OPENING OF THE CHEROKEE OUTLET

AT NOON ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1893, MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE LINED THE BORDERS OF THE CHEROKEE OUTLET LISTENING FOR THE PISTOL SHOTS THAT STARTED ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST RACES. THE PRIZE WAS 8,000,000 ACRES OF LAND: A QUARTER SECTION OR A TOWN LOT TO EVERY ELIGIBLE SETTLER WHO COULD STAKE A CLAIM. FOR WEEKS 50,000 HOMESEEKERS AND SPECULATORS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN GATHERING TO MAKE THE RUN FROM THIS VICINITY. JOCKEYING FOR POSITION AS NOON APPROACHED WERE CITY CABS, BICYCLES, COVERED WAGONS, BUGGIES, OX TEAMS, INDIAN PONIES AND RACE HORSES. THOUSANDS PREPARED TO WALK AND OTHER THOUSANDS FILLED THE CARS OF SPECIAL RAILROAD TRAINS. WHEN THE PISTOLS WERE FIRED THE MAD RUSH BEGAN ALONG 400 MILES OF BORDER. BY NIGHTFALL THE OUTLET WHICH FOR CENTURIES HAD BEEN THE HOME OF THE INDIAN, THE COYOTE AND THE BUFFALO WAS A SETTLED LAND OF TOWNSITES AND HOMESTEADS.