Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1893 — FROM THE “RUSH LINE.” [ARTICLE]

FROM THE “RUSH LINE.”

A Jasper County Man’s Experience in the Cherokee Strip. Guthrie Oklahoma, Sept 22, ’93. Editor Republican : As I promised to write I will now give you an account of my trip. I left Chicago the morning of Sept. 12th, bound for the Cherokee Strip, over the Santa Fe Railroad. The crops were poor through Illinois, everything being parched with drouth. West of the Mississippi, crops are fine, through Missouri and the "greater portion of Kansas. All along through Illinois men were boarding the train for the “promised land,” but when we got into Missouri it was rush. Young men, with overalls and red shirts, broad brimmed hats,grips and blankets fully equipped for the run. The old man, dressed the same way, smoking a big pipe and attended by big dogs, came to see the boys off. Before we reached Kansas City, the train was crowded to the guards. When we reached Kansas City the train was an hour late. Here there was a mob of people and the cry was “Can I get a tram to the Strip.” Three big trains had gone in two hours, and still hundreds could not get on, and were left behind. We were told that in 15 minutes another train would go. As the train backed down there was a scene that baffles description. People ran,Jought, pushed to get in the cars. They crawled in at the car windows- The train pulled away and still hundreds were left behind. Before we reached Arkan-

sas City long trains of boomers’ wagons were on every road. Around Arkansas City every available space were campers. This is the dividing line from Kansas and the Strip. Now we are passing through the Strip. The country is deserted and for miles as pretty land as I ever saw. I reach Orlando, in Oklahoma. Here are located the ‘registration booths. I find thirty thousand people on the ground and ten thousand men in line, six abreast. Each six has a captain. There are four booths and four lines. I selected the shortest line. My No. 3775. I stayed in line two days and nights. Every man must stand his turn. Every now and then some fellow undertakes to sneak in. The cry is “put him out.” Five or six men grab him and throw him over the ropes. Night settles down and the weary men fall down and sleep where they have stood all day, and their friends bring them supper. Speech making comes next. Here wit and i talent count and the camp roars with laughter. Later on the fiddles begin to play, a great ring is formed and the negroes dance. Soon the demimonde and painted girls come on the scene. Farther away is heard the chuck-luck man, crying the old army game, some one gains, some one loses.

But hush, I hear the death cry! Beside the road on a dry goods box sits a little coffin. Another victim to exposure and hot sun. Saturday comes; for miles along the Strip, thousands are ready. Fine horses, ponies, wagons, every conceivable rig is there. Young men on fine horses; old men and old women, old enough to be grandmothers, are mounted, and ready. Young ladies by the hundreds, mounted on fine horses are anxiously awaiting the signal. At 11 o’clock and 55 minutes a soldier rides out and fires a gun. A cheer like the voice of many waters goes up, and we are off. And such running. It would have made a yearling of old Jehu, and he would not have been in it. For miles we rode over fine upland prairie across cactus and prickley pear. I saw droves of antelopes and blacktailed deef run hither and thither frightened and exhausted. They fell an easy prey to the Winchesters. 12 of us start for Red Rock bottoms. The finest land in the strip. The distance is 25 miles. We rode it in two hours and ten minutes, but when we got there we were too late. The sooners slipped m the night be-. fore and all was gone. The curses of the party were not loud but deep. Many will want to know if the land is good. It is fine wheat land. Would it pay to sell out in the east and come ? No, I think not. But for the man who is broke up, or a young man who wants more room, there is no better place to come. There are great chances to get a good home. Claims can be bought reasonable and there are lots of claims yet vacant.

JAMES COMER.