Volume 18 , Issue 36

Sept., 1893 - The Smoke Has Cleared Away

A few days after the Run of 1893 in Oklahoma Territory, 21 September 1893, Thursday, page 1, of The Guthrie Daily Leader, out of Guthrie, Oklahoma, reported, "The Smoke Has Cleared Away." And the ship shined in pristine glory. It also reported about affairs at live Alva, and something about the towns on the Northern Border. Stories were told on wagon covers. Prairie schooners, like the tide, come and go. The one great cry is for rain - lot contestants - Late Accidents - News from the Strip.

Found on Newspapers.com

A boomer with unkempt hair and sanded optics sat on a claim in the strip.

He was fifty miles from water, but as he sat curled up 'round his stake he appeared happy - supremely happy, and in Salvation Army tones sang, "Three maybe e flies on you and flies on me, but there 'er no flies on Hoke and the strip."

Thus is the strip. There were many disconsolate people who made the rush and got nothing, but in the main all seem satisfied. The strip is a great country and will prosper.

The settlers were beginning to realize their position, now that the excitement has died away and the sandstorm abated. Every good claim has from two to five contestants and the poor ones were scarcely worth the government price of $500. The great majority will, however, retain and get down to work as soon as the speculators and sight-seers leave.

People were going through here south-bound as thick as they did north-bound a week ago. Every train was loaded with people coming from he strip and a continual procession of wagons was coming in. The night before a wag stepped into a south bound passenger train packed with people and said: "Is there anybody here going back to Texas?" Every man and woman in the car got up. Many of the south-bound wagons bore inscriptions on their covers as follows: "Texas is good enough for us." "Going back to Dixie." "We're going where we have water if we don't use it." "Hog and hominy is better than sand."

The people were deserting the Ponca townsite. The night before not more than 200 people remained on the ground. Ex-Chief Bushyhead received his patent from President Cleveland this morning for 160 acres at Kildare. This is the first patent issued for land on the Cherokee Strip. The Cherokee towns of Wharton, Cross and Kildare were booming towns, for the reason that people were sure of clear titles to their lots.

At Alva water was struck at thirty feet. For purity or abundance it cannot be exceeded in Oklahoma. It was clear as crystal and cold as ice, and wells were going down all over town. With what was conceded as being the most beautiful townsite in Oklahoma, a rich country and enterprising people, and a country sixty miles square and a land office town, the future of Alva is assured. The town was building rapidly.
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