The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-29
GREAT DRAWING BEGINS

tageouS position when the first num-
bers should be called out at 8 o'clock or
to remain perhaps till 6 o'clock in the
evening when the last Of the one thou
sand envelopes to be drawn today
should have been picked from the
wheels of fortune. The first break of
day found every one on the alert and
moving with a common impulse toward
the all important point.
READY FOR HOURS
All had been in readiness for hours.
The government clerks finished the
task of placing the names of the appli-
cants in envelopes, and of tieing them
in bundles ready to be placed in the
wheels, and the wheels had been tested
for the last time yesterday afternoon.
The only detail that remained was the
selection Of the ten persons who should
perform the actual drawing of the en-
velopes for the oblong recptacles.
They were young boys of good families
and were named at the last moment.
They were all under age, and persons
who have not registered for claims.
The day opened cloudy but pleasant
with indications of fair weather for the
first nine hours of the drawing.
The actual drawing was delayed ow-
ing to the placing of the envelopes into
the wheels proving slow work.
The great land lottery began at II
o'clock this morning. Twenty thousand
excited. expectant people Jammed
and crowded about the platform
on which from the wheels OF
Superin tended the drawing of the lucky
numbers to those OF the 1a7. 900 appl-
cants who will receive a homestead
among the 1900 in the Kiowa-Coman-
che country.
The approach to the stand Of the com
missioners, guarding the precious bun
dies of envelopes containing the thou
sands of applications was the signal
for a great demOnStrat ton that was re-
newed with fervor from time to time
during the progress of the arrange
ments. When finally ten boys, five for
the Ell Reno district and FIVE for the
LaWtOn district were lined up before
the two wheels and awaited the~Word
to draw out the first envelopes from the
receptacles, the throng failed to control
itself A mighty cheer arose, was re-
peated again and again, and the multi
tude pushed closes to the platform.
Eager, drawn faces watched every
movement of those about the wheels,
and necks were craned to hear the
name Of the hrst winner A moment
later when a deputy marshal called
loudly for order the crowd was stilled
instantly.
At s.S5 Colonel Dyer, one of the three
commissioners. read the presidents
proclamation relating to the drawing.
This finished the envelopes were placed
in the wheels, each was turned re-
peatedly to insure a generous mixing
up, and then In another moment the
drawing was on.
THE CAPITAL PRIZE.
The first prize is one of the quarter
sections, 160 acres. just south of and
adjoining the town site Of Lawton. The
second prize is the other adjoining
quarter section. La.wton covering a
half section. 1t is rumored that forty
thousand dollars has been offered for
the first quarter section
LONE WOLF SHUT OUT
Washington. July 29-The depart
ment Of justice today received a tele-
gram stating that Judge Erwin of the
United States court in Oklahoma had
denied the application of Lone Wolf
and other Indians for an injunction re-
straining the government from distrib-
uting land in that territory by draw
ings.