The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1901-08-03
UNCLE SANS LAND LOTTERY
ONE IN EVERY THIRTKEN WINS.
tSia~a-coaaanehe Reservations to Ne
cut ~ iaso Prise. ana elves 20
ahe Lucky Owners OF the Nance
which Are Drawn Fram Whsel..

II Rsno. 0. T.. July 30.-one Of the
greatest lotteries in histOFy-that eOn.
dueted BY the federal government in dis
posing d $4,000 qnartes section claims in
the kioWa-Comaehe reservations
begun here Monday morning. No public
event in years in the southwest has at
tracted ~ much attention as this one
the initiation Of q new method Of dispos-
ing VI government lands. One annslred
and sixty-seven thousand persona, each
with ! chance in Is Of winning a home
stead, watched the event here in reality
or at distance. for the applicants come
from every state in the Unien.
The drawing took place on a platform
built for the purpose in the open air
few blocks from the eenter Of II Reno.
Situated at the foot Of several small hills,
which formed a perfect amphitheater, the
platform was the eyndsare OF Thousands Of
eyes. People occupied every inch almost
|of the space around about and every
movement Of the government officials on
the small space below was watched with
the most intense interest.
Sunday was spent quietly. But as night
came on and the hour for the actual
drawing approached, men and women,
many Of WhoR had waited patiently for
mouths for the m0rrOw's event, or bad
come thousands Of miles at the last mo
ment to participate in il, became anxious.
Morn out with days OF hrdshiPs and
nights OF poor Recommendations, they
we're keyed to a high tension, but withal.
thousands were cheerful and hopeful
Every one seemed confident that his
would prove the lucky number
Many lay down and slept on the ground
around the platform, to be sure Of an
advantageous position when the first
lumber should be called, or TO remain
perhaps until evening, when the last of
the 1850 envelopes to be drawn today
should have been picked from the wheels
Of fortune The first break Of dawn
found every one on the alert and NOV
ing with common impulse toward the
all important point.
How IL Was Conduetea.
All had been in readiness for hours.
The government clerks finished the task
Of placing the envelopes Of the applicants
in envelopes and Of tying them in
bundles ready to be placed IN the wheels.
The only detail that remained was the
selection VI the 10 persons who should per-
form the actual drawing Of the envelopes
within the OblOng receplAeles. They were
young boys o. good families and were
named at the Last moment. They we're all
under age and persons who have not reg
istered for claims.
The day opened cloudy but pleasant,
with limitations of fair weather for the
first nine hours OF the drawing.
First Two Lucky ORe--
The placing of the envelopes into the
wheels proved slow work and the actual
drawing was delayed over two hours.
The first envelope taken from the wheel
contained the name OF james K. Wood
Of WeatheFford, U. T., who had registered
for a homestead in the Lawton district.
Matte NJ. Beals Of Wichita, Kan,
whose birthplace Is Missouri, drew No.
2, also in the Lawton district.
| Inc MuIlLuue NenL Hahlle over the an
nouneement, but became quiet instantly,
and listened intently to hear the names
of the other fortunates.
Without doubt Wood and Miss Beals,
who have the right to make the first
filings, win select the two quarter sec
tons adjoining the Lawton tosnsite, and
which are believed to be worth $4,000
each.
| When Colonel Dyer Of the commission
in thunderous tones announced the wO-
mans age at %, her height the same as
that Of Mr.. Wood, 10000 persons shouted
in chorus: They must get married"
No. in the Fl Reno district is Stephen
A. Holeomb Of Pauls Valley, l. T., and
No. is Leonard Lamb Of Augusta, o. T.
She Lost 10000.
Kansas City, July 3O.-A special to
the Star from Oklahoma City, o. r., says:
Minerva MeClintock, aged 25 years, of
Oklahoma City, drew claim No. in the
LAwton district at Fl Reno. She was
married here Sunday, and by this act has
forfeited her right to make homestead
entry. Her chance, it is estimated, would
have been worth $4,000. She might
have chosen a claim near a county seat
town.