Volume 18 , Issue 37

April, 1889, Moving Over the Strip

Last week we researched the Run of 1893. This week we look deeper into the Run of 1889. It was in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, page 1, 19 April 1889, Friday, we found this headline: "Moving Over the Strip." The Boomers take up their march from Arkansas City.

Found on Newspapers.com

At 5 o'clock in the morning the Pilgrims, under the escort of United States Troops, start across the Cherokee Strip - a motley and wo-begone looking crowd - the excitement unabated throughout Kansas - a Sanguinary party from Fort Smith.

Arkansas City, Kan, April 18 (1889) -- The cavalry bugle sounded at 5 o'clock that morning at Chillocco Creek, Capt. Hayes' camp marshaling the Fifth Cavalry to active duty. It was a stirring scene. The boomers were getting ready to march over the Cherokee strip border to the confines of the promised land. They had been ordered to move along the old established trails, and to commit no depredations under penalty of being turned back. As far as the eye could reach it was a moving mass of excited humanity and dumb creatures.

From tan elevation five solid miles of wagons could be seen, and as the caravan went over t he undulating prairie it presented a sight probably never to be seen again. Every face beamed with expectant pleasure, and there was not the slightest disorder. For three hours the wagons crossed the strip line and moved slowly toward the promised land. On the outside of almost every wagon, strapped tot he side, were plows, household goods, and farming implements. Extra horses and bunches of cattle' followed the wagons, often driven by women and children. One farmer had built a house from the bed of his wagon. It was shingled and a stovepipe leading from a modern cook stove made a complete apartment.

From the Cherokee strip line to Salt Creek Fork was fourteen miles. This fork was swollen out of its stream and crossing it was dangerous business. A temporary bridge had been erected, but it was not safe. Capt. Hayes' orders were to camp that night on Salt Creek Fork and then to take the line of march tomorrow for the Oklahoma line. Camp would be struck by the soldiers just across the line and Capt. Hayes would picket his men along the Oklahoma line as far as they would reach. His picket line would be joined by a line of soldiers from Caldwell and the boomers would be kept at bay until the hour of noon arrived.
  |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---