Volume 9 , Issue 37

The 1893 Run At Orlando

The newspaper reported twenty-five thousand people make the rush -- many sooners already were there and jumped the sounding of the gun.

Orlando, Okla., Sept. 16, 1893 -- "Twenty five thousand men and women with a goodly number of boys and girls started at the sound of carbines held by cavalrymen sharp at noon today. Hundreds went in on trains which were jammed but the grand rush was by horse and wagon.

"Trains both north bound and south bound yesterday and today ran in many sections and all were loaded to the platforms. Women clung to the guard rails and men hung to the engines and the roof like bees. The rush was especially big from Arkansas City and was made up of men who came to this side of the strip to run for Perry town lots. Conductors estimate that no less than 5,000 men crossed the strip yesterday.

"yesterday trains encountered prairie fires on the strip which burned so fiercely that in a number of places the ties were so badly scorched that there was danger in passing over the track. Frequently, the trainmen had to get off and pour water upon the burning ties and once a bridge was found to be on fire. The slow speed necessitated by the fires enabled the men to get off the trains in great numbers. Fully 300 boomers managed to get off the run into hiding in the Ponca reservation."
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