Volume 18 , Issue 36

NW Okie's Journey

This week we bring you more stories from the 1893 Cherokee Strip Run, via 18 September 1893 The Chanute Daily Tribune, Chanute, Kansas, Monday, on page 1: "The Strip Rush." The entry made by crack of carbine. Scenes at four of the points.

Found on Newspapers.com

Arkansas City, Kan., Sept. 18 (1893) -- At high noon 100 Untied States carbines cracked in the dry air and with exulting yells 30,000 en and women, all American citizens, rushed onto the Cherokee Strip - almost the last section of the public domain that would be thrown open to general settlement.

The view of the rush at 12 O'clock from the observatory on the Chilocco school was full of exciting interest. Just before the hour, with a field glass the long lien of horses and men densely packed for 200 feet back could be seen. At high noon the sharp crack of a revolver was distinctly heard and immediately following came the reports of the carbines. A hoarse yell went up, softened by the distance, and the line got in motion.

Horses were seen to shoot out from the ruck and dash across the prairie. Then a dense cloud of dust obscured the line for a moment, but a brisk wind cleared it away, and the men and wagons could be seen scattering as the slowest were left behind. Now and then a wagon would go over with a wheel knocked off.

A horse was seen to rear in the air as he was struck by a wagon tongue and fall back. His rider was up in an instant and bent over his horse. Then he arose, and from his gestures it was plainly seen that he had been left at the post.

The last of the rising hosts were not long in disappearing over the hill into the sale at the south line of the Chilocco reserve, the rear being brought up by a throng of men and women on foot and a few teams on a walk.

The Rush At Caldwell
Caldwell, Kan., Sept 18 (1893) -- Two minutes after noon 10,000 people who had gathered along the border south of Caldwell were rushing shelter-skelter into the strip in every direction as far as the eye could reach. Vie minutes late, the fleetest and foremost horsemen were mere specks, and in clouds of dust in the distance and behind them were hundreds and hundreds of white covered wagons and buggies trooping into the land, leaving behind them great clouds of uses to mark the line.

The people did not become impatient until a few minutes before 12 o'clock, when the cavalrymen made their last rides up and down the column. For five minutes before the signal all had been getting ready and there was more excitement than ever along the lines of people who had stood so many hours waiting for the opening.

At 12 O'clock a cannon sounded away off several mils east of the hills where sightseers had assembled. There was a cloud of dust in the distance. There was another report nearer, but its was the report of a cavalryman's carbine. The line of dust advanced up the column, the rambling sound caused by the stampeding of hundreds of horses increased. Another carbine was fired and away went all the people toward the south.

The race at first was a fast one and hundreds of men on horseback darted out of the mass and began to lead the crowd. There were some lively races, but there were too many entries to observe individual contests.

The Stillwater Continent
Stillwater, Ok., Sept. 18 (1893) -- Ten thousand sturdy home seekers were let loose on the heretofore forbidden lands north of here sharp at noon.

All of this army of men were after homesteads and none wanted town lots. In consequence there was no thoroughbred racers in the line. Scores went into the lands in wagons with equipments necessary to begin farm work at once. There were of course many exciting races for quarter sections believed to be extra good, but these contests were not marked features of the run.

Two Towns of Enid
Enid, Ok., Sept. 18 (1893) -- The government recognized one, the Rock Island the other. If there had ever been any doubt regarding the position the Rock Island railway in relation tot he two towns known since the great opening rush of Saturday under the title which heads this telegram, that doubt had already been dissipated. The people of the new town were wild with indignation because the company refused to stop its trains there and were making all kinds of threats as to what they propose to do in order to compel the company to erect depot facilities there. The general opinion, so far as they were concerned, seemed to be that the government would soon take a hand in the fight and compel the road to provide a depot and stop all its trains at the land office towns.

On the other hand, the people of the old town, which was the company's station, were rejoicing in the fact that trains go through the new town at a high rate of speed, not even dignifying the place as a flag station.

Good Night! Good Luck! We are stronger together! "Love conquers Hate!"
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