Volume 18 , Issue 37

April, 1889, Local Boomers Preparing To Move

To learn more about the Run of 1889 into Indian Territory, we find the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, dated 19 April 1889, Friday, page 1, with he following headlines: "Local Boomers preparing To Move." A Meeting of the Chicago Colonists Who Are to Leave Saturday.

Found on Newspapers.com

The Chicago Oklahoma colony held its final meeting last night at No. 208 Blue Island avenue. The meeting was called to decide what route the colony should take to the promised land. They had previously decided to go and possess it, at least a sufficient portion of it to provide homes and wealth for all who should join the colony.

Mr. Robinson of the Santa Fe Road and Mr. Kline of the Wabash were there to fight for the spoils, and as soon as the meeting convened a wordy war ensued. Mr. Robinson claimed that the Santa Fe was the only road operating lines into the Oklahoma country, which statement Mr. Kline flatly denied. Mr. Robinson also claimed that his road could furnish the best accommodations and get there three hours sooner than any other roads nd to this Mr.Kline excepted. It was finally decided by a standing vote to take the Santa Fe.

Altogether there were three colonies going to start next Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. They were the Bergs colony. numbering about sixty, the Winter and Townsley colony of about the same number, and the Chicago colony, numbering about fifty. Those who had homes and families had sold what they did not take with them and would go bag and baggage. The greater part of them are single men who had been out of employment and are ready for any scheme afloat. They would arrived on the line of the territory at noon on the day it was opened for settlement.

"We are going with Winchesters and double-barreled shotguns," said Mr. Sunfield, the President of the Chicago colony, "and will stands good a show and better than those who had been waiting around the borders for months. Most of us will have money, and we will be prepared to go into the interior and choose for ourselves, while those who have been waiting are practically paupers and will have to settle near the borders."

"What about the members of the colony who have not the money to wait for the harvest provided they get the land?" was asked. "O, the colony is formed for mutual support and preservation, and will take care of its members and will tide them over," was the reply.
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