Land Run 1889

[DormantEvil]

Oklahoma Land Run 1889 - [PM if interested]

OKLAHOMA LAND RUN 1889

Guthrie Station would soon host a wide abundance of people as they arrived for the opening of the land grab oppurtunity of a lifetime. And the town was still little more than a few tents in the center of the Unassigned Lands. Mainly located where it was because of the railway line. Buildings were mapped out with string and pegs, but they had not begun to be built just yet.

An advertisement was pegged to the door of the train station, with one of the steam trains waiting outside. Many people were gathered around the platforms, women and men in fine clothing with servents carrying their baggage walked beside immigrants and workers with just the clothes on their back. The oppurtunity for land was available to all, young and old.



Have you ever wanted something of your own?

Do you work day and night to provide for yourself and your family. Only to have 95 cents out of every dollar go towards living expenses such as rent, taxes, food and clothing. Well you need a new start.

Come to Oklahoma and take a slice of land, make it your own....completely free if you have a ticket and lay claim first. Entry closes Eleven O'clock, April 22nd. Race starts promptly High Noon, April 22nd.

Two million acres of Unassigned Land has been opened up, considered some of the best unoccupied land in these United States. Plots up to 160 acres are available per ticket, with one ticket per willing worker of the land.

Please remember, anyone cheating will be arrested, and may face a firing squad on site if the situation requires.



It is now April 20th, and soon the race will begin.​

 

[slippedhalo]

(*)

 

[DormantEvil]

Rules:

* Please respect the other RPers.
* Control your swearing, some is acceptable but don't push it.
* Semi-literate, if not literate posts.
* Two paragraphs minimum...but aim for three or four if you can.
* PM your profiles to me, so I can add them to the next post.

* Most of all....HAVE FUN!​

 

[slippedhalo]

(*)

 

[DormantEvil]

Profiles:

[size=-2]

Username: slippedhalo
Name: Mary Theresa McBride
Age: 22
Background: Young widow of Henry McBride who brought his family over from Ireland just six months ago and died of a sudden heart attack only three days into their new life in America.
Appearance: Long, curly red hair, pale skin, some freckles when sunburned. Light blue-green eyes. She's petite, just four foot eleven inches tall, but is athletically built, strong, and has curves int he right places.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...lle/Rachel.jpg



Username: DormantEvil
Name: Candice Kelly
Age: 24
Background: Candice lived on a ranch with her father and mother. Her two brothers, born before her joined a rogue group of men who hunt down murderers and thieves. Although noble, this left the farm to be tended by an ailing mother, a determined father and a helpful tomboy of a daughter. Her mother would prefer she acted normal and dressed as a lady should, but she had to make do with Candice dressing like one when not working. Her father was practical, and realized the restraints the full bodied dresses had for hard workers. But Candice didn't mind dressing like a boy, or dressing like a woman. All of the Kelly's learned to shoot early, since their land was often at risk of poaching. But now, well equipt with the knowledge to run and farm, and several years savings, Candice dreams of her own land. And the fertile soils of Oklahoma sound perfect. If she can get a flag, and find the land and race to get there first.
Appearance: Dark black hair and tanned skin match her dark eyes to give her a rather intimidating appearance. And her fathers shooters only add to that. Her eyes are a deep blue, and she has naturally long eye lashes. She isn't short, and stares most men in the eyes when standing in front of them but that can be due to the slightly higher heel on her boots. And although getting on in years, she doesn't seem to think settling down as a mother is her main priority. Men have treated her badly, trying to change her independant strong willed and fiery ways.

[/size]​

Edit: Yeah, if you can just delete those two posts and post now that would be great. I was really slow doing this, lol.

 

[slippedhalo]

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2/AngeliaAvrielle/Rachel.jpg
Mary Theresa McBride
Age: 22
(Young widow of Henry McBride who brought his family over from Ireland just six months ago and died of a sudden heart attack only three days into their new life in America)

Mary Theresa had been humiliated with the result of her negotiations with the man who's English was broken and bad but who knew that the word cock had two meanings quite aptly. He grinned a toothless sneer at her as he looked her up and down and suggested a good payment for the fowl she wanted to purchase but apparently could not afford. She was desperate. They would be leaving soon to take their chances out west and she wanted to make sure she had something to start a small farm with, something she could use to feed her family... So, she did what all a woman in such dire straits would do in such a difficult situation during these times. She prayed her dear departed Henry would understand and prayed God would forgive her as she knealt before the very last person in the world she wanted to touch...

Not eight minutes had passed before she'd already hitched up the wagon and horses just bought with the last of her great-grandmother Riley's silver and packed little Henry Junior (5) and baby Maggie (15 mos) into it along with the cock and three hens they'd bought with...a favor...from the dirty old man who smelled like whiskey and sweat all the time and never had a kind thing to say in any language but mostly spoke a lot in Dutch...

Mary Theresa thanked the disgusting old letcher with her stomach ready to upturn itself the minute she was out of his presence. She said a silent prayer to the Holy Mother that she wasn't going to go to hell for simply wanting to ensure her family had means to survive on their long journey and with a guiltily trembling hand she patted each of her children on the head (not daring to kiss the baby until she'd thoroughly washed her mouth out properly from her sin) and she took off, ready to meet whatever fate the good Lord had waiting for her and her kin now.

Henry seemed to think America was the land where their family would finally find luck. In that time she'd buried her husband, lost a pregnancy, and now apparently was just a step up from a common whore on the street...She prayed there was nothing worse waiting for them out West as they rode along the trail toward destiny.

 

[DormantEvil]

((Welcome. Let's get this started then.))

The west was still untamed, and although the unsettled lands were not constantly under attack from the waring native tribes, law was still in it's infancy on the plains. Men plundered from those weaker or less well armed than them, and women were still treated more like slave labour than decent citizens.

There were two types of men, and two types of women.

There were men who wanted it all, and would stand on anyone to get it.
There were men who wanted enough to make their own, and would work hard to get it.

There were women who married and there were women that did not. Those that did not marry a man were constantly shoved around, and many were run off their lands and found the only place that would employ them was the Saloons, or as maids to those with money. Those that did marry were respected among the community, but were kept on tight leashes.

It was very hard to survive alone as a woman, especially one who didn't give in to those who were more than willing to abuse them.

But Candice knew all of this, and even so she was used to the ridicule of society. Down south at the ranch her father had raised her strong and right. More like a son for her own good, but had insisted she still attend classes when not required to work. Home schooled her mother had her knitting and cooking, cleaning and speaking nicely. Refiring her as much as possible in the hectic days.

Now in the small town of Guthrie, Candice was new and didn't have years of growing up around the towns folk as a shield. These people probably didn't care who she was, they saw the pants she wore, the belts that wrapped around her thin waist and the two six shooters that tapped against her thighs as her horse trotted along. One thing she did have going for her was the letters of recommendation from her old bank manager, the local law officer and several well respected community members. And for now, she was here 'attached' to another man, an old best friend. He was miles away though, back home. But it made her less of a target.

She had been told to get to the land office as soon as she arrived in town, and she planned on doing just that.

 

[slippedhalo]

Mary Theresa stopped the wagon not far from the land office. She was relieved to see that there was a line waiting to the door but not further so far. It was still rather early, she supposed. She'd been driving through the night and it was just past dawn.

Mary Theresa kissed Henry on the top of his head and told him, "You hang onto those chickens there. and I'll hang onto your sister. Don't let anyone jostle you around and don't get lost. Stay by mum's skirts, you understand?"

"Yes, mummy." said the little boy softly. He was barely awake but learning he had to carry his weight in order to help out his mother so he'd better get alert and awake fast. He grabbed the container that held their chickens and followed his mother to the back of the line. They stood behind a woman who wore...pants!!! Henry stared gape-jawed at her and whispered, "Mummy, you think that gun's real?"

"Shhh, Henry! It's rude to talk about people, especially when she's right there in front of you and can hear!" admonished Mary Theresa as she hefted a bag and moved her baby daughter to her other hip with an apologetic look to the woman. "My apologies, he's still so young. It's always hard to get him to understand these things. His father used to be the disciplinarian and he's still adjusting to everything so new here." she said, feeling like she'd just said far more than she needed to and feeling awfully stupid for it too, as her Irish accent hung in the air like a thick wall of identity around her. As if her bright red hair and fair features weren't already advertisement enough of a pure-blood Irish lass...

 

[DormantEvil]

((Sorry, I was going to reply last night but my husband made me go to bed.))

Candice had been waiting in line for only a few moments, having wandered her way through town to the office where she could purcase her ticket in the race. But she had been intruiged with the different nationalities that had traveled from as far as the other side of the world to enter as well. Polish, Germans, Irish, English, a few Russians and Asians. There were natives around, and good for them, and plenty of white Americans. This territory would have a mix of cultures after people had claimed land, she was sure of that.

There was chickens making noises behind her, and she heard the little boy's curious questioning about the holsters she wore. She ignored it until the woman began to apologise.

"No harm, no foul ma'am."

Turning to look at the woman Candice noted the two young children and lack of a man. It was a harsh reality, men died all the time, accidents, shootings, almost anything. The woman explained how the boy no longer had the disciplinarian to explain these sorts of things. Candice knelt down and withdrew one of the shooters, but removed the cylindrical block for safety. She also didn't want to get sho with her own gun.

"It's real, and dangerous. But heavy," she explained before passing it to him. "Don't you think?" It was only good for a clubbing tool now, without bullets to shoot. "Now, until you can hold that out straight for more than fifteen seconds you have to stick to protecting your Mother and sister by using your brains."

 

[slippedhalo]

The small boy tried but struggled with a shaking double grip on the emptied gun and finally he gave the gun back with a sigh and picked up the chicken carrier again. "Maybe when I'm six or seven." he said.

"Oh, most definitely not, Mister!" corrected Mary Theresa with a cross look from her son up to the woman. "Really, I'd rather he not have such ideas put into his young mind, children with guns...No thank you. I'd much rather see my son carrying a workman's shovel or books as a scholar. I never really believed in life by way of the gun." she said, making a nervous sign of the cross and holding her baby just a tad bit tighter to her.

After a pause, as the line slowly moved forward enough for the ladies to now be inside the bus office she asked, "Have you much familiarity with this area? Do you come from around here?"

 

[DormantEvil]

Taking back the shooter Candice slipped the cylinder back in, flicked it closed and slipped it back into her holster. Standing up she could see the discomfort in the mothers eyes. "Ma'am, I hope he does just that, I myself went to school in the city. Proper educated, and yet still working the land. Life gives you lemons, you make lemonaide until you can plant an entire ranch of lemon trees."

The line moved forwards until they stood inside the busy office. It was the only building, and actually was a large canvas tent apart from the front wooden wall and door. The back would be built later on she guessed. Inside a small group of Cavalry stood nearby, eyeing up those entering the race. She pulled her hat down a bit and continued the conversation.

"I rode up from Junction Creek, it's a good hundred miles south of here. That's where my parents have the ranch, but this was too good a oppurtunity to pass up. I've worked those paddocks with my father since I can remember, it's about time I started my own."

It made her remember the times she would pull the horses across the tough soil, the plough digging in to make rows for planting seeds. They were mainly wheat and corn growing, like many in the area. But they also raised cattle and broke horses to sell, they made ends meat.

"You aren't from anywhere around here, Ireland right? With just the children?" she asked, before stepping forwards again. Ignoring the majority of stares from civilians and cavalry.

 

[slippedhalo]

Mary Theresa nodded, uncomfortable with the way the men around the place eyed her and this woman who acted like a tough boy. "Yes, that's right. Round-about near Cork...No...no one else. My dear Henry died just a few days off the boat leaving me here with his dream and two mouths, would've been three but...I am hoping to see it as simply The Good Lord didn't think I could handle much more stress during all of this right now."

She took a deep breath and sighed, glad the tears didn't come so easily anymore. She didn't want to look weak in front of this woman or any of those opportunistic vultures watching the line. "I'm hoping to take a little bit of land for myself. We won't need much, a few acres, maybe. Just a corner of property that's just ours to take care of ourselves. I'll teach my son to farm. I used to work on my parent's farm back home and my husband also was a good worker. Little Henry here will grow up to make his dad proud and...and I...I just have to make this work. Because...we can't afford to go home now, we can't afford to go anywhere else now that we've sold almost everything to get here. We'll make it work somehow. We've got no other choice."

 

[DormantEvil]

Picking up on the unease this woman was feeling, Candice smiled before slipping a hand into her pocket. She had scouted out the area on the way up from Junction Creek, and far enough out to not be highly visited, but close enough to ride into town for supplies was a nice flat area of land that was perfect for crops. Just smooth rolling medows, and the nice creek for water.

It also didn't have a large forest, or rushing river to attract most who were looking for gold. So she hoped that the people running for that land would be fewer. Passing over the slip of paper it showed a basic direction and outline of major landmarks.

"If good cropping land without the frills and 'beauty' is what you are looking for you might like this area. Plus, with two children you won't beat the rush for the prime land, I doubt I would and I only have to care for myself."

To be honest the land did have a sizable forest, but it couldn't be used for logging because it would run out within a year. It's creeks were small, and although could supply water for crops and the ranches it couldn't mine rock, or degrade rock for gold to be extracted. There might be oil of course, but that would take years to mine or to get to the point where you were stable enough to mine.

"I'll be heading out that way."

Someone cleared their throat, and Candice turned back to look forward to see one of the clerks waiting. Stepping forwards she gave her name, "Candice Kelly," and waited. Soon, she was passed a flag that had a number printed on it. That number was then recorded beside her name in the ledger, which she had to sign beside.

 

[slippedhalo]

Mary Theresa looked at the map and had much of it memorized before it was put away. Necessity did strange things to people's minds and it was making Mary's quite good in remembering things. She smiled and thanked the woman for her advice.

She watched her back as she took her place in line. Mary had hoped to learn the woman's name. Candice Kelly, a strong name with an Irish background as well, most likely. Mary decided she wouldn't mind having someone like Candice for a neighbor. Hopefully, the feeling was mutual.

When it was her turn Mary did as she should and signed the paper. Her flag had the number 46 on it. She was 46, hopefully this number would be a fortunate one for her and her family. As she stepped out of the building she saw Candice standing not too far away from where Mary'd hitched the wagon up. She sent Henry to put the chickens back and help settle his sister down as Maggie was getting restless so close to her usual morning naptime.

Mary approached Candice and put out her hand to shake with a smile, "Mary Theresa McBride. I should have introduced myself earlier as you've been very kind in your patient conversation. Thanks."

 

[DormantEvil]

Watching Mary walk up with her children in tow, Candice couldn't help but wonder how they would fare in the race. Wagons could go fast, but not as fast as a horse and rider, and not over the terrain with safety at speed. She began to think, at first she didn't want to split her land, but eventually she would have to hire people to help her. Extending her hand in greeting, Candice shoot Mary's strongly and smiled.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Candice Kelly, and it's always good to talk to people. We would have eventually spoken considering how the town is going to take off soon."

Looking over the the family's wagon, Candice heard the little voice of her mother in the back of her mind.

"Whatever happens, don't forget where you come from and who you are...."

She had been raised to be kind and courteous to others, especially those in need, and now she was presented with a situation that she could help in. Well, she guessed there was no other choice to make in the end. Collecting the reins of her horse, and walked over to the wagon before turning to the woman she had just met.

"Mary, would you be interested in running the homestead on whatever land I can pick out? Considering racing that wagon with young children may prove dangerous. I'll have to hire someone since I don't plan on taking on those duties even if I do marry, but you are welcome to a small acreage as payment."

 

[slippedhalo]

Mary stared hard at this woman offering her so much for so little as a kind word. Was this really happening? Could this woman be trusted? The world had been so hard on her as of late she was reluctant to believe in hope yet she knew the truth in the words. It would be very dangerous to race the wagon and the children could get hurt, killed even...

"I...I'm speechles..." she put her hand absently to her heart as she looked back at the wagon with her children tucked away inside. "It would be so dangerous for them, especially the baby, I know...I would do what? Cook and clean and such? And...oh, that would be fine, just fine and yes, yes I could do that and happily too. We wouldn't need much for ourselves. Before I married I was trained as a school teacher and if I can later find work teaching I won't be needing as much land to farm anyway, just enough for the kids to grow up strong and healthy on, enough to raise chickens, a place for my horses, maybe a few goats. That's it, nothing too big or fancy. A corner out of your hair...But, yes, I would willingly work for that. I would."

She wiped a tear from her eye and smiled, shaking Candice's hand vigorously now in agreement. "How can I ensure you'll come back for us after the race? How will I know where to meet you? Should I keep something of yours to look after so you'll have to come back for it? A gesture of faith seems fair enough for a gesture of faith, yes?"

 

[DormantEvil]

Mary seemed to be overwhelmed almost with the offer that Candice had made. She was glad to see that the woman was keen on the idea. It would save her a good deal of money in the beginning having to hire a housemaid and cook. The children might cause some grief being unable to do more than attend chickens and help mend clothing, but they would grow and be able to help more.

Candice shook back, before turning towards the center of town. "People are getting paid, those who aren't even teachers to keep the children in classes in town. Since they don't have anyone from the city here yet to take over the school I know for a fact that parents are helping."

She thought about an object of value that she could hand over, but there was very little. She did have an old pocket watch her father had given her. It wasn't expensive but it was a cherished heirloom. Taking it out of her pocket she unpinned it and passed it to Mary.

"How about this, it won't sell for much but it was my grandfathers."

 

[slippedhalo]

Mary Theresa took the watch, said something in Gaelic and crossed herself twice and then nodded solumnly to Candice. "I'll wait by the wagon with the children for your return. I'm your new employee. I won't let you down."