The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-10-27
RICHEST CLAIM To
WIFE OF CRIPPLE
Husband Weeps When Shown Tele-
gram Conveying News of Good
Fortune Bestowed on Wife.

Gregory. S. D., Oct. 25.-As was the
case in the Tripp county drawing. a
woman landed the first prize in yes
terday's drawing in the Rosebud and
Pine Ridge land lottery. Mary ]. Ken
dali of Rapid City, S. D., the wife of a
cripple, being the lucky one. The sec
ond choice went to the son of a prize
winner in the Gregory county drawing
of five years ago.
Four thousand people, hushed in
breathless expectation, crowded into
the Gregory auditorium yesterday
morning to witness the drawing.
The start was delayed about thirty
minutes on account of the tardiness of
one of the little girls selected to do the
drawing. The original intention was
to have the two little girls cast lots
for the honor ofdrawingl the first name
but at the last moment Judge Witten
decided to have both girls participate
in the event.
At the signal from the superintend-
ent of the opening, Virginia Foster of
Dallas and Dorothy Slaughter of Greg
ory tripped forward to the stack of
$4,000 envelopes and make a joint Sc
lection, both assisting in conveying
the envelope to Judge Witten.
Without preliminary maneuvers or
hesitation, Judge Witten opened the
envelope and called the name of the
winner, Mrs. Kendall The drawing
and announcing of names then pro-
ceeded speedily. Walter Peterson of
Burke, who drew No 4 yesterday, filed
squatter claim in Gregory seven
years ago, but lost it on a contest. Five
hundred names had been drawn at noon
and the local interest began to lag.
The drawing will take three DAYS.
1000 names being drawn the first day
and 5000 each the last two days, max
ing total of $1,000 Any claims that
are not filed on after the 5000 have
been given an opportunity to do so ,
will be thrown open for settlement un-
der the squatters right plan.
Mrs. Kendall, winner of No. l, for
six years has been employed at day
labor to support herself an dher hus-
band. She has woven carpets by day
and herded and milked cows and cared
for her husband at night She former :
ly lived at Keystone, S. D. For twelve
years her husband had prospected for
gold without success. She has one
married daughter, Mrs. F. Milton .
Hazeltine of Keystone, S. D., and one
son, aged 20 years, who is here.
When the news came that she had
1rawn No. /, Mrs. Kendall rushed to
her husband with the telegram in her
hand and falling on her knees beside
he cripple in his invalid chair, wept
or joy. Her husband, with tears
streaming down his face, stretched out
lis hand and placing it lovingly on his
aithful wifes head said:
There, Mary, l told you God would
'ememDer us some time, and he has"
They sat in silence while friends
'rowded around to offer congratula-
ions.
The lives of the devoted couple on
whom fortune at last has turned
milling face, have been full of grief
md hardships. Last May daughter
ay dying at the Sisters school at
'turgis, her father nursing her. Fa-
igued with long watching he went to
he hills for breath of fresh air. fell
rom a precipice, sustaining injuries
rom which paralysis resulted.
The accident happened at the time
f the spring blizzard, when so many
attic perished in South Dakota and
Kendall lay twenty-tfree hours cover
d with snow before rescued. Since
hen he has been unable to work.