Boomers and Sooner: The Great Land Rush

Riding their bicycles, Seth Humphrey and his brother raced in the mad rush that day not for land, but just for fun.  They noted that the starting line was packed whereas behind it, people were scattered.  They were astounded at the moving wall of people, horses and wagons when the cannon sounded.  They were greatly outdistanced by the men racing, potentially for their lives.

In Guthrie, OK, after the Great Land Rush, the mood in the town changed dramatically.  It changed from simply energetic to tired and hungry in a couple of hours.  At noon everyone rushed with adrenaline to claim their free land.  After all the property had been acquired, people realized they had no means of getting provisions.  Prices were raised so much that hungry farmers had to buy dusty ham sandwiches for as much as twenty five cents.  Many farmers abandoned their lot so they wouldn’t starve.

            Conflict arose between the Boomers and Sooners when the Boomers discovered that the Sooners had cheated and claimed their land before the cannon shot.  The Boomers despised the Sooners for deceiving them, so they attacked.  When the Boomers attacked, the Sooners fought back to protect their land.  Even though the Boomers attacked, many of the Sooners survived.

            I do not believe it was morally right that the Sooners cheated, but I think I would have risked my life and limb and cheated to get 160-acres of free land.  I believe that the Sooners were poor and were willing to take great risks to obtain farmland.  I think that the army should not have been able to fire on sight at the Sooners.  I think that the army should have been forced to capture them because shooting them seemed extreme.