The Red Cloud chief., 1904-07-08
SEEKING HOMES
Nebraska Land Offices Rushed
With New Business.
BROKEN BOW MILITIA OUT
Crowd 30 Great II was Necessary to
Police tho Town with Co. ~,
Nebra ska Natl. Guards.

Fearing that he could not keep or
der In Broken Bow during the excite
ment incident to the enforcement OF
the Kinkaid homestead law, G. U.
Richardson, sheriff Of Custer county,
made a request Of Governor Mickey
that state troops be sent to Broken
Bow to police the crowds which have
assembled to make filings on land, and
to prevent bloodshed and possible dam
age to property.
The governor at once wired the land
office at Broken Bow asking for a state
ment of the condition Of affairs and in
curing who Richardson was, as the
first telegram had contained nothing
to indicate his Official capacity.
A reply vas received from Registrar
Reese shortly stating that Richardson
was sheriff Of Custer county and that
as sheriff he deemed II necessary that
troops be sent to Broken Bow to pre-
serve order.
The registrar In his telegram re-
Trained from expressing an opinion on
the matter himself. Governor Mickey
then sent another query to Richard
and later received a reply that the
sheriff had sworn in seven extra depu-
ties and was doing his best to main
tain the peace that dignity of the state,
but that he feared that violence would
break out soon. He again asked that
the national guard be sent.
General Culver at once was Sent for
and an extended conference between
him and the governor took place. A
telegram was sent the sheriff ordering
him to exhaust all means at his dis
posal to preserve order and advising
him that IL these efforts we're ~unavail-
ing an official demand be made for the
troops. General Culver was command
ed to order Captain Kennedy of COM
pany M. First regiment, which is sta
toned at Broken Bow, to hold himself
and company at readiness for active
service at a moments notice.
Later Governor Mickey received a
telegram from Captain Kennedy, COM
handing Company NJ. stating that the
company had gone on duty at the re-
quest Of the officers of the government
land Office and that the members were
patrolling the line of would-be settlers
assembled to make filing. Captain
Kennedy reported that there was some
trouble among those in line concerning
places.
The six land Offices in Nebraska were
the scenes OF great excitement. At
O'Neill nearly q thousand persons, a
great percentage Of whom we're women,
were In line at sunrise. The greatest
excitement was at Broken Bow in Gus
ter county, where more than 2 million
acres of the best land included in the
provisions Of the law are thrown open.
Homestead filing began at North
Platte at 8 q. m. People had been
gathering for a few days from other
states and the crowd gathered in front
Of the land Office. 1t was very orderly
and there was no disturbance. There
were several women applicants. Many
stayed up all night to get first place.
Many contests already have been start
ed. Every n was given a number and
allowed to go until his number was
called. The number present Is much
less than 1t would have been had not
a large tract been withdrawn for irri-
cation purposes.
At McCook two hundred and fifty
three applicants for homesteads under
the new law had been filed, and the
rush Is over but entries are still being
made. One hundred and twenty-five
applicants by mail. puEporting to have
complied with the requirements Of the
law were filed prior to the opening.
This Is bitterly condemned by appli-
cants in person and petitions setting
forth the grievance are being circulat-
ed and generally signed.
Every availabis nook in O'Neill was
utilized to its fullest capacity by the
hundreds who have gone there to take
advantage of the increased land allow
ance given homesteaders by the Kin
kaid law. Special officers have been
sworn in to preserve order.
A great number of women were no.
ticeable among the visitors, and while
they will be shown no favors in the
lineup their appearance would indi-
cate that they need non for they eem
fully able to cope with the huskiest
wet" homesteaders.