The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-07
TEX-OK ARMIES
War
RANGERS ON ONE SIDE AND OK
lAHOMA DEPUTIES ON OTHER
BANK OF RED RIVER AWAIT
COURT ACTION
BY w. w. FERGUSON,

Ranger Camp, Bridgetown, Tex. Feb.
6.-Eleven small black automobiles,
their curtains drawn, bounced over
the frozen roads of the Red River val
ley al Bridgetown, and emptieI their
loads in front of a row of newly erect
ed tents on the river bank
I'D "a give money to "a made that
trip on a bronx" one of the passen-
gers remarked, as he emerged from
the car, carefully holding mis- gun.
1t was a Winchester, in a neat case of
carved leather. Cartridges cleaned
from his belt and. like his compan-
ions. he carried holstered pistols
Others of the party smiled. They
had learned that the modern Texas
ranger has learned to rely on ether
steeds than hi strusty csyusc.
The party We're rangers, under the
direct leadership of Adj.-Gen. w. D.
Cope. They had come all the way
from the Rio Grande for the same
duty that they have been engaged in
in the past, to repel invaders.
Only the invaders on the Red River
were not Mexicans. They were Okla
Romans, who, fired by the discovery
of oil on the brink of the Red river,
had crossed to the south park, long
considered the boundary between the
states, and planted their banner, sign
declaring that the south bank of the
Red river stream was in the state of
Oklahoma.
We're here to keep the two sets Of
claimants from shooting at each other
while the courts decide their disputes,
Gen. Cope announced. is his rangers
made themselves at home.
And his two companies of rangers,
10 men. a sergeant and a captain TO
the company, looked capable.
All of them are tall, we'll built, and
chafe under the enforced inactivity
of waiting for the deputy sheriff of
Wichita-c co to come and serve the in
junction issued by Judge George CAL
houn of the fifty-third district court
of Texas. Rangers do not serve civil
papers. Judge Calhoun has issued an
injunction similar to the one issued
by Judge Frank Mathews of Tillman-
co, Oklahoma, across the river
Both injunctions give possession Of
the disputed property TO the state
officers of their respective states. Both
injunctions put the property in the
hands of a receiver. who is to operate
it until the courts definitely establish
claims.
But the rangers do not worry about
.iniunctions. One fashioned Check
er board, and labeled one side Texas
and the other 'Okalahoma." Then,
using cartridges as checkers, the hard
boiled gentlemen who are the terror OF
the border, whiled away pleasant
afternoon. A crap game among OIL
men in an adjoining tent didn't IN
trieue them in the least.
They even listened sympathetlcdiiy
while a newspaper man explained the
game of chess on the checker board
using pennies as pawns, nlckels as
rocks. dimes as knights. quarters as
bishops and old and new half dollars
as king and queen. Heads represent
ed one side and tails the other OF
course. One grizzled old veteran who
admitted playing" the game back IN
1897 or 1885," skinned the smart COR
RESPONDENT three straight.
! oh. yes they're rangers, all Tight
They wear big white five-gallon hats
fancy sewed or 'inlaid' boots, and
flannel shirts a-plenty. They carry
an average of three guns apiece, which
they use cXpertly.
But-they rode UP to the Red river
in five passenger cars; several OF them
uear rubber heels on their cowboy
boots. and one at least is mighty nifty
with his queens knights gambit.
So they may settle that oil land fuss
without b1oodshed, after all.