The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-05
RAIDED BY "S00NERS"
CHOICEST CLAIMS N INDIAN RESER-
VATIONs ALREADY sTAKED.
Clash Possible when the Lands of the
Kiowns and COmanche Are
Opened to settlement.

CHICAGO, July 1.-THE Record-Herald
Ell Reno. l. T, correspondent says: More
than 5000 boomers camped and quartered
along the margins of the Kicwa and Co.
manche lands about TO be opened for set
Element were thrown into a fever of ex-
element and rage last night when the
news circulated that a thousand sooners
have already invaded the reservations and
staked out for themselves the choicest sec
tons of land.
II was the governments plan to dis
tribute the 13,473 homestead claims by re-
quiring the qualified homesteaders TO draw
lots. The "sooners." however, have deter
mined to fight what they call Uncle Sans
lottery scheme Acting on this deter
mination they have m a number of
legal opinions to the effect that the lot
terry plan is illegal, and now they propose
to grab what they want the moment the
Presidents proclamation is issued and hold
their claims even TO the extremity of kill
ing those settlers who try TO set up their
tents and claims upon tracts awarded in
the drawings.
Dozens of the most desperate "sooners'
of the Oklahoma boom are here armed to
the teeth and mounted upon fleet horses.
They are coming In from the unallotted
| territory to spend the Fourth in town. and
some of them openly boast of having stolen
a march on the settlers who are waiting.
Many OF the boomers, living in weather.
beaten tents and almost starving. have
been here for more than a year waiting
for the opening of the lands. Some OF them
have spent what little money they brought
to pay the government charges on the land,
and now they are desperate with disap-
pointment. poverty and the final threat of
the 'sooners' that all their waiting has
been in vain.
Meanwhile the army of waiting settlers
is growing daily. They are coming in over
the Rock Island and the Choctaw road
in wagons. on horseback and on foot. 1t is
now estimated that there will be at least
$1,000 persons here TO draw for the 13.473
quarter sections that are already plated
and numbered for distribution. The tracts
will be awarded consecutively and ru-
merically, the lowest number getting first
choice.
1t was the governments intention thus
to preclude all possibility of a run" into
the reservations. and therefore to prevent
the riots. murders and wrongs committed
in the Oklahoma run twelve years ago. The
lottery scheme would have given the last
and stop any chance of dispute as TO the
legal ownership.
Anticipating the success of the plan. the
land officials and the soldiers at Fort Sill
have made no effort TO keep settlers out of
the land of promise. The law-abiding ma
Jority of the newcomers have not, however.
overrun the unaIlotted lands. for the rea-
son that they believed the whole matter
was to be a question OF luck in the draw
TIA me SOOncTS look III OIncT view.
They lave surveyed every inch of the
ground and have already put their stakes
upon the choicest tracts. They are ready
with fast horses to rush straight to their
goals, and, knowing the ground, they will
be able to distance the legal owners of any
land which they may want.
Oklahomans, who know the situation, are
beginning TO realize that the opening of the
Kiowa-Comanche lands will result in much
violence. fraud and disorder unless the
government takes prompt steps to quell
the ''sooners." The latter insist that they
are intrenched behind the law and that
| federal authorities have no right to apDor-
ton land by lottery, but must yield the
land to those who first effect actual settle
Eent.
1t is said that Zip Wyatt. slaughter
Kid and a score of bad men who were here
with the Dalton gang and other reckless
hordes in 1889 are already ensconced among
the Wichita mountains readyyto pounce
down on the choicest land the moment the
Presidents proclamation is uttered. There
are not more than 100 soldiers available i'm
case of disorder. and the Indian police can
not he relied upon should there be an old
time run into the reservation.
Fully 10000 people who have been wait
| ing for over a year for the expected open
ing are heartsick and destitute, and the
business of caring for them is becoming a
problem with the authorities of Cansdian
county and Of Ell Reno. the county seat.
The drawings were to be held at Fort
Sill and here. and each winner of a tract
must pay the land authorities SIPS for
each acre of the 160 acres in a quarter Sec
ton. Many of those who expected free
| homes came with less than $40. Others had
sufficient money but have spent il all for
the necessaries of life.
AS only 13.473 of the So 900 persons already
on the ground can draw the lucky numbers,
there Is much discomfort and grumbling.
and If the 'sooners" attempt to seize land
in defiance of the authorities the malcon-
tents. most OF whom have suffered much
hardship already. will refuse to leave
| peaceably.
Ii is expected that the Presidents proc
lamation will fix the opening on Aug. s. AS
the drawings are to be made before that
date in regulated patches OF so many n
day. and as the distribution is simply a
matter of chance. those who have been
thus far on the ground have simply wasted
their time and money, unless they have
made a thorough survey of the ground and
will know which tract to choose when the
time comes.
In spite of the governments efforts to
J explain the terms of the allotment. many
yet suppose that hey must take whatever
parcel falls TO them I'm the drawing. But.
while the tracts are all numbered and
plated. the person who draws "A card
bearing. say. the number IL" may choose
any tract he wishes for. The lowest num-
Der gets first choice. The choose- may Sc
lect tract No. 20. or any other. and it will
| then be accredited TO him and a title is
sued. The few who appreciated this phase
OF the drawing have explored the whole
vacant territory and will have a distinct
advantage should they draw low numbers.
Should $1,000 qualified settlers partake in
the drawing 36.521 of them would be dis
| appointed. for only the 13.473 lowest num-
bers can win, that being the total num-