The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-04-10
LETTER FROM OKLAHOMA
Guy Porters Description of Country,
Cities and People.

Under date of March %, Guy Porter
writes from Roosevelt, Okla, to his
father Daniel Porter at Culver.
After some preliminary remarks in
regard to the first settlement of that
country and the Seminole Indians to
whom it belonged he says:
Then came the opening of Kiowa,
Apache and Comanche counties on
August 6, 1901. had left Chicago in
the latter part of July and reached FL
Reno few days before the drawing
of lands ordered by the proclamation
of President Mckinley, intending to
secure a homestead if my luck was
good.
AS arrived a few days before the
registration closed 1 had plenty of
time to see the town: such sight |
never expect to see again. There
were all kinds of buncO men, gambling
etc. All nationalities were represent
ed and the streets were crowded dav
and night. People could not find
places to sleep and many slept on the
side walks and under them. Ny
friend Paige and | mad some very close
quarters one or two evenings. We
stayed in Ell Reno until after the draw
ing and having the misfortune not to
draw a claim we decided to see the
new country and visit towns which
were all ready springing up. Hobart
was the town of our destination, be-
ing about 200 miles across country
from FL Reno. We fitted out a
team of scrub horses, wagon and har-
ness. Wagon with bows over the
top and wagon sheet over that, a
monkey stove, as we called it, cooking
utensils, bedding etc., and were off
for the promise land. Two other out
fits were going to the same point having
travelled from Kansas. We Joined
them and when two DAYS on our journey
two more outfits joined US, making six
in ALL 1t made long string of
covered wagons each drawn by pair
of horses or mules, and in which were
stored whatever household goods
the owner and his family possessed.
A few cows were driven in advance or
followed in the rear while from one to
half dozen faces of men, women and
children peered out from under each
white wagon cove-. Some men and
boys were aStride of ponies and as
many dogs trotted along by the side
of the wagons or broke away together
in mad chase after jack rabbit, all
barking in chorus as they went.
Everybody seemed happy, especially
the women and children. Sun bonnet
ed women who were the wives of these
men and the mothers of these chill
dren of whom / write, had all that
any of their sisters anywhere have to
make them happy. And they were
happy as any; happier than most, for
added to love of husband and children
was the knowledge of home where
all could join in happiness and COM
fort.
The country seemed perfectly grand
TO the eyes but as we proceeded west
and left the settled country behind,
the trees diminished as we'll as the
number of kinds. AS we penetrate
the Kiowa country the sight of forests
is no longer enjoyed; the only trees be-
ing scattered along the banks of the
streams, these becoming smaller and
more rare.
The greater portion of the plains
may be said to be without timber of
any kind. AS to the cause of this
absence scientific men disagree, some
claiming that the high winds which
prevail in unobstructed force prevent
the growth and existence of not only
trees but even the taller grasses.
And about Indians. Yes. there are
Indians here and plenty of them. On
visiting the noted chief of the Kiowa
tribe, Lone Wolf, l had the pleasure
of seeing over dozen human scalps,
which he prizes very dearly. l hard
ly think the famous Cossacks could
display more wonderful skill in feats
of horsemanship than an Indian
mounted on his favorite and we'll
trained pony. An Indians wealth is
most generally expressed by the num-
Der of his ponies. No buck or chief is
of any importance or distinction who
is not the owner of herd of ponies
numbering from twenty to many hun
dreds.
The country is what we would term
wavy; that is, in driving along you see
a rise in the prairie and you think
when you get to the top which is
some times miles away, YOU can see
over the whole country. But not SO,
you only see another rise i'm front
and one i'm tho roar IT is the same all