Volume 18 , Issue 38

April 1889, The Gates of Oklahoma Country

The Wheeling Intelligencer, out of Wheeling, West Virginia, dated 22 April 1889, Monday, page 1, had this to say about the '89 Land Run in Oklahoma Country: "The Gates of the Oklahoma Country." The gates of Oklahoma country would be swung open precisely at noon, and the impatient boomers allowed to enter. General Merritt issued an order to disarm the settlers to prevent trouble.

Found on Newspapers.com

The excitement would be intense. A graphic description of the territory - thousands more settlers than can be accommodated - trouble to Follow.

Kansas City, Mo., April 21 (1889) -- A Times Arkansas City special said that it was reported there that General Merritt had issued orders to the troops to take possession of all guns and pistols carried by the boomers. They were not to be confiscated, but the idea was to hold them until the excitement was over as a precautionary measure against bloodshed. It was also said that liquor would be rigidly excluded.

The Chicago Times correspondent at Purcell sent his paper a dispatch, telling of the last day in the Indian Territory prior to the final invasion of Oklahoma. He said, "Final preparations were made today for the exodus which would begin tomorrow."

Wagons were overhauled, supplies purchased and guns and tools given careful inspection. The supreme moment was so near at hand that the thousands who had spent weary months in waiting can hardly contain themselves.

At 8 o'clock the morning of 21 April 1889 the public square contained a large assemblage and by 10 o'clock the throng had swelled to such an extent that the passage was exceedingly difficult. Several prominent men were induced to mount the platform and harangue the crowd on the great issue of the day.

The schemers were paralyzed. The town site schemers were surprised to discover this morning placards posted about town wearing this inscription regarding the late order made at the regular meeting of the Oklahoma Legion:

"Resolved, That we again pledge ourselves to protect our brother members in their long respected rights on sealed claims and all town sites, and jumpers shall be dealt with in a summary manner. "Oklahoma Legion."

As the town was full of the gentry named in the notice much uneasiness had been caused. There had been any number of attempts to discredit the existence of the "Oklahoma Legion," but that it did exist and would wield a tremendous power is conceded by many.

In Purcell the strain on the waiting thousands of boomers seemed almost unbearable. The situation in Purcell tells the story for the whole southern border of Oklahoma. It is estimated that outside of Oklahoma the night of 21 April 1889, that over 30,000 were camped in the darkness waiting for tomorrow's permission to "Go up and possess the land."

The excitement was intense but no trouble had occurred. The streams were not falling and the indications point to fine weather for the next day. The Emporia colony was 500 strong. It left that afternoon for the promised land under command of Captain George Cooper.

A Wichita, Kansas, special said, "The first train south on the Santa Fe, consisting of fifteen coaches, arrived today, and there was not standing room in the coaches. People filled the spaces between the cars and clung to the steps. One enterprising boomer rode in on a cow-catcher."
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