History lesson- Nebraska Czechs in the Oklahoma Land Rush, 1893

This article is from the Oklahoma historical society. Captain Caha and his in-laws, the Cerny's, made up the "Gang of Bohemians", as the Oklahoma Court referred to them. My great-grandfather and his brothers were in this group of "Oklahoma Sooners." The Cerny's eventually moved back to Nebraska. "The land office contest against Captain Caha and his brother and about twelve others, involved some of the best agricultural land in the new country. These people were not of the old boomer crowd but they came down to the South Canadian from Omaha, Nebraska and were formerly from the Czecho-Slovakia country. They were of the business type of men and Captain Caha was the leader of the party. They seemed to have gotten a good early start and located on some of the finest land in the new country along Mustang creek southwest of Oklahoma City. They were contested before the Register and Receiver of the land office, and all lost their claims, although they had sworn that they left the line at the South Canadian exactly at twelve o’clock. They were prosecuted in the United States court for committing the crime of perjury. I think all of them received a short sentence in the federal jail except Captain Caha. Cris Madsen has the explanation of why the shrewd Captain did not go to jail. These cases were pending for a year or two as they were appealed from the land office to the Commissioner of the general land office at Washington. While these cases were pending on appeal, Ezra Banks, one of the contestants, wrote the story in rhyme that had quite a circulation nearly forty years ago. Here is the way he tells it: "Captain Cahas’ Mules." By Ezra Banks. April the twenty-second, The great and noted day, When through the land of promise, Our horses ran away. There were some fast Bohemians, And mules one lovely pair; They beat the mounted squadron, Of course they did it fair. There were men of every color, Of every race and tribe; There, on the South Canadian, We started side by side. Except those loaded wagons, With plunder, grub and tools, They filed their crew for Mustang Led by a pair of mules. Twelve hundred to the wagon This was the average load; Thirteen miles the distance, And very rough the road. In less than fifteen minutes, If they obeyed the rules— They only touched in places, This famous pair of mules. Dark brown is their color— Fifteen in their stocking feet; A person just to look at them, Would think them easy beat. Their owner got to Mustang, And dug a dozen holes Before race horses got in sight This fast pair of mules. Some were skillful stockmen— The saddle was their home; With horses well selected, Bred and trained to run. When they’d run half the distance They dropped their heads like fools; They got in sight of Mustang And saw the Captain’s mules. There is nothing in the stock line Has ever been produced; For nothing on the race track Has ever been turned loose. Nor nothing found in training In old Kentucky schools Can anything like equal This dashing pair of mules. Men may work with lightning; Inventors learn to fly; The world in editorials May boast of Nellie Bly. The specials on their east lines With Vanderbilts or Goulds, But none can make the record Of Captain Cahas’ mules. If another country opens, As will likely be the case, And Congress makes -the blunder To have another race. I bow in sweet submission And still obey the rules, But organize a company And buy the Captain’s mules. Most of these Bohemians remained in the country and made good citizens and they were joined by many more. They are prosperous farmers and business men and no people, according to their number, have contributed more to developing the resources of our state.