The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-09
SALE OF
TOWN
PROGRESSES
Lawton Is Scene of BustIing
Business Men.
0'BRIEN Is AUCTl0NEER
And He Leads Crowd Like
Napoleon Bonapar,e.
0'BRIEN IS AUCTlONEER
(speeial correspondence.l

day; by the assumption Of Office Of those
whose duties it will be TO run the affairs
Of Lawton and Comanche county; by the
entry of rs successful persons IN the
recent drawing at FL Reno, another
great city has come into existence and
oklahoma's domain and jurisdiction ex-
tended
Promptly at o'clock Tuesday morning
Townsite Commissioner J. r. Hampton
called the immense crowd of prospective
townlot purchasers TO order. He intro
duced Colonel y J. O'Brien. special
agent of the department Of the interior
who was TO act as auctioneer. Colonel
O'Brien assured the crowd everything
would be on the square and had clerk
read the instructions Of the department
The grear crowd was quiet and orderly
and the soldier from Fort sill paced the
rope enclosure where the platform stood,
with little to do
No one was allowed on the platform
buJ Commissioner Hampton. Auedoneer
O'Brien. Special Agent Sleeper and the
clerks and soldiers. Mr.. Hampton had
a small Office IN the rear where he and
two clerks took the purchase money and
gave a receipt to the purchaser
Early. before s o'clock, The crowd began
to gather at the northwest corner OF the
townsite. There were many thousand
standing in the hot sun for over ar hour.
Many hundred did not wish to buy. but
simply witness the unique transaction.
Stretching away TO the southeast. the
in line about the lard office, ready to
enter claims. It was q great and impress
sive scene.
Lot No. /, in block %. was the first lot
bid. It was in the business part Of the
townsite.
Several men bid $25. A half dozen gave
$50. Two bid S1o0 and then $3.50. $1G0 $40.
500. it went; then 500. $3.50, $500. At SEQ
two men began bidding against each
other. running TO S4e0 and selling to J.
W. Braselton. Weatherford. Texas.
Prior to the sale Of the second lot.
Mr. Hampton announced that he woald
allow $25 down on the lot and then allow
thirty minutes for the purchaser to 90
to the bank fer his money. This called
out many cheers for Mr. Hamptsn.
Mr. Vanmeter. buyer No. 3 When he
advanced to Mr.. Hampton's office 20 pay
for his lot. sat down. pulled off his
shoe, took of his stocking and pulled out
his roll amidst the loud and prolonged
cheers of the multitude.
When Mrs. and Miss Erbert bought
Nos. and T.. the first women buyers
after rather spirited bidding. the crowd
cheered them as they came into the en-
closure to put up their purchase money.
When Axel Bergguist Of ONYX. O. T..
buyer No. Il. advanced TO pay for his lot.
a man who knew him informed those
around him that his lot cost BerggCist
5000 instead of $40. at which II was
knocked OF. Why he said he saw Berg
guist lost $3.50 in one OF the 1000 shell
games.
At 1850 the sale ajourned until I p. n.
but many persons waited around 10 see
Mr.. Hampton and Colonel O'Brien, ask
ing numerous questions. At 1 o'clock the
sale was resumed and slowly proceeded
until 2. m.
There are about LOO lots IN the town
site. one-balf business. oEe-h3lf residence
At the rate il took today. the sale VIII
continue for about twenty days. The
great interest VIII not last. however.
after q few days.
Lots did not bring nearly as big prices
as anticipated. yet considering the fact
the sale commenced on the east border.
quite removed from the better business
section. the sale was reasonably satisfac-
tory. The general average Per lot I'm
block 3. sold first was about $l5f. In
block "a il was much less.
Mr. Hampton. the commissioner. ana
Colonel o Brien. the auctioneer. gave ex-
cenent satisfaction. and won the crowd
by their. conduct Of the sale
James R Wood Ne !. in tire district
PLAYED the selfish individual. finally 5C
took as his entry the entire south Zine
Of the townsite. miie strip. after all
instead OF a half mile square. thus leav-
Ing Miss Beal 70 take the mile strip south
OF his and removed a quarter-miie from
70 the tewnsite- Wood did
this over the protest of the land ofice
yet the officials were peworiess 20 pre-
vent his action. There Sc muck seat- .
ment against Woods action, ana be IS
bound some day 70 regret IT,
No 3 Winfield g. Laws. took a haif
mile square quarter Immediately on the
northwest corner IF she 1owusite-
10. Z. Falc7In Woodhoase took 2 SINH .
lar tract % the southwest corner.
No. g. Marion p. H-wk.0s. took im-
me1iltely wcst ~ so g ard sc g. Nii-
lian C. Laird. selected hls quarter Sec l
ton 5ust north ~ So.
Up ~ aeon. thirty entries were made.
3ust as the Driving occurred st = Reno .
ard ir regular or5er.