The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-07-30
LUCKY ONES
DRAW LAND
WHEEL GOES ROUND IN Gov
ERNMENT LOTTERY.
WOMAN WINS CHOICE CLAIM
Some Of the Locations Near County
/ Seats Are Worth Big
Money.
WOMAN WINS CHOICE CLAIM

FL Reno, O. T., July 29-Oklaho-
mas great land lottery was begun
here in earnest today and when the
commissioners appointed by the fed.
eral. government adjourned the draw
ing for the day 1000 Of the choicest
Of the 1900 100 acre claims in the
Kiowa and Comanche country had
been awarded.
The first name drawn from the
wheels was, that Of Stephen A. Hol-
comb Of Fauls Valley, /. T., for
homestead in the Ell Reno district,
and the second Leonard Lamb Of Au-
gust, o. T. These two men selected
the two choice claims in the district.
The capital prize winners, however,
proved to be James B. Wood Of
Weatberford, O. T., whose name was
the first to come from the Lawton dis.
trict wheel and Miss Matte H. Bealls
Of Wichita, Kans., who drew the
second number in that district. They
will have the privilege Of making the
and will undoubtedly choose the two
quarter sections adjoining that town.
They are considered the most valu-
able in the territory and are estimat-
ed to be worth from $4,000 to $4,000.
The day has been one Of keen ex-
citement 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 names
were followed by mighty shout that
1everbrated between the hills and
must have been heard for miles over
the prairies. Each winning for
time was met with shouts Of applause
and merriment. All was pleasant.
Every man who did not draw a prize
from the wheels today has the ut
most faith that the next day will sure
ly see him the possessor Of slip
reading him a title clear to 100 acres
of Oklahoma land. So in the success
Of friends or relations unfortunate
ones today instead Of bewailing their
hard fate cheered Justify as familiar
names were called out from the COM
missions platform.
The crowds fairly exhausted them
selves and when the close Of the
drawing for the day was announced
at o'clock hundreds who had not
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
| lnent booths up town. The day was
remarkably free from quarrels and
general satisfaction with the govern
ment's method of disposing of the
I land was heard. 1t has been found
that many hundred applicants have
repeated" and that others have ap.
plications SO illegible thet they will
be thrown out. Over this much dis
cord has resulted and the outcome
may be an appeal to the courts.
The drawing had been set for 8
o'clock, but the transferring Of the
bundles Of envelopes holding the ap-
plications from the general recep-
tacle into the wheels, which was by
lot was so slow that It was 1880
o'clock before the first name was
drawn.
Twenty-Five names were first drawn
from the FL Reno district and then an
equal number from the Lawton dis
/ trict.
i All was ready, Ben Heyler placed
his hand in the aperture in the 81
Reno wheel and withdrawing an en-
velope, handing 1t to Colonel Dyer.
It was then passed to the chief clerk,
stamped and handed back to Colonel
i Dyer, the commissioner walked to
the front Of the platform, raised his
hand for order, and In loud tone,
exclaimed: Stephen "A. Holcomb of
Pauls Valley draws the first number" =
H The crowd yelled for some time,
apparently as much pleased as II
every man had drawn prize.
II Envelope No. was quickly urawn
forth and Colonel Dyer announced
Leonard Lamb Of Augusta, 0. T.,
born in illinois," In quick succession
other envelopes were drawn and as
9 the nartes were announced every one
.sss