September was marked by “first” harvests, ample rains, martial law and the Beckham County Fair. Oil development slugged along, dampened by the low price of oil. Elk City Schools started with the largest enrollment ever--1010.
A partial list of fair events included the “greatest fireworks ever displayed west of Oklahoma City;” races; The Dellemead Troupe “in seven poses” representing famous sculptures; pantomime comedian, acrobat and contortionist, Joe Kiljoy; the Earl Sisters, twins who performed “daring and hazardous” maneuvers on a flying ladder; plus, the Ferris Wheel Girls-- five girls performing difficult feats on a Ferris Wheel 35 feet high. Of course, the finest stock in the west was displayed. The first week of the month, a large crowd attended a Ku Klux Klan lecture. Speaker A. A. McDonald of Fort Smith, Arkansas stated that the KKK was doing more for society and humanity than any other organization, except the church. He repeated the four-cardinal principles of the Klan, the first of which, was “native born, white gentile protestants banded together for the betterment of society….” Other principles were separation of church and state and white supremacy.
The following week, Governor John C. Walton declared martial law across the state aimed at the destruction of the Ku Klux Klan, with absolute martial law in Oklahoma City and Oklahoma and Creek Counties. He stated that “a state of insurrection and rebellion…” existed throughout Oklahoma. National Guard troops occupied locations as Walton prescribed. Elk City Mayor, Samuel E. Brown, issued a proclamation calling upon citizens “to abstain from all undue action, conversation or arguments whereby the peace and harmony of this community may be disturbed and to conduct themselves in such a manner that we may be speedily returned to civil law, peace and good will.” In the beginning of the month, Ray Culbertson brought in Carter’s first bale of cotton. Sander’s gin bought the cotton in the seed paying $.09 ($1.58 in today’s values) a pound plus a nice premium given by the businessmen. In Elk City, Landis House brought in the first bale, which the Williams & Miller Gin bought for $100 ($1756), and businessmen gave a $40 ($702) bonus. Ira P. Crisp hauled in a load of cotton that weighed 3170 pounds, which he sold in the seed for ten cents ($1.76) a pound. An average of 4045 loads of broomcorn a day arrived in town. Broomcorn buyers pitched lively bidding with some corn bringing better than $200 ($3512) a ton. The Elk City Baking Co. sold good wheat bread for the pre-war price of five cents ($.88). Six days of rain, some torrential, did extensive damage to bridges and roads. The destroyed railroad bridges over the Red and Canadian Rivers cut off west, north and south traffic; five county wagon bridges over Red River were washed away. Nine miles north of town, a windstorm blew away the Signal Hill derrick, one of the highest points around Elk City. Some scalawag stole 32 of Mrs. Potter’s turkeys. Others had several chickens and turkeys taken. Grapes were stolenofftheirvines. SomethoughtWalton’s militia should be called in while others preferred the KKK. Dr. Brose Horne, a well-qualifi ed physician and surgeon from Gas City, Indiana, opened his office at Ross Bros. Drugstore in Carter. He returned home the following week as his wife did not want to move here.
Think scams are new? The Phoenix Hosiery Co. of Milwaukee warned about fraud from house-to-house solicitors claiming to sell their product. The shysters secured a dollar deposit, promising that the hosiery would be sent by mail— and that was the last ever heard of them. Some “chicken eaters” met at the oil well near Carter. A barrel of Frank Denton’s fried chicken attracted a crowd. The weather was cool enough to enjoy the campfire and good coffee. An attendant mused that it was a funny sight to see someone try to look dignified with a greasy face.
Luanne R. Eisler authored this article, which was taken from items published in The Carter Express, The Elk City Press and The Elk City News-Democrat; you can find these newspapers on microfilm at the Elk City Carnegie Library; https://www.dollartimes. com and Heritage Quest provided supplementary information.
