Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1901 — LOTTERY FOR LAND. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LOTTERY FOR LAND.

DRAWING AT EL RENO WITNESS* ED BY 26,000 PERSONS. Names of Those Who Secured Best Claims Mis* Mattie H. Beal Got One Worth from *20,000 to *40,000 »-One Marriage tost a *IO,OOO. Oklahoma's great land lottery was begun at El lieno Monday, and when the commissioners appointed by the federal government adjourned the drawing for the day-1,000 of the choicest of the 13,000 160-acre claims in the Kiowa-Comanche country had been awarded. The first name drawn from the wheels was that of Stephen A. Holcomb of Paul's Valley. I- T.. for a homestead in the El Reno district, and the second Leonard Lamb of Augusta, Ok. These men select the two choicest claims in this district. The capital prize winners, however, proved to be James R. Woods of Weatherford, Ok., whose name was the first to come from the Lawton district wheel, and Miss Hattie H. Beal of Wichita, Kan., who drew the second number in that district. They will have the privilege of making the first filings in the Lawton district, and will undoubtedly choose the two quarter sections adjoining that town. These are considered the most valuable in the territory, and are, it is estimated, worth from $20,000 to $40,000 each. The day was one of keen excitement, replete with interesting scenes. It is estimated that 25,000 persons witnessed the drawing. The immense throng was wrought up to the highest pitch. Each succeeding winner for a time was met with shouts of applause and merriment. All was pleasantry. Every man, though he did not draw a prize from the wheels Monday, had steadfast faith that on Tuesday or the next daj' would surely see him the possessor of a slip reading him a title clear to IGO acres of Oklahoma land. Unfortunate ones, instead of bewailing their fate, cheered lustily as familiar names were called out from the commissioners' platform. The crowd fairly exhausted themselves, •nd when the close of the drawing for the

day was announced at 0 o'clock hundreds who had neither eaten nor drank during the day sank to the ground where they stood front sheer fatigue or dragged themselves to better places for rest or to refreshment booths uptown. It was found that many hundred applicants had "repeated," and that others had applications so illegible that they were thrown out. Over this much discord resulted, and the outcome may be an appeal to the courts. The drawing had been set for 9 o’clock, but the transferring of the bundles of envelopes holding applications from the general receptacle into the wheels, which ■was by lot, was so slow that it wns 10:M) o’clock before the first name was drawn. Twenty-five names were first drawn from the El Reno district, and then an equal number from the Lawton district. First Name l>ru • r. When all was ready Ben Heyler placed bis hand in an aperture in the El Reno wheel, and, withitrawing an envelope, handed it to Col, Dyer. It was passed to Chief Clerk Macey, stamped, and handed back to Col. Dyer. The commissioner walked to the front of the platform, raised his hand for order, and in a lond tone exclaimed: "Stephen A. Holcomb of Paul’s Valley, I. T., draws the first number." The crowd yelled for three minutes, apparently as much delighted as if every man had drawn a prize. Envelope No. 2 was quickly drawn, and Col. Dyer again announced: "Leonard Lamb of Augusta, Ok., born In Illinois.” In quick succession other envelopes were drawn, and as the names were announced each one was greeted with a volley of cheers. The first other successful winners in the El Reno district follow: 8. Frank Brown, Ponca City, Ok., born In Kauass. 4. Calvin Churchill, Chickasha, I. T. 5. Charles D. Williams, Norman, Ok. 6. Ollie M. Rogers, Cordell, Ok.

When twenty-five names had been taken from the El Reno district wheel, attention was turned to that representing the Lawton district. The first name brought out for this district was that of James R. Woods of Weatherford, Ok., and the crowd again went wild. This meant that Woods would be able to claim the quarter section adjoining Lawton town, one of the choicest in the entire country. The second ticket was drawn and Col. Dyer called out: “I have the pleasure to announce the name of the first woman to draw a prize, Mattie H. Beal of Wichita, Kan.” Then Col. Dyer gave her description as

23 years old and five feet three inches In height, just tha height of Woods. Instantly the crowd caught the humor of the idtuation, and thousands of throats sent up the shout: “They must get married!” The eighteenth winner in the Lawton

district was Minerva McClintock, aged 25 years, of Oklahoma City. She was married the day before, and by this aet forfeited her right to the claim. The drawing was resumed Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock, and continued Wednesday and Thuraday. Injunction Denied Indian*. The Department of Juatice in Washington Monday received a telegram stating that Judge Edwin of the United States Court in Oklahoma had denied the application of Lone Wolf and other Indians for an Injunction restraining the government from distributing lamia in that territory by drawings. Train killed Mr*. P. H. Martin and two daughter*, Fredericksburg, Pa.

“The piper promised Joyous land.” — Chicago Inter Ocean.

ANMA MOSGROVE. The First Woman to Register for Oklahoma Indian Lands.