The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-04-21
OKLAHOMA
TOOBSERVE
NATAL DAY
TOMORROW

I0f the opening Of the terff.ory ia set,
Element On April ~. 1889, This was the
memorable dag when the hsst great
race for homes was made ihfthe South.
west. Although but six counties com
posed the land at first opened, 4 mark
ed the beginning Of q commonwealth
which now boarts q population OF g.
00Q,0 600 people
on every anniversary date Old Okla.
hom5 has celebrated. bus for Thurs
day the arrangements include many
features not Witnessed before, and all
Of which win be both novel and unique
10 the thousands Of people who have
become citizens " The state during
the past few years. During the past
week associations Ct elghty.nlners
have been organized IN many OF the
cities Of Old Oklahoma. and wherever
the anniversary date N observed the
preparations win De NJ The hands Of
these associations, IN several cities
the progrnm includes 4 duplication OF
the race for homes. and among the
horses III the parade win be d few
In every community who participated
In the race twenty years AGO.
At hign noon on April 20, 1889, gune
were fired by United states soldiers
which echoed along the Kansas border
and proclaimed that the efforts OF
lCapt David L. Payne were az last ne.
warded and THE Land Of the Fair
God opened TO settlement, The
scenes which were enacted IN those
days have passed into history. and will
never BE- repeated N the United
States, For years the oklahoma boom
ers were gathered along the Kansas
border, a%nxlously awaiting word from
Washington that the new public do
main was open to settlement. They
we're led By Capt. David l. Payne
who has since been named the Pa
tier OF Oklahoma
Finally the ultimatum was sent from
Washington that on April az, 1899. the
public lands would be opened to set
Element. and those who desired 10 risk
It In the new country would be A
lowed a chance for q f~reefor.ali race
for homes For months tbt soon.to.be
Oklahomans gathered along the Kan.
sas border near Arkansas City and
along ilie old Hunnyweli trail 90 await
the signal that would throw the new
country open 70 settlement
Federal troops we're stationed along
The border and frequently would re-
turn from m expedition into the for
hidden land With snme 'sooners1 who
had attempted 10 occupy the land be
fore the general signal Was given.
Mad Rush for Homes.
On the 22d. with countless li0ua
ands Of people from ali parts Of the
United States lined up "tueinR the
mark, the signal was given. and the
mad rush Tor homes Ia the domain OF
the ln6isn was commenced. II was
Q cosmopolitan aggregation that fran.
tieally rushed across The border. some
tried 10 gain hOmestgdds near the line
by running afOot The large major.
GRITTY however. were mounted on
horses. and the event Was an endur
ance rare rather than a speed trial
Following the siders Ia covered wag
ons. known IN the lore Of the carly
days MS prairie %echooners,' we're the
wives aid families Of the aomeseek
efs.
The rules governing the homestead
lag Of g tract OF 100 acres was thai
the settler should be the first on the
lands and establish his right thereby
hy placing a stake IN the ground which
was characteristic Of The home which
he was 10 build. The despesadu and
the outlaw figured IN the race. Many
men wenl to unmarked graves that
day when disputes arose over the pos.
session Of q piece Of laud. Thousands
Of quarfels were %engendered which A.
terward resulted IN contests.
The parade nerosa the borders OF
Kansas into the promised land" was
one OF the most unique recorded IN
American history. Rushing with mad
speed to gain advantage over a com
petltor and to have q hrst choice OF
the land. the thousands OF horseback
riders surged In a broken line aii day
long across tac Oklahoma prairie.
Many a noble animal fell under The
terrible strain imposed. and many d
rider sci out on the rest 81 his jour.
ney OF foot or swerved 70 one side
70 obtain the beet plot OF ground pos
slble, II there were any trees on the
ground on which the new sQuatter
sovereign claimed his domlelle. q TEN.
porary mbor Of brush was erected 10
take the place Of q home. It WAS
usually followed by g nde dugout
But the men who came to Oklahoma
IN the pioneer days lived In the future,
and thp hardships thsi theg oncount
erred have amply been repaid By the
fulHilment Of their hopes.
The wife. following IN I covered
wagon. hoped 10 oyertakethe husband
by the direction he had taken ii the
outset. Sometimes families we're sep.
arated for weeka. heinz unable 70 10
cate each other.
But % nIshtfaii. the hardshlps not.
wlthstandine. thousands Of people had
homes in the pfomlaed sand and the
camrhfes that III the Apfil psalFles
were beteOn lights 10 guide On the
magnificent development which FOL.
lowed on he Footsteps II he pioneers.
Dealnnatlon Of Capital.
Guthrie seemed to be the objective
pnlnl ~ reason Il tie deeignaiI9n Of
that place ~ the capital DufluK he
day thousands Of people had arrived