From Lincoln to Lawton

I left Lincoln on Saturday evening, August 3, 1901. Had I waited until Monday, I would have gone on half fare, but I thought my time too valuable in looking over the country. All the people I knew that had registered had been disappointed except for myself. As we left Lincoln, I met one man who was en route to the new country, and more got on the train as we progressed.

By the time we struck Oklahoma, it seemed that all the passengers had lucky numbers. The train stopped at every depot along the way and there were crowds so large that you were almost sure to see someone you knew.

Everything through Kansas looked about as parched as it did in Nebraska. The farther south we went, the better the crops appeared.

I fell in with two young fellows from Kansas City, Missouri, and two from Topeka, Kansas. We stayed together until we had all located our claims. They all had numbers less than 819, and we located somewhat near each other. Two of their places joined mine. 

At El Reno, the biggest crowd of men, and some women, that I'd seen for some time got on the train. they looked quite tough, for they were dirty and had been living in tents in El Reno for some time. Most of them had to stand for the remaining 100 miles or so 'til we got off the train.

It was about ten o'clock, Sunday night, when we arrived at Marlow, Indian Territory. The hotels were full, but we found a private residence where we got a meal, slept on the floor, and then ate breakfast. For this, we were charged $1.25 each. Congressman Flynn, of this Territory, happened to stay at the same place that night, and I think they charged us for that honor.

We hired a wagon, and with three others, including the driver, drove across the country to Lawton, about thirty miles distance. The wagon had rough boards mounted for seats, making for a ride second in discomfort only to the marches I'd made in the war. The day was cloudy, sparing us from the August sun. We drove over sandy roads crowded with vehicles, mostly heading for Lawton.

At one point, I counted thirty five wagons coming and going. We passed some beautiful scenery along the way, with the Washita Mountains ten or fifteen miles to the north. We passed a prairie dog town with prairie dogs standing like sentinels. Fort Sill could be seen a few miles to our right as we reached the end of our journey.

Lawton could be seen for several miles off, a city of tents and covered wagons stretching up and down the Cache Creek for several miles. Only one framed building stood in the entire city, the Land Office. Every road into the city brought throngs of people eager to be present for the morrow when the city would become self governing.