge.
The actual drawing will be both
novel and extremely interesting. On
the platform will be two oblong box
wheels, each fifteen feet in length, one
to hold the names Of the applicants
for homesteads in the El Reno dis
trict, and the other for those of the
Lawton district. Into these wheels
will be placed. envelopes containing
names of all the registered applicants.
The envelopes will have first been
brought to the platform in packages
consecutively numbered
A corresponding series of numbers
upon slips will be placed in another
receptacle, from which they will be
drawn out at random. The package of
envelopes bearing the first number
drawn will be the first to be placed in
the drawing box and well distributed,
when another number will be drawn
and another package of envelopes dis
tributed, and this course will be con-
tinued until all oe the envelopes have
been placed in the box wheels, after
which the wheels Will be revolved for
sufficient length of time to insure
thorough mixing of the envelopes.
In each wheel there are five aper-
lures from which the enevlopes will
finally be drawn. Ten men for each
aperture will perform the actual draw
ing. The order in which they will be-
gin at each wheel will be determined
by lot.
The first envelope drawn will be No.
1, which will be at once opened and
the Identification slips which it con-
tains viii! be given corresponding
number, and the name and residence
which appear upon the slip will be
publicly announced. This course will
be pursued, numbering each envelope
and it's contents consecutively, until
twenty-five numbers have been drawn
from one boz, when an equal number
will be drawn from the other box in
q similar manner This course will be
pursued until 500 names have been
drawn from each box, when, if the
committee deem is best to do so, ar
rangements will be made for drawing
simultaneously from each box.
After the names have been drawn
and announced they will be recorded
and notice prepared to be made to
the one whose name is drawn. The
drawing will proceed in this manner
until every envelope in both boxes has
been drawn out.