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| gaveno intimation of a desire to be in~ terviewed or remonstrated with, which 0:j ^lcrricli. motive they even had the bad taste to resent in a very unpleasant manner, did not improve as he had hoped, the writer’s health. So it come to pass that a short Oil- CITY CHROSICrafBS. time after the battle of Wilson’s Creek, he found himself at Cincinnati on board A Brief Compilation,* Incidental and of a river steamer bound for Pittsburg. Otherwise, From 1861 to Bate. At Maysviile a gentleman came on the r Written for the Derrick.] steamer who was en route for the Oil N this and the series of articles Country, where he had been engaged in to follow,the writer proposes to the development. He was a fluent talk¬ relate from the memory of him¬ er, and from him was gleaned the first self and others, such incidents general information in relation to the of the early history of Oil City, new discovery. Yet the revelation he as can be had and may be made was so wild and apparently impos¬ deemed of interest. This is un¬ sible, that it impressed the listener with avoidable from the fact that no the conviction that truth was stranger to continuous record is available. him than fiction. Subsequent informa¬ That the subject will be more tion proved that the subject was one that or less fragmentary is con¬ could scarcely be exaggerated. ceded. The record of late years During the trip our fellow passenger has been more accurately kept, offered us for perusal a copy of the Alle¬ and this will be given, so far as gheny Valley Echo, a weekly paper then possible, in successive order. published at Emlenton, Venango county, Tfye writer fiist set foot on the soil of Pa., of which Peter Conver was desig¬ this modern greasy Mecca in the month nated as editor and publisher. The read¬ of October, 1861. Here, at the beginning, ing matter, though limited in extent, was he claims the privilege accorded to re¬ original and racy. A poem on oil of lators to make a brief statement of some some length and of merit also, appeared preceding events that are possibly more under the _ proper heading, from which germane to himself than of interest to the following lines,quoted from memorv, the reader. In any event the writer seemed suitable to the case of our Oil proposes to make the narration after his Country friend, and are giveD, own manner. With this general intro¬ * * * * * £ “ l£js the county of Venango—land of Penn, duction the conference between ourself Where flourish most remarkable men; and the Derrick readers, whether of Wild as the eyes of the stranger .they fleece. more or less duration, will begin. Are the stories told of the wonderful grease.” During the years intervening the date of If the reputed author of this effusion, the striking of the Drake well in August, who by.the way, has since won highest 1859, and that above mentioned, the nar- i honors in the legal profession, is a stand¬ rator was a resident of that portion o* ard authority and fills his resoonsible po¬ Southern Illinois styled “Egypt,” border¬ sition most worthily, will furnish the ing on the classical stream known as the entire poem, it will be considered as a Little Wabash. His chief occupation be¬ valuable contribution to this narration. tween “shakes” of fever and ague, was ; Of the arrival of the steamer at Pitts¬ the publication of a county newspaper, burg and the transfer there to a regular and incidentally, in common with his 1 passenger steamer bound for Oil City, in fellow citizens, absorbing into his system | which the author journeyed to Redbank, a due share of the supply (that always and the subsequent embarkation from exceeded the demand) of the malaria , that point this brief note will have to {abounding in that favored section. serve. It is of the river journey, its gen¬ Occasional brief accounts of the Petro¬ eral appearance and of his first impres¬ leum discovery in “Western Pennsylvania sions of the land of oil and of Oil City on reached us, but the excitement of a Presi¬ that pleasant October day in 1861, that dential campaign and the breaking out I he and the reader will further confer. of the great conflict that was to be attend¬ { In 'the course of a wide scope of ob¬ ed with such momentous results, over¬ servation in this and other lands, the shadowed everything else, and postponed a writer has in no section found within a visit that had been projected. similar limits scenery more agreeable to Strange as it may seem the beginning | the sense and picturesque to the eye than I of the war was not altogether unwelcome, | that of the Allegheny at the period of as it afforded a chance to vary the mo¬ winch we write. Running its course be¬ notony of shaking every other day with tween ranges of wooded hills of uniform the fever and ague, ancf filling up the in¬ height, coming down sheer to the wa¬ tervals with various other bilious inter¬ ter s edge, streams that glistened with mittent and remittent ailments. A few silver sheen in the sun flowing from months tramp through the State of Mis¬ 1 their sources on the hill-tops into clear souri, in company with others, seeking to 1 waters below, deep ravines terraced with interview certain citizens of the Eame hemlocks, varied with the colored foliage who had become dissatisfied with the of the maples, gave a symphony of na¬ paternal rule of Uncle Sam, and who ture’s handiwork passing description. I Islands in great numbers and variety of form, covered with sycamore, water, The steamer was soon moored at the elm and other trees, dotted the surface of wharf amid greasy surroundings thati the stream. Patches of dark green certainly had no counterpart in the greasy scum were frequently met with world’s history. Passing over the gang¬ floating on the stream’s surface that gave way plank we first set foot on the soil of forth a rare combination of iridiscent this greasy metropolis, in fact, we might j hues, indicating the petroleum from Oil well say, both feet, for the boardwalk! Creek. was deceptive and sunk a distance into All this and more met the eye from the disgusting mass of oil and mud on the hurricane deck of the staunch steam-1 which it rested sufficient to efface the er Allegheny Belle, Cat t. VVm. HannaJ gloss from boots and clothing. After a on board of which we journeyed from perilous trip over the narrow sidewalks Redbank. At Em'lenton, then a small and their many pitfalls, the main hotel hamlet, the Belle passed under a bridge was finally reached and the pleasant that spanned the Allegheny. Stemming quarters of the steamer exchange for the the current, this good sternwheeler glided more buey ones of the Petroleum House. along in the current that wound round From here the commencement of the the islands, her scape-pipe filling the “■chronic!ings” will fairly commence. As narrow space with echoes from hill and we have made no complaint of thelength ravine, passing here and there a clearing of the voyage, neither should the reader where some pioneer had doubtless early of the interlude. adopted the motto that appears on the Walter R. Johns. dollars of to-day. Franklin, noted in French and Indian history, the county ©IL CITY CHBOSICLINGS. Eeat of Venango, located at the conflu¬ ence of French Creek with the Allegheny, A Brief Compilation, Incidental and was finally reached, and a hasty transfer Otherwise, From 1861 to Date. of freight and passengers made. [Writtenfor the Derrick.] A goodly complement of passengers The conclusion of the preceding filled the cabin, and these were journey¬ “chronicle” was somewhat in the nature ing from Pittsburg to th8 land of oil. (Shrewd appearing, active business men of a dissolving view, with the chief actor, j ’ for the most part, the type of every pur- satchel in hand,passing through the open P suit and occupation, fresh from business door of the Petroleum House. Such ac¬ centers of the country, and to whom was commodations as the hostelry afforded due the beginning of what in subsequent were secured at the office and after sup¬ : years proved to be the successful devel- per mental notes taken. The bar and j opment of the greatest and most useful j source of earth’s hidden wealth. sitting room being on the same floor and j Strange, indeed, to the uninitiated I divided only by open doors, made this were the phrases they used. “Leases,” an easy task. i “fee simple,” “royalty,” “eighths,”“work¬ Outside was the narrow street and the j ing interests,” “wildcat wells,” and other mud—this last having been satisfactorily queer names had a confusing sound. Yet withal it was of interest, though im¬ tested. Along the street were throngs of perfectly comprehended. Sociability was oil wagons and horsemen plodding their j the rule and information intelligently \vearv way by the light of lanternB. The given by one and all to the listener. pedestrians were similarly provided. The Previous impressions soon gave way be¬ drivers, urging their teams along, in¬ fore the glamour of tb e new surroundings dulging freely in profanity and the use of and it became a pleasure to be familiar¬ the whip, reminded one of the old army ized with them. times. So, for the evening at least, the After a brief stay at Franklin, the sitting-room of the hotel was preferable. Belle swung out into the stream and The pungent odor from thousands of [ headed for Oil City, some eight miles barrels of petroleum stored in the oil distant. With the exception of evidences yards and boats pervaded; in fact, seem¬ of earlier settlement and occasional pyr¬ ed to almost displace the natural atmos¬ amidal structures, which we learned phere, and acted as a constant reminder were the derricks of the oil wells, the of the fact that one was in the land of oil. ; river ecenery varied only slightly. Smell, taste and feeling were alike affect- ! At the foot of a larg’e island, a short i ed. yet to us it was not very unpleasant. distance below the present site of the old ' During the time indicated and until | Moran House, the whistle of the Belle that of retirement, a constant stream of gave forth its musical Bound announcing guests were arriving,and 30on filled every that the end of the pleasant trip was available space. Where the landlord reached. Rounding the island the nar¬ found quarters for his many customers row fiat extending from the river to the has ever been a mystery. Some, like base of a high range of hills, on which ourself, had just landed in the Oil Coun¬ the Oil Cnv of that day was located, try, while others had became more ac¬ came in view. The Bight was such an climated to the conditions of the country. agreeable as well as sudden revelation, The “tenderfoot” of that day was easily that it‘3/ description will be reserved for designated by wbat was termed in the another article. Oil Country vernacular, his “store clothes” and general manner. ffighboots reach¬ of note. Just below and nearly opposite ing above the knee, into which troweers the present "Union Depot was the re¬ were tucked, gum coats and slouched mains of the base of the old furnace hats indicated more distinctly those ac¬ stack. The top of this, we are informed, tively engaged in the oil business. Op-; was between the present storeroom of H. erators, boatmen, teamsters and employes H. Rand and the building adjoining near of all grades here met on an equal foot¬ the head of Spring street. ing and discussed the events of the day.. The slope and top of Cottage Hill was The hotel also served as an exchange.' covered with a vigorous growth of young Deals involving thousands of dollars were: trees and presented a sharp contrast to made during the evening by verbal! that of the present day. From the point agreement, and not unfrequently the of the hill a fine view was had of the money was paid. This code of high com¬ site of the city of that date and also of mercial honor was so seldom violated that which followed. Looking north that such offence was the rare exception. came the view of Oil Creek which here This was kept up during the earlier years formed its junction with the Allegheny of the development. and in a lew brief years was to become so With the morning dawn arrangements i noted a feature in oil history. Prescience were made to investigate the surround¬ would then have been a precious gift and ings in detail. Our fellow passengers of meant wealth almost beyond measure if the day previous had laid aside their one could only have been granted a holiday attire and now appeared in garb glance through the veiled future of a few more suited to the requirements of the ! 1 years. But the barrier existed then as it [locality. High boots and water proofj < ever has done of the “might have been,” coats had taken the place of the broad-; and regret is useless. cloth and glossy leather; the tall hats ; The locality of the Union Depot, and had also been put away for the next fes- in fact the whole system of tracks form¬ | tive occasion. Booted and spurred they ing the Y, as well as the ground compris¬ j reminded one of the olden cavaliers. ed between Centre street and the Alle¬ A short distance from the hotel and gheny and Oil Creek, was then the site located on the main street, the Linden of an extensive goose-pond. It could well, owned by the Midas Petroleum have been purchased for _ a small sum. Company, suggestive title, was the first Having an inherent dread of the sudden object to attract attention. “Gov.” John- j acquiebion of wealth, the chance was let son, the genial superintendent, kindly; slip. It is now the most valuable por¬ assisted in the inspection of this our first tion of Oil City. In self-defense it is sight of an oil well. As a friend who only necesaarv to state that no mention had accompanied us on the trip warned had been made to that date of the build¬ us the nigbt before to be careful to avoid i ing of a railroad to the oil metropolis. falling into any of the oil wells, in case On the west was the city then com¬ we concluded to take a nocturnal ramble, prised in the limits of the Third ward this revelation of what the object was ; and the river front of the same. Along really like, led us to believe ihat a joke I this last, was moored the oil boats, mod¬ had been perpetrated at our expense. eled for the most part, after the Ohio and | Traversing a brief space brought us to Miseissipps flatboat or barge, varying in the old wooden bridge located on the 1 freight capacity from 50 to several hun¬ aite of the \ resent massive iron structure. dred barrels of oil. The Allegheny then The old bridge, pier and all, was swept farnis'bi.Dg tibtt principal m d6 oi frftns- away in the flood of March 17th, 1865. portatiou, tbe oil wa* broughr via Oil The road leading to this and utilized as Creek in the lighter boats to Oil City ) the main street of the Third ward, was and here transfer! <-d to tbe iarger craft. known as the Warren & Franklin turn¬ pike, as near as can be stated, and in These in torn were towed or floated general respects was a type of the present down the river to Pittsburg, the princi¬ turnpikes of the Oil Country. pal oil distributing point or port. The The east side of Oil Creek where is now scene thus presented was one that gave located within the limits of the Second you an idea of the results of the active ; ward, the business part of Oil City, with forces of man. Living, moving; its massive brick blocks and extensive masses of teams, men, the shifting j manufactories, was at the time of our boats a human hive of buBy industry j visit a cultivated farm. It consisted of a in which drones had no place, every ef¬ broad flat extending from the creek fort being directed to the one common to the foot of Cottage Hill. good where fortune was enthroned and The only notable building in ready to bestow her gifts upon the most sight was the warehouse and storeroom successful of her votaries. . j of Groff, Hasson & Co., near the end of It enlivened the pulse like new wine I the creek bridge and the old grist mill to look upon these scenes and the im¬ on the Allegheny River side. A mill pulse to become part of the busy working race-way breaking from a point on Oil force was irresistable. The Belle, with Creek, known as the “Forge Dam,” just steam up.was at her landing nearly ready above the W. N. Y. & P. Railroad bridge, for the return trip to Pittsburg. Still to the mill, passed along what is now further down was a towboat with her Railroad street, or rather along about the complement of barges headed for the j center of the present tracks, was a f uture same destination. Horsemen were seen j o -a every direction on the roads com-' Oil. CITY CSIROKICTIMCSS. mencing the day’s business. I The view on the south was one of a i A Brief Compilation, incidental and different style of attraction. No bridges Otherwise, from 1861 to Date. then marred the beauty of the scenery. Cornplanter Island, now a mere gravel [Written for the Derrick.] bed crossed by the Petroleum bridge, was As previously stated Oil City in 1861 of considerable Bize, shapely and covered and for some time after was comprised with a good growth of timber. Beyond, !| in the limits of the Third ward. A num¬ gently sloping from the high river banks 1 1 to the foot of the wooded ridge of hills, ber of oil wells had been drilled and was presented a picture of rural content¬ were in operation on the flats of the ment, with its cultivated fields and east side. Tvro of these, located on the quaint farm houses. Who then could site of the Arlington Hotel,were producing could conceive the changes that are pre¬ sented by the same locality to-day. Two up to date of last few weeks. Straggling ferries, one at the point near the resi¬ board shanties served as quarters for the dence of W. J. Young, and the other workmen, forming also the engine and located at the foot of Ferry street, Third boiler-house. The population at that date, ward, furnished the means of communi¬ cation. as near as can be remembered, was from The south side of Main street, Third 1,200 to 1,500. The transient or floating ward was already built nearly solid with portion was also large and varied with buildings from the creek bridge to a point near the Moran House. On the north or the seasons. bluff side were only occasional buildings. ; In the stores a general variety of goods These buildings were built of boards and were kept, ranging from a paper of' in style of structure were similar to that needles to a drilling cable, with such oil j of mining towns. The distinctive resi¬ well supplies as had been evolved to dences were those of Mr. John P. Hope- that date. The word “evolved” is here ; well, who for years before the petroleum meant in a literal sense. For at this discovery, had been a resident merchant time, fairly the beginning, the appliances of the locality, and several cottages built used in the development of the new acd occupied by members of the Michi¬ product, were the creation of the occur¬ gan Rock Oil Company. This company ring necessities of the operators, a few . had purchased the land included between leading ideas only being suggested by I Halyday Run and the Moran farm and , previous experience of the drillers of the - | also Clark’s Summit, comprising nearly l salt wells of West Virginia, Kentucky and j i the whole of the Third ward, a few years of Allegheny county. I before. These had a home look that was j In addition to these were the hotels, j pleasant. A fair sized wooden bridge was j saloons, restaurants, blacksmith, butcher, | then across Halyday Run on Main street.■ baker, harness maker, painters, carpen- j This was then a very sizable stream of | tere, shoemakers, tank builders, and in J j clear water very handy for laundry and j fact, every class of trade except the ! other purposes. J candle-stick maker, whose light was ex¬ | The oil yards, landing and warehouses , tinguished by the uses which the new j filled the river front. These transacted product monopolized effectually, lined | a general transportation, commission and the narrow street. i storage business, being both buyers and ! At the oil yards, landings and ware¬ shippers of oil. In addition to these i houses along the river front, ceaseless ac¬ were ma« y individual oil buyers either! tivity prevailed. Empty barrels from j for themselves or business associates in |/, steamers and barges, barrels of oil from I Pittsburg or other business centres. Pur- p the wagons, were being transferred to the chases were made for spot cash or its j oil yards and boats. Supplies of every j equivalent, the shipper taking charge of i kind in store and being received at the the oil at the wells and incurring all the warehouses were ako being forwarded to risk of getting it to a market. In fact, | the different oil producing localities by ! there has been no material change in ! wagons and boats. Every branch of busi¬ j this respect to present date. ness was in its transition period from The stores, shops of various kinds, j primitive to more practical methods. ; the hotels and saloons of Main street ana j The success being met with also, inspired ( the crowds of customers will be left to the faith in the busy operators, causing them ; imagination of the readers. The actual to change their first intentiocs to remain i reality would render any modern con¬ in the Oil Country 60 to 90 days. it is ception tame. A more extended sketch pleasant to note that a very large majori¬ of the appearance of Oil City in October, ty of these parties finally remained here 1861, will not be attempted here. It is , for years and many are still residents of to be hoped that from the hasty descrip¬ the Oil Country, where amid pleasant tion given and what is to follow, the j home surroundings they are content with readers not familiar will be able to form 1 what fortune has favored them. a general idea, while to the pioneer of To transact the volume of daily busi¬ that date slight trouble will be had in; • ness even then , it all being on a strictly filling up the space left by memory’s cash basis, required a large amount of blanks. Walter R. Johns. currency. R. Lamberton & Co. estab- li.3hed the first banking office here. At from the mouth of Big Sandy to Tidioute. a later date Hon. C. V. Culver located a The Titusville Gazette of August 1,1861, branch banking office. The first build¬ placed the number of wells along the ing so occupied bad been dispensed with valley of Oil Creek from Oil City to at the time we arrived, and was then Titusville at 800; the number of flowing doing duty as a church or meeting house wells being seven. The number of these whenever any itinerating missionaries was added to a few months later. of that period could be secured to hold Among the large producers struck in Sabbath services, regardless of denomina¬ 1861 may be mentioned the Little & tion. Rude benches furnished the seats Merrick, near Rouseville. This is eaid i and the preacher stood on a level with to have given indications of the greatest his hearers. The seats were saturated production of any of the big spoutcrs of with oil and the proper thing was to Oil Creek. It was burned shortly after spread newspapers over those occupied commencing to flow, causing the death by ladies. The attendance was always of Mr, H. R. Rouse and some 40 others: large and collections lioeral. It was The flow from the well flooded the flat about this period that the sojourners of adjoining it. A large number of persons Oildom began to locate their families were engaged in gathering this oil when here and so provide themselves with the fire occurred, the flames enveloping such home comforts as circumstances and consuming them so suddenly that | permitted.. In the Summer season the but few escaped unscathed. Then came surroundings were not unpleasant. Phillips’ well, on the Tarr farm, which | Spring and fall life was to some extent produced at the rate of 4,000 bbls. per made a burden by the rain and mud and day when first struck; the Empire well, the bleak Winter season, owing to limited 2,500 bbls., and a number of others rated means of transportation, recalled, to an at from 50 to 800 bbls. each. To handle extent at least, earlier pioneer experience. even the bulk of this daily production, j Coal was the chief fuel in use and the for the waste was great, as well a3 place it I nearest sources of supply from ten to twelve mileB distant. The only means of in a marketable shape with the crude transit for this was by wagon over the methods then at hand, taxed to the ut¬ almost impassable roads during a con¬ most the energies of those engaged in the siderable portion of the year. Prices business. ranged from twenty cents at lowest to The first oil refinery was established one dollar and fifty cents per bushel at by Samuel M. Kier, of Pittsburg. This j highest, this latter sum being exceptional. gentleman succeeded in refining crude When the stage of the river admitted the petroleum some years previous to the steamers and tow boats brought up barge striking of the Drake well. His supply loads frojn the CatfiBh and other mines was derived from the oil gathered from of the lower Allegheny and prices ranged the surface of pones and streams in this lower. All other articles of necessity locality by means of woolen cloths and were brought from Pittsburg and the sur¬ other primitive methods, and also rounding counties, rates being according from some of the wells that to supply, the demand being generally had been bored by him and others for salt. From best evidence the greatest. Woman, bless the dear old Saxon term, had the lamp for burning the oil and the and her too, was then as she ever has glass chimney, so noted for its brittle I been from the beginning, the kindest qualities to date,was invented and first per¬ ! and best counselor. Earnest workers in fected in Austria. Mr. Kier got posses¬ sion of this and for a time had a monopo¬ j acts of mercy and securing the comforts that clustered round the home nest, how¬ ly of it. In 1860 and 1861 refineries were ever humble it might be, exercising their built at Pittsburg, at various points in j refining and harmonizing influences, a the oil producing field, in Philadelphia, | large share of praise is due especially to Boston, Cleveland and other cities. The refinery of the Michigan Rock Oil Com¬ i these fair and willing workers. To them is to be awarded the honor of forming pany was in operation when we arrived the structure upon which the society here and that of the Oil City Petroleum i that comprises all of the best features of Refining Company , also on the flats, of Ihe community ofOil City to-day. Ofthtir ; which Mawhinney Bros , John Lang and ! good works we snail nave occasion to ! other Pittsburg parties were the projec¬ write hereafter. tors, was completed in the winter of 1861- Here a brief review of the events of ’62. tht | preceding years is necessary to account: The reader, it is hoped, will pardon us for digressing here. It is merely to note for the busy operations outlined in this j and previous chronicles. ! the manner in which an ever beneficent Immediate upon the striking of the Providence has administered to the Drake well, August 25tb, 1859, on the wants and bestowed its timely and Brewer & Watson flats, near Titusville, precious gifts to man in all ages of the other parties diilled wells in that locality world’s history. Of this the subject of which proved even more successful. artificial light is not the least remark¬ During 1860 and 1861 drilling operations able. Be finning with the slipper shaped became general along the valley of Oil iron contrivance of our pioneer fore¬ h Creek and also upon the flats that fathers in which any kind of fat was on the Allegheny, extending used with a rag for a wick; the next was the candle of tallow for common use, the [ spermaceti, which the hardy whaler I penetrated nearly to the North Pole to regarded by the warlike Senecas as a par' obtain and the whale oil used in lamps. of their possessions, gives it a prominent Then came the camphene, nearly as ex¬ place in history. That which follows plosive as benzine, the chief ingredients given in proof of such claim. _ of which was turpentine and then lard Cornplanter township, in which OB oil. Of course the use of gas from coal City is located, took its name from Con* had been utilized in large cities for' planter, chief of the Seneca tribe of th<* years. Six Nations. It was the location of one Each of the first named substances of the tracts of land donated to Corn- had become too valuable to be used profit¬ planter by the Assembly of the State of ably for illuminating purposes at the Pennsylvania, in consideration of his time the great civil conflict between services in procuring the conveyance of the North and South began. At this,the ■ the Indian title from the various tribeB hour of greatest need, came to our fa-; to the territory from Lake Erie to the vored people the laBt and most useful of Susquehanna to the State. In all the nature’s gifts in the shape of a practically treaties made at Fort Stanwix this lordly inexhaustible supply of the petroleum chieftain was an important factor. So oil that had for countless ages been stored that in all respects, so far as he was con¬ in its rock-ribbed receptacles. This cerned, the name is one entitled to high¬ product, the most wonderful of all that est honor. nature’s laboratory has given, has proven A brief sketch of one who bore so im¬ the greatest boon that, the enlightened portant a part in his time and whose world has yet known. Its praises are name the early history speaks in terms sung in all civilized lands, its clear, soft; of highest praise, is but justice. The de¬ rays, only exceeded by that which the tails of the different transfers of his tract Divine Ruler placed in the heav¬ of land leading up to the final location of ens to govern the night and day, a portion of Oil City on the same, is illumining the cot and the palace, deemed too important a portion of his¬ and supplying innumerable indis¬ tory to leave out. Hence both are here pensable needs in commerce, rnanu- given. tures ana every branch of science, are Cornplanter was called by the early ■ evidences more striking in its behalf white settlers John O’Bail, or Abeel, but than pen of ours can portray. To Col. was better known by his Indian title. Drake and those who have continued He was a half breed, his father being an what he eo well began is due theachieve- early English trader among the Six Na¬ ment which Btands forth without a paral¬ tions. So highly was he esteemed by lel in the mining history of all the cen¬ them that he was given an Indian wife turies that history recounts. of the Seneca tribe, as the highest honor To recur again more specially to our they could bestow. Of this union Corn- subject, at the beginning of the year 1862 planter was one of the offspring. steps were taken by the residents to se¬ The date of Cornplanter’s birth, from cure the benefits accruing from muni¬ best authority, is placed at about the cipal incorporation. A series of meet¬ year 1732. Of his early youth nothing is ings held resulted in a petition being for¬ definitely known. That his young man¬ warded to the Court at Franklin and the hood was devoted to the war-path is granting by the same of the privilege of clearly indicated. It is generally con¬ incorporating Oil City into a borough. ceded that he was present and took an The steps taken to form the organiza¬ active part with the French at the battle tion named, as well as the earlier history of Monongahela,where Braddock was de¬ of Oil City, will be the subject of the next feated. It is also inferred that he par¬ chronicle. Walter R. Johns ticipated in various other conflicts dur¬ ing the almost continuous warfare of the Oil, CITY CHROSICLIJfGS. time he lived in. After the evacuation by the French of A Brief Compilation, Incidental their Allegheny and Ohio River posses¬ Otnerwise, from 1861 to Bate. sions, consequent upon the capture of [Writtenfor the Derrick.] Fort Niagara by the British. It appears iy. that Cornplanter retired to his home among his nation and thereafter culti¬ 1890—Copyrightsd by the Oil City Derrick. I vated the arts of peace. Previous to this From earliest accounts of the French occu-1 the evidence goes to prove that he had pation, Franklin was the site of one of their j won the highest honors as a warrior and principal chain of forts extending from | an orator. It both respects his fame was Fort Niagara, on the Canadian border, to second to none of his race, as history amply attests. Early settlers who knew the lower Ohio, including Pittsburg. For him personally all bear testimony to some unknown reason the name°of Oil ' his ability and many noble traits of Creek was omitted from the early maps. I character. Justice with him was a prin¬ Yet the proximity of this locality to the , ciple that was evidenced by his acts throughout a life beyond the ordinary centres of stirring operations during all limits. Reading of him one is led to the ! the years of French and British residence conclusion that Cooper, the greatest of in this section, and jhe fact that it was American novelists, took Cornplanter as his model of the highest type of Indian \ 7

j cnaracterr 7 “' | Centre county, authorized and empowers Over six feet in height, a form of na¬ William Kinnear, of Franklin, Pa., to ture’s best athletic mould, 'commanding sign with Conelly, the said Kinnear’s (of carriage, eyes as black as night, and des- Centre county) name to bonds of Corn- j cribed by those who knew him as the I planter or his heirs, to the most piercing and expressive they had ever beheld, he was a peer among the amount of $1,871 for balance of men of his day when warlike achieve¬ purchase money for above named ments were the only means of obtaining tract of land, agreed to be sold by Corn- renown and power. planter on May 29tb, 1818. The deed He was intimately known to Washing¬ was made to Kinnear and Connelly, ton, by whom he was highly esteemed,as equally as tenants in common. well as by the leading military and civil “On the 24th of October, 1818, William authorities of his day. His addresses are Connelly, above named, disposed of his models of natural eloquence and in him individual half interest to Cornplanter, ! his race had a fearless and patriotic friend receiving or agreeing to receive, the re¬ | and pleader payment of the one-half of the sum of It is also to his credit that he was the $250 previously paid to Cornplanter as original and only Prohibitionist of his consideration, and the further sum of time in this section of country. $75, together with the surrender or re¬ He appealed to the authorities of that lease of the lands given by Kinnear and day to prevent the introduction of liquors Connelly to Cornplanter for the $1,871, among his people, and was a total absti¬ balance of purchase money. The Chief nence man from principle. thus became a debtor to the amount of He died at Jeunesadaga, his $225. Not paying this at the designated home, on the Allegheny, above time, Cornplanter was sued, judgment Warren, where a monument obtained and the said individual half of has since been erected to his mem¬ said tract of 303 acres, 87 perches was ory, at the age, as near as can be ascer¬ sold at Sheriff’s sale as the property of tained, of 105 years. Though his physi¬ said Cornplanter or O’Bail, at the suit of cal vigor was greatly impaired his facul¬ William Connelly, to Alexander McCul- ties were unclouded to the last. Many mont. Andrew Bowman was then the pages could be filled with thrilling inci- Sheriff and his deed bears date of Nov. : dents in the life of this illustrious Indian 22 1819 ! chieftain, but the foregoing is sufficient “In the Spring of 1825, Mathias | for present purpose. Stockbergee purchased McCalmont’s in¬ The following is the history of the terest, and on the 25th day of June fol¬ 1 tract of land granted by the State or Penn¬ lowing formed a partnership with Wil¬ sylvania to Cornplanter, located at the liam Kinnear (who still retained mouth of Oil Creek, so far as relates te his former ?, share) and Richard Oil City. It is taken from Caldwell’s Noyes, for building a (furnace on the said History of Venango County: “On the 303 acres, 87 perches of land, and carry¬ 16th of March, 1796, pursuant to an act ing on an iron business in the firm name of Assembly, a patent was issued to Corn- of "William Kinnear & Co. The furnace planter, an Indian chief of the Seneca was erected, a foundry connected with it. tribe of Indians, for a certain tract of I A mill was also built. The location be¬ land, known as “The Gift,” situated ing on the river, the water power was in District No. 7, Allegheny county, Pa., furnished by the creek through a race¬ and containing 303 acres, 87 perches, and way. [The old mill building was a fa¬ an allowance of 6 per cent, for roads, etc. miliar sight to early Oil Citizens and for This tract was surveyed by Col. Alexan¬ years was used by the lumber firm of Lay der McDowell, Deputy Surveyor, The & Moore for storage purposes.] These boundaries are fully given, and within works were known as the “Oil Creek these are comprised the First and Second Furnace.” wards, the business portion of Oil City. “On the 11th of January, 1825, William On the maps of later date this tract is and F. G. Crary became associated with designated as the “Cornplanter Reserva¬ William Kinnear & Co. On the 16th of tion.” The total amount of land donated September,1825, Frederick C. Crary pur¬ to Cornplanter by this State for services chased the interest of Mathias Stockber- rendered was about 1,500 acres. This he ger, and Richard Noyes, and on the 19th had located in separate tracts, of which of the same month, in William and Fred the land at the mouth of Oil Creek was C. Crary was vested all the rights and one. The following are the subsequent title of "William Kinnear. The Crary’s transfers made: were enegretic, but the property was sold “On the 29th day of May, 1818, Corn- February 27, 1835, at sheriff’s sale, to planter, then residing on the Allegheny, William Bell. William Bell, W. Bell & in Conewango township, Warren county, Son and later Samuel Bell continued the Pennsylvania, sold this tract for the con¬ business until it was closed in 1849, and sideration of $2,121, money paid in hand, this branch of industry ceased operations. ‘and secured to be paid,’ to William On the 19th of June, 1856, Graff, Has¬ Conelly,of Venango county, and William son & Co., purchased of the Bell heirs Kinnear, of Centre county, Pa. The sale 1,000 acres of land, including the “Reser¬ was made in aocordance with a prior vation,” for the sum of $7,000. William agreement, as a letter of attorney shows Hasson, a member of this firm, and still on record, in which Willjam Kinnear, of 8

a prominent resident of Oil City, with Mb father James Hasson and the latter’s tant in the township at'this time. His family removed removed here about the only companions were his horse and dog, same time. For several years after the and his only protection against all kinds closing of the furnace these lands were of wild beasts and other dangers was his formed by the Bannon’s. Mr. Robert trusty rifle. No roads had as yet been Bannon, who still resides in Oil City, surveyed, nor was there a trace of other gives some interesting reminiscences of human occupancy. Nothing prevented these days, which will be noticed further him from traveling in any direction ex¬ on. cept the thick undergrowth. Similar statements of the earlier his¬ “For many years nothing was done tory of the Third ward lands and those but hunting and fishing, game of all of South Oil City, with some attendant kinds being plenty. Bears, deer, wolves, incidedts will follow after the completion wildcats, and occasionally a panther of that of the First and Second wards, could be found in the forests. The In¬ after which the discourse on the modern dians were seen daily passing to and city’s chroniclings will be resumed. from their village at the mouth of Oil Creek. Before the close of the century l Walter R. Johns. Mr.Ricketts had several neighbors of his Oil* CITY CHRONICLINOS. own color and race. Hamilton McClin- tock came up Oil Creek from Cumber¬ A Brief Compilation, Incidental and land county, Pa., and settled on a farm Otherwise, front 1861 to Date. at no great distance from Mr. Ricketts’. |; Francis McClintock was about the next [ Written for the Derrick.] permanent settler. Soon after several V. families settled along the creek in this 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Derrick. vicinity, among whom were James Story, Thomas AndersoD, McFate, Henry Me-1 The following sketch given of James Calmont and Abraham Prather.” Ricketts, who it is claimed was the first It requires no stretch of imagination, white settler of Cornplanter township, even at this day, to see this knight-er¬ taken from Caldwell’s History, will rant of more modern date plunging fear¬ lessly into the dense wilderness with the give the reader some idea of the general high resolve to wrest from the rugged appearance of this section at that date: soil a home for himself and family. His [ “About the year 1795 James Ricketts horse and dog for companions, his rifle i as a purveyor for present needs and for migrated to Cornplanter township from defence, a stalwart frame inured to the Huntingdon county, Pa., and settled on hardships of frontier life, fearless, and j the farm where his son, George C, re¬ armed also with as worthy motive as' sides at date of this writing. When he ever actuated his compeer Bheathed in arrived at Pittsburg he found it only a ! mail. It was lonely and fraught with ' peril, but this only added to the enjoy-1 1 small town built chiefly of log houses. ment of such natures as those early I He stopped there only long enough to pioneers had. Then, too, what a sense ■ procure some articles of clothing, and of freedom they must have had. possibly something to eat, when he re¬ It is to this class of men that those who followed our the first and meet sumed his lonely journev up the Alle¬ difficult efforts successfully made that j gheny, hunting and fishing as he went. cleared up the wilderness and made these ' He was in quest of better hunting grounds hitherto waste places habitable. To than could be found in the country from them too much honor cannot be given, and their descendants have a heritage | whence he made his exit. When he they can well feel proud of. reached the place where Franklin now From later information had, it would stands he saw only log houses and the appear that the Oil Creek Furnace ceased j number of them was so small that it operations about the year 1840, and not could hardly be called a village, though 1849, as given in previous article. As the largest in the county at the time. He stated, the Bells, the last proprietors, also came on up the river as far as the mouth operated a furnace at Horse Creek. Both of Oil Creek, or present site of Oil City, were discontinued about the same time, which was then an Indian village in¬ and the industry was not revived again. habited by Indians of the Cornplanter With the closing of the furnace came a tribe. Instead of following the river general collapse to this once busy little further he started up Oil Creek and trav¬ centre. Those who had been employed eled as far as the present site of Petroleum sought other more promising fields for Centre. He then left the Creek and took their labrns, or bought land and went to an easterly course for about two miles, farming. The lumbering industry was jj when he reached the place where he the only one left beyond the tilling of- subsequently settled and reared a large the soil, The furnace lands wore formed family of children,who lived to relate the by the Bannon’s, and save in the rafting many interesting incidents in the life of seasons, life in the little hamlet went I their father long since deceased. along in what would seem to us in this ! “There was not another white inhabi- day a very dull fashion. This continued with hardly perceptible variation until'

jf: tKe petroleum discovery brought start¬ I He recollects that very little cash lyas ling changes in the condition of affairs. then in circulation. Those employed From Mr. Robert Bannon, who, with ! were paid in store orders. He alto states his brothers, Jeremiah and Walter, are - I that an opinion was prevalent among among the few survivors of the early I these early employes that when the 'days, and still reside in this locality, | furnace owners met with any minor Robert being a respected citizen of Oil losses, such as the death of a horse or jOity, the following notes are gleaned, mule, or anything of that kind in the i Robeit Bannon came to reside perma- conduct of their business, they veiy Inently at the mouth of Oil Creek from thoughtfully added it to the price of their iBeaver county, in 1845. Hia uncle, James goods. It is needless to add that this IBannon, had been one of the early set¬ course did not meet the approval of the tlers here. Robert had made frequent workers, but they had no recourse. iprevious visite. James Bannon, hia uncle, Yet the necessaries of life were not was the owner of 400 acres of land on high then. Coffee and sugar were as the north aide and 200 acres of land oa cheap or cheaper than at the present day the south side of the Allegheny River, and calico sold for a shilling to fifteen this last being a portion of what is now cents a yard. The metal of the furnace South Oil City. He built on his land on was taken to Pittsburg by the keel-boats the north side of the river what has beer, that made their trips in the seasons from known by the later settlers of Oil City as Warren to Pittsburg, landing at all inter¬ the Moran House. Tne date of this is mediate pointB. Supplies needed were not remembered, but Robert Banaon saw brought back in exchange for the metal the house there in 1837. The lands of and other products. Mr. Bannon also James Bannon adjoined those of Fran¬ says that a large amount of the river cis Halyday on the one side, and extend¬ freighting business was done by canoes. ed to Cornplanter, or as it has since been Some of these he states had a freight ca¬ known, Shafer Run. Toe hotel was pacity of three tons. Both keelboats and afterwards sold by James Bannon to two canoes were propelled by setting poles, Germans, brothers, named Angler, from involving a vast amount of muscle and Pittsburg. They in turn sold the lands what was then called “bone-labor.” and hotel to Thomas Moran, whose sur¬ HorseB were afterward used and this viving widow and children still retain shortened the trips, or at least made the ownership of this old landmark and them easier. The raftsmen received $8 a portion of the land. for the trip to Pittsburg and thought The father of Mr. Bannon was a fur- nothing of walking back to their homes. ^ naceman, and worked in the old Oil The people in this section then made a Creek furnace. Mr. Bannon states that bare living from farming and such other in 1847-48 James Halyday was keeping a employment as could be had. But they hotel, all stopping places for traders be¬ were hospitable to any strangers that ing then so called, on the site of the happened in their midst. present Petroleum House. Among the This is deemed sufficient for the early " settlers he can recall to mind rf the early history of the portion of Oil City treated date, on the north side of the Allegheny, of, and the old Third ward will be next was James Bannon, the parents of Robert in order. Walter R. Johns. Bannon, William Young and James Halyday. On the south aide of the river OLD MEMORIES lived James Hollis, Benjamin Thompson and James Lee, farmers. This locality Recalled by the Tearing- Down of tb® had from the first settlement of the First National Bank Building. country been a stopping place for the The old First National Bank building raftsmen. The old furnace store was on was once upon a time the finest struc¬ the river bank, near where the Seneca 6treet crossing of the New York, Penn¬ ture or business block in Oil City. But sylvania & Ohio Railroad now is. The many things have happened since it was family residence was located a short dis¬ built in 1866, and if the old timber had a tance above it. voice it could tell of many thrilling Both “bog” and “chain” or vein ore was used in the manufacture of iron by scenes of the palmiest oil days. the old furnace. Charcoal was the fuel, It was erected by Dr. Baldwin, long the surrounding forests furnishing an since dead, and was first occupied by ample supply. The supply of ore was Moore & Stevenson as a dry goods store obtained from the top of Cottage hill, on the hills of the South Side, in Cranberry and Ormston & Hosey as a stationary and Pinegrove townships, and at Horse store. Oil City’s people have lately had Creek. Mr. Bannon iB of the opinion the sobriquet—“Cliff dweilers”—applied that an abundant supply of iron ora ex¬ ists in the hills that surround Oil City. to them, but in those days“lake dwellers” The ore was hauled to the furnace in would have been a more appropriate wagons. When the furnace was in the name. This old building stood upon full tide of its prosperity Mr. Barm on stilts, the streets were low and even muddier than last Winter. Purchasers of thinks employment was given to about 100 persons. j;oods had to climb a flight of stairs i oto the imposing height, from which thiB Oir, CITY CHRONICI.IN'GS. then palatial structure looked down. Oil City’s population of about 5,000 A Brief Compilation, Incidental and i then consisted of a heterogenous mass of Otherwise, from 1861 lo Date. people from everywhere, each fired with an ambition to strike oil and become [Writtenfor the Derrick.] suddenly wealthy. Some of them struck VI. oil and some let dollars fall into holes so 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Derrick. deep that the clink of the coin could not ! According to best records obtainable, be heard. Money went a short ways and a dollar the honor of being the first settler in the was looked upon as the price of a shine. portion of Oil City kao vrn as the Third Pithole had risen into glory a year or ward, belongs to Francis Halyday. In two before and was turning out an enor¬ the year 1803 he purchased the tract of mous quantity of oil. Everybody was bound for Pithole. But Pithole’s career land of 400 acres in which is comprised was like that of a shooting star. It rose nearly the entire Third ward, including with glory and blazed eftulgently and the river and a portion of the Oil Creek then sank into oblivion. Daisies and fronts. He also made the first perma¬ buttercups now nod in the breezes where nent improvement in this portion of the Pithole’s palaces once stood. county. By “improvement” in this con¬ Oil City then had two schools, four nection is meant a building or buildings. churches (and a large congregation who Francis Halyday was a man held in high didn’t attend church), and where most esteem by tne settlers of his day, in jrroof of the houses now are, and along the of which he served one term as Sheriff of course of Oil Creek were hundreds of Venango county. He died in the year derricks spouting the beautiful wealth- 1811. H's eon, James Halyday, was giving fluid. According to the memory born at the old homestead in 1809, and of an old inhabitant, there were three was well known to the early residents of papers, all published in the city at that Oil City. time—the Oil City Register, Semi- Weekly Until about the year 1824, the date at Petroleum, and Venango Republican. which the building of the old Oil Creek Those were the days of pond-freshets— Furnace was commenced, life at the the old way of transportation before an ' mouth of Oil Creek was not eventful inventive genius thought of the pipe enough to need more than a passing no¬ lines—when far up the creek a dam tice. The “clearing” furnished breadstuff I would be built and thousands of barrels and such vegetables as were needed for I secured ready to come booming down the the subsistence of the settler. The forest i creek at a flying clip to Oil City. The and stream yielded, with slight effort, an [ excitement, shouts and pandemoniac abundance of game of their kind. It is j noises have all been pictured graphically stated that in the early days the top of! before. Cottage Hill was the most noted wild i There was no Oil Exchange then and turkey “roost” in this section. The oil wa3 bought in the field. Where the Indian trail of the Cornplanter or Seneca beautiful Oil Exchange now stands was tribe extending from their reservation the hardware establishment of Robinson westward, ran through the Third ward, & Co. Two years later an Oil Exchange and the first playmates of young Haly¬ was started in an old building near the day were the Indian youths. Opera House. The hostelries of the town Later on, with the development of the! were always crowded. The Jones House lumber business, this place was en- and the Petroleum House were the * livened at the different seasons by the j I tourists temples vising with each other visits of the raftsmen, both of Oil Creek, I for patronage. Some famous names grace then heavily timbered, as well as the i the registers of these old houses, which Allegheny. This was a favorite stopping j would recall a thousand and one inter¬ point for them. The latch-striDg of the esting old anecdotes concerning the ups Halydays was free to all comers, and the and downs of life in oildom. The old old residence was for a long time the bank is nearly gone. Finer buildings only place hereabouts that the traveler or wayfarer could obtain food or shelter. The first postoffice was established in have superceded it and oil derricks have 1840, and was called Cornplanter. A. G. given way to the steady growth of a city Siverly was the first postmaster, and throbbing with prosperity. The bank served one term. The mail was carried flew the 6tars and stripes for the last time on horseback once each week from on Decoration Day. It flew them when Franklin. James Halyday was the sec¬ griefs for lost ones were fresh and bitter. ond postmaster. Attar serving one year There are few towns that have such a and a half he resigned and Samuel Bell short yet thrilling history as the old completed the term. About this period Hub. the horse was succeeded by the mail stage, and the line on the old Warren pike supplied a semi-weekly mail. James Young was the next official, serving one term. Samuel Hopewell filled the posi¬ tion for one term, and his successor was Thomas Moran. About two years after I to Columbia Carl. Subsequent transfers his appointment Mr. Moran died, and ' made Janury 3,1S53, to James Hollis; ! was succeeded by his widow. Mrs. Mo¬ April, 1853, to Henry Bastain; March, ran held the position until 1860, when 1863, to William L. Lay. This gentle- Calvin B. Reynolds was appointed. The man laid the tract off into lots and called name of the office was then change i to the new town Laytouia. Adjoining this I Oil City, and the work of increasing the on the west was the Lee and Moran farms. mail facilities and additional post routes Mr. Lay disposed of the tract to the was fairly begun. Laytonia Town and Oil Company,formed During the intervening years from its in New YorJs, December 4, 1864, and of first occupancy to the striking of the which he was a director and the princi¬ Drake well, the original Halyday tract pal stockholder. He also established a ! changed owners several times. Dr. ferry over tbe Allegheny. Isle vine, and Arnold & Drum, of Frank- Two hundred acres of land adjoining , lin, are stated as subsequent proprietors. this tract was entered by James Hollis I The impetus given to the place by the for settlement, March 17,1841. In April, iron furnace operations, ceased with the 1850, Thomas G. Downing became the collapse of that industry. The increase purchaser of 80 acres adjoining the of the growth of the lumber interest | Thompson tract. It was re-surveyed by was still of some benefit to the struggling | James Heydriek in 1852. William Phil¬ hamlet of Cornplanter. lips and John Vanausdal commenced op- Mr. Thomas Moran, whose recollections i erating for oil here in the winter and of the times here during the several soring of 1861, and struck a 35 bbl. well ! years preceding the oil discovery, is still in April of the same year. The first oil | clear, furnishes us with some interesting obtained from this well sold for 65 cents reminiscences. From these it appears per gallon, but the excitement was only that this place was a distributing point of brief duration. for supplies to all the surrounding lum¬ Iu 1864 Colonel James Bleakley, of bering camps. The adjoining counties of Mercer, Crawford and Armstrong Franklin, purchased this tract and 120 , found a ready market here for their pro¬ acres from the Bastian farm adjoining, ducts. In the season Main street was for 48 bills of the denomination of; thronged with teams and wagons and $1,000 each. He sold a portion ofj the hotels had a thriving trade. his interest to Arnold Plurner, James R. | The hotels were the Moran House, first Kerr and O. L. Elliott. They, in the fol-1 kept by Thomas Moran, and afterward lowing year, as joint partners, disposed I continued by his widow; the hotel kept of their land purchase to Vandergrift, by Samuel Hopewell, afterward known Forman & Co., for $150,000. Vander¬ as the Parker House; the Petroleum grift, Forman & Co. laid out the town House, built by James Dickey, and run known as Imperial City. Laytonia and by David D. Dickey and James Colgin, Imperial were consolidated by an order and the Red Lion, kept by Samuel of Court in 1866, forming a borough Thomas. Among other residents were under the name of Venango City. Dr. Nevins, Hugh McCiintock, Hiram We have now reached the beginning, Gordon and Saul Thomas. This last so to speak, of Oil City proper. A series was a blacksmith, and afterwards was of citizens’meetings held during Janu¬ elected Sheriff of the county. T. S. ary, 1862, resulted in the granting of Zuver was the first attorney and J. 8. their application by the Court at Frank¬ Hooton the first justice of the peace of lin, of a borough charter and its privi¬ whom mention is made, John P. Hope-1 leges. At an election held in April of well and family came there in 1852, and the same year, Capt. William Hasson was here he engaged in the mercantile busi-1 elected Burgees; Charles Robson, T. B. ness, occupying the former residence of Hoover, Fid Bishop, Charles Haines and Dr. Nevins as dwelling and store. For a T. Hudson Williams, councilmen. W. number of years after the settlement of R. Johns was appointed clerk to tbe Oil City Mr. Hopewell continued in Council, Ed Hueston elected Constable business and was one of the leading mer¬ and Hugh McCiintock Street Commis¬ chants. sioner. The term of the first Council In February, 1860, the Michigan Rock was chiefly taken up with establishing Oil Company came into possession by the boundaries of the borough and devis¬ purchase of the greater portion of what is ing such measures as were necessary to now the Third ward, proceeded to lay provide for the temporary needs of the it ofi into lots, and by them was the new place. A tax levy of about $800 building of the new town commenced. was deemed sufficient to meet the re¬ The building up of South Oil Citv came quirements of the first year. The ex¬ afterward, as a natural sequence, the de¬ penditures exceeded this amount by $25.1 lay being largely due to lack of conven¬ At the final Council meeting of the ient communication over the Allegheny. same, on suggestion of Mr. Chas. A brief summary of its different owners Haines, each of the Councilmen contrib¬ is given as follows: In August, 1840, Ben¬ uted and made up the amount, wiping out jamin Thompson received a patent for the obligation and leaving the town at 400 acres of land, including what is now the close of its first year clear of all in¬ a large portion of South Oil City. In debtedness. A number of needed side- j June, 1849,18 acres of this was conveyed, walks were built during the year, and | .idinancea passed. One of the notable the complement for this last named be¬ public buildings erected by the first au¬ ing 21, some of considerable capacity thorities was a borough “lock-up” as an Dealers were busy introducing the best intimidating measure to evil-doers. This and cheapest illuminant the world had structure we can truthfully state was a yet known to its people. The striking decidedly better building of the kind of the “third eandrock” gave the eager than the city now has. oil seeker the needed confidence a3 to its The contract for the building was duration. All the then modes of trans¬ taken by Mr. Charles Haines, the price portation were being constantly im¬ being $75. It was built of hemlock plank proved, as was also the appliances for the well spiked inside, and was begun and more efficient development of petro- j completed in one day. As as incident leum. worth perpetuating the carpenter who In the old world as in the new, knowl-! did the work, celebrated the event the edge of the existence of a practically in- j same evening by filling up with the exhaustible supply of an article of such whisky of the locality and became dis¬ prime necessity, was most favorably re¬ orderly. He was arrested by Constable ceived. This also brought forth the earn-1 Heuston, taken before Burgess Hasson, est efforts of the best class of scientific and',promptly committed to the building and practical men to fit it for the needs he had just completed, for the night, be- of this enlightened age. ins the first occupant. As near as mem¬ As the features of the progress being ory serves the site of this building was thus made had the effect to multiply uses, | on the Seneca street front of the present it also served to excite in an equal sense, Oil Exchange, near the Sycamore street the cupidity of men. The experience of crossing. "Walter R. Johns. the California gold excitement was be¬ ing repeated in the memorable years of, OIL CITY CHROSICIISGS. 1861 and 1862. A steady stream of oil-1 seekers from every section of this as well. A. Brief Compilation, Incidental anti as from other countries poured into the ! Otherwise, from 1861 to Bate. oil country. This accession of capital and energy gave to the oil country its first {Writtenfor the Derrick.] and most needed boom. Its continuance VII. during the years that followed secured 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Derrick. the success and permanence of the great If “looking backward” over the days petroleum business. from 1862 to 1865, as olden memories From the first inception of the business | the importance of Oil City, both as a re-1 present themselves to the mental vision ceiving and a shipping point, met with [ like fleeting but ever attractive dissolv¬ full recognition. Titusville had the ear¬ ing views, afford even a tithe of the lier advantages of railroads but these were soon extended down the valley of pleasure to Derrick readers that it does Oil Creek, Oil Citywards, to there form a to the writer, he will certainly feel amply connection with the Allegheny, and the > repaid. business obeying the natural as well as The year 1862 passes into history as commercial laws, followed the current of1 the stream. In this case the route waB 1 one notable in the highest degree for the via Oil Creek, and the terminus Oildom’s1 progress made in all the lines of petro¬ present and future metropolis. What na¬ leum development. The years 1861 and ture had so long before placed here for 1862 were burdened with many features their benefit, so plain that the wayfarer could not fail to see, intelligent men of both uncertainty and discouragement. were not slow to take advantage of. The lack of adequate transportation that Hence Oil City became the busy centre rendered all ventures both costly and of oil operations by the law of tedious, of confidence in the amount and natural gravitation as well as necessity. duration of the coveted product, the slow The fluctuation in the prices of oil at utilization of the same and its introduc¬ the wells during 1862 as given, ranged tion into general use, all tending to make from 10c per barrel (of 40 gallons) in values fluctuating, were not matters of January, to $2.25 per barrel in December the most inspiring nature to those to of the same year. The cost of transpor¬ whom quick returns, in a commercial tation, including all charges, to New sense, were of necessity, caused both York, $7.45 per barrel. Steamboat from lack of storage and reasonably freights from Oil City to Pittsburg aver¬ speedy modeB of getting the oil to the aged $2 per barrel. Transportation from points where it could be realized on. tho wells to nearest shipping points Though seemingly slow then, the prog¬ ranged at about the same figure. Barrels ress to remedy this burden that bore so I to ship the oil in cost from $2.50 to $3 heavily on the beginners in this greatest each, and at times commanded a still of mineral developments, appears won¬ higher figure. derfully rapid in the light afforded by Barrel factories were established in the the present day. Especially so when the timbered country of the upper Allegheny1 besetting difficulties are considered. and its tributaries, and these soon be-. Refineries multiplied during these two came an extensive and profitable indus- years in Cleveland, Pittsburg, other com¬ s ty. Prominent among these firms was mercial centres and in the Oil Country, j stern-wheel variety, provided transit for that of Ballard & Co. Their large barrel freight and passengers. The oil boats 1 yard was located on the river front just were both floated and towed down to j above the Seneca street entrance to the Pittsburg by steamer and by horse?, and i present Petroleum bridge. The barrels brought back again by same means. were made into rafts, being fastened These had a sure thing for a load of together at the bung holes by an ingen¬ freight at paying rates for the return ious contrivance of Btout twine, and trips. At this time thenumber of steamers j j gafely floated down the Allegheny to this engaged in the oil trade numbered over a j score, and this was being constantly ad¬ | point. , The bulk of oil production was con- ded to. The number of oil boats, as near 1 fined to the valley of Oil Creek for this as can be estimated, was not less than ! year, and in fact until the beginning of from 1,500 to 2,000. The best estimates 1865. The principal mode of oil ship¬ of the number of wagons engaged in ment from thence to Oil City, when navi- hauling oil places it -dt aji0Ut i,u00 two- i gation could be availed of, was by the borsa-teams. The boats had an average t artificial means that had years before crew of not less than two men. This will been devised by the lumbermen, known give the readers of to-day some idea of aB “pond freshets.” A detailed descrip- the extent of the transportation facilities | tion of these will be given later. Refined in the memorable year of 1862. oil in the Eastern markets was quoted at From Centre street bridge over Oil 25©35c per gallon. As a war necessity Creek to Moran’s Eddy, a ~ distance of a bill was introduced in Congress to tax i nearly a mile, the oil boats were moored, crude petroleum five and the refined as well as along the river front of the 10 cents per gallon. Prices for cruae in South Side. After a successful pond | the Eastern markets scarcely covered the freshet, in addition to these, Oil Creek 1 cost of transportation. As an incident was well filled with oil boats from its worthy of note, a meeting was held at mouth up to the creek bridge, now at the Plumer, in January, 1862, and resolutions head of Seneca street. From early dawn adopted for the compulsory prevention until late at night the main Btreets of the of violation of the Sabbath, the hauling town were thronged with an almost un¬ of oil having become prevalent on that ceasing train of oil wagons, en route to the different storage or shipping yards, From the beginning, it is worthy to c«r returning laden with supplies to the note, low prices and other drawbacks oil wells. have had no effect in lessening the oper¬ The oil boats ranged in size from the ations of the oil producer. On the con¬ “guiper,” with a capacity' of from 25 to 30 trary, the most extensive development barrels to the French Creekers, metal ban frequentlv occurred during seasons of jind bulk-boats of 1.000 to 1,500 barrels greatest business depression. The pro¬ capacity. The bulk-boat was simply a ducer’s ruling idea has been to get the large flat, decked over, and divided into oil out of the ground as fast as possible. compartments made of boards. The first To utilize, find a market, get it there, and conception of the bulk-boat is possibly fix the price, was the business of some coeval with Noah and his ark. It is not other fellow. As a rule the middle-men clear to whom tne more modern one is sained the largest share of tne protits, due. Mr. Richard W. Glyde, of Pitts¬ though it must be admitted that these burg was among the first to claim it by took a due share of the risk. a patent he had secured, and endeavored The oil operations of 1861 and leb-., to collect a royalty from the shippers. also caused the establishment here of a It was so unpopular that he soon gave it large number of industries connected up in despair. with the business. These, of course,were During the winter of 1862-3, a bill was small as compared with same of present. introduced in the Legislature at Harris¬ But they furnished a beginning, from! burg for the franchise to carry oil in pipes, from Oil Creek to Kittaning, with which has grown those that have fol- j a branch to Indiana, and the privilege to i lowed. The cooper, tank-builder, blacx ! extend the same to Philadelphia. The smith, tool-maker, in fact every class of; measure never materialized, strange to mechanical skill met here ample and j say, and met with serious opposition i profitable employment. Merchants and from the Oil Country. A large amount dealers in every kind of supplies found of far less practiced legislation in the their chief difficulty was in getting shape of various measures, was intro¬ enough stock on hand to meet the de ! duced at the same session. AmoDg these j mand. is remembered a bill granting to certain ini The wagon trains engaged parties the river-bed of the Allegheny, the I hauling the oil from and that of Oil Creek and other sireams of I wells to the different points to oil operators. The bill did not pass. had | shipment, were of an extent that During the year the different railroad and!' already laid under contribution companies were busy arranging to luild heavily taxed the resources oi tao far- branches centering at Oil City, in order mers of both adjoining counties and to provide the greatly needed means of States. The river fleet brought here a transit, and the outlook for the business large accumulation of the nondescript was to this extent beneficial. craft of the Allegheny and Ohio region.

Passenger and towing steamers ot tne • 'v l"'r‘ . ' rj'“t- [ Note—A gentleman ■who.c'c knowleJge of the | ling and providing a market for the much business transactions of V&ndergrift, Forman & needed product with renewed energy. Co.,'renders his' statement conclusive, informs How well they succeeded will be related us that this firm had no connection ■whatever with the purchase of the tract of land on which from time to time in these chroniclings. the town of Imperial, now forming a portion of To PittsburgerS is mainly due the ffrst South Oil City, was built. Hence we hasten to conception, and up to Sue advent of rail¬ correct the error concerning them made in our article of Saturday last. Hon. Wilson Davis, roads and pipe lines, the systematization whose acquaintance with early history of this of the Allegheny River oil transportation city and county, is both extensive and reliable, that had already attained such vast pro¬ kindly furnishes what we are glad to accept as the authentic history of the Imperial transac¬ portions. tions. He states that he was employed in 1864, Prominent among these, who were the date of the purchase, by Hon. both dealers,and shippers and warehouse Elisha Davis, James Bleakley, Arnold Plumer. Dr. Elliott and others, to men as well, were Capt. J. J. Vander- make the same. That in 1860 or early in 1861, grift, Hanna Bros.; the Mawhinneys, John William Phillips and John Vanausdal secured a and dames; the Fishers, John J., Henry lease of the Downing farm for oil purposes for the term of 99 years. Further that the lease held and Fred; the Parkers, William, James, the realty in such shape that the owner had no John and George; Pennoek, Badl & Co., control except at will of lesees. He—Downing— Shirk & Co., Joseph Bushnell, Dllworth was anxious to sell, but the lessees objected. Finally PhillipE, acting for Vanausdal, his part¬ & Ewing, John Munhall, Gallagher & ner, was induced by Davis to name a price for Danver, T. B. Porteous, Will Thompson, the lease, and this was promptly accepted and Thos. Mechlin, Pat Tiernan, Bllison & the sale with all parties closed. Phillips and Vanausdal received $18,000 in spot cash for the Baxter, Fawcett Bros., the five Jackson leaser, and Downing $25,000 for the realty. As brothers, and many others whose nameB near as Mr. Davis can remember, the tract are no less worthy of mention, but do consisted of about 130 acres. The lots were laid off and the town platted previous to this sale by oocur to us now. Downing Phillips and Vanausdal. The property The beet route to the Oil Country via afterwards was formed Into the Imperial Oil Oil City, wa3 by steamboat from Pitts¬ Company, of Philadelphia. It proved a profita¬ ble investment for a time. George K. Anderson, burg in seasons when the stage of water a well-known oil operator, was a part owner at admitted. This varied, but the general the time of his failure, and conveyed his interest average was several months of the year. to the State. State Treasurer Bailey was one of Ills creditors, on account of whom the transfer The bridge over the Allegheny at Em- rvas made. After a number of changes the prop¬ lenton was an obstacle when, owing to erty, or what remained unsold, was sold at Sheriff’s sale, and Mr. Davis thinks the present high water, steamboats could not pass owner is Hon. C. W. Gilflllan, of Franklin. under it. And occasionally on account Wai.tek E. Johns. of low water the boats were forced to re¬ turn to Pittsburg when their voyage was Oil. CITT CHBOSICUNflS. only partially completed. In such cases the unfortunate passen¬ A Brief Compilation, Incidental and 1 gers, unless they were fortunate enough Otherwise, from 1861 to Bate. to secure the services of a farmer and his [Writtenfor the Derrick.] team along the route, “footed” it over the almost continuous hills of Clarion and VIII. Venango counties to Oil City. Such in¬ 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Debkick. conveniences were regarded merely as In preceding chronicle a brief general¬ incidental to the trip. True, there were other routes by which the traveler came ization of the leading business features otf to the nearest station of the main rail¬ the petroleum, development of 1862 was road lines traversing this portion of the given. Their subsequent enlargement State. But from thence to their destina¬ and utilization will be noted as nearly as tion—the Oil Country—an overland jour¬ ney of from 30 to 40 miles was requisite. possible as they occurred in the years of So the advantage, so far as comfort went, the same. wks in favor of the Pittsburg route. The business life of Oi l City and vicin¬ The principal passenger steamers of ity for this and the years succeeding up 1862, were the Allegheny Belle, Captain William Hanna; the Lectaire, Captain] to date of and including 1865, was too Kelley, and the Echo, Captain “Zeke” rapid for average comprehension. To Gordon. To those who were so fortunate say that the production caused by the as to have taken a trip with either of ever increasing development, was too these worthy gentlemen, no comment is great for the facilities that the most stren¬ necessary. Staunch boats, perfect ser¬ uous and constant effort jconH supply for vice, thoroughly experienced gentlemen its successful handling, fails to express for commanders, and the finest natural the reality. Yet the same state of affairs scenery in the country to paBfl through, prevailed in later years, and are too was among the inducements offered. familiar to the intelligent people of the But when one wearied of these, the com¬ Oil Country to noted detailed explana¬ fortable appointments of the cabin were tion. Best efforts to shut down the pro¬ available. Then the table fare, and the duction of the wells were not a euccess. dllean, comfortable state-room made a Thousands of barrels of oil in this and sum total of enjoyment sufficient for the succeeding years were necessarily allowed requirements of’ average mortals. We to go to waste. Instead of depressing, confess to a human weakness for this state of affairs only served to spur something good to eat, and a clean, com¬ fortable bed to rest our frame in when those engaged in the business of hand¬ m '''vaRa*aBB*aBIIBBaHMr' courting Nature’s balmy restorer. By no 'Third ward. , ^ other mode of travel have we found the The Petroleum House was a favorite same excellence of cuisine and of a rest¬ place of‘resort for oil men, as was also ful couch as was provided on those pas¬ the Parker House, kept by “Squire” senger steamboats. And this, too, at a Thomas Parker. At this latter Will price moderate enough to 6uit the ordin¬ Thompson, the Mawhinnys, Cochrans, ary purse. Thomas Mechlin, Will Lecky, and The shrill and not unmusical whistle other congenial old timers hdld forth. sounding just below Moran’s Island, an¬ T. B. Porteous, Alex. Barbour, R. Chis¬ nouncing the arrival of a steamboat holm, Pat Tiernan, McFaddenffiid others “from below,” was ever most weleome to had their quarters at the Piauo House our residents. Of course such mode of below Moran’s. Tire Moran1|pati3e and | travel is not suited to the present time.' Red Lion were also noted Bustelries of Now the trip is made in an illy-ventilated that date. railroad car, where one only catches a “Squire” Parker long since deceased, glimpse of the country passed through though'a Presbyterian by faith and prac while flying along at the rate of 30 to «) tice, dearly loved a good joke, especially miles an hour. The fare to be had at the so when the same was at some one else’s average railroad restaurant is not always expense, and was a most genial host. inviting, and seldom tends to healthful One of these incidents worthy of record digestion. As to the comforts of the we happen to remember and the same modern palace ear—well, we, for one, fail will be appreciated by the principals who to realize it in comparison with our favor¬ survive. At stated times the bar of the ite mode of steamboat travel. hotel was rigidly closed. On one of The steamboat and the oil boat passed these, two of the favorite hoarders in away soon after the completion of the the absence of other resources, concluded j Allegheny Valley Railroad to this point they would make the “Squire” break his I in 1868. The pipe line relegated the established rule. So, after preliminary teamster and his team back to the farm skirmishing, the two worthies boldly or to the ordinary uses of trade and traf¬ preferred their request. The only an¬ fic. It required but a brief time to rid swer was a rather knowing wink. Tak¬ | the shores of the river and creek of the ing from the oflioe desk a well worn | hundreds of oil boats and their pic¬ bible and placing the same under his turesque surroundings. The final dispo¬ arm, the “Squire” leading the way, sition of these has ever been as puzzling beckoned to his friends to follow. This a problem to us as that of “where the they did, and he ushered them into the pins go to.” An occasional length or so hotel sitting room. Here the family and of piling is all that is left of the old a clerical looking gentleman were assem¬ steamboat landings, and the extensive bled. Handing the sacred volume to shops of the National Transit cover a the preacher, for euch he was, the Squire large portion of the olden oil yards. invited all present to anile in the family The principal oil boat and steamboat prayer service. Fairly outwitted the con¬ landings here in 1862, were owned bv spirators submitted with best possible the parties previously mentioned. A grace. There was a look on the placid correct list is here given of all of these in oountenance of the “Squire” that not active business at date of 1866-67, taken .only expressed the consciousness of a from the “Oil City and Venango City good deed done, but that also detracted Directory,” a rare agd valuable work for somewhat from the solemnity erf the reference, which is here reproduced by occasion, so far as the two parties inter¬ the kind permission of the publisher, ested and the relator was concerned. B. Kellogg, Esq., as follows: | The principal general stores of the date Bushnell’s Landing, foot of Chestnut of 1862 were those of John P. Hopewell, street; Benny, Baylies & Co., 244 Main heretofore spoken of; McFarland Bros., of Btreet; Cochran’s, 264 Main street; Coh- Meadville, under the management of Fid kle’s, 298 Main street; Dilworth & Ewing, Bishop, and the postoffice and store of foot of Robson street; Ellison & Baxter, Reynolds & Williams. Of this last ex- foot of Walnut street; Fishers’ No. 1, Mayor William M. Williams furnishes (formerly Hanna’s,) foot of Hanna us the following relation: street; Fishers’ No. 2, adjoining Mun- In the Spring of 1861, J. B. Reynolds, hall’s, foot of Chestnut street; Fawcett of Callensburg, Pa., and J. T. McCombs Bros., foot of Chestnut Btreet; Gallagher & Co., of Pittsburg, of which Wm. M. & Danver, foot of Walnut street; Halde- and T. Hudson Williams were junior man& Murray, 242 Main street; Jack- partners, established the store in the Third ward. The firm of Reynolds, Mc¬ | sons’, 202 Main street; Oil City Storage Combs & Co., dissolved and the Messrs. Company, foot of Oak street; Munhall & Williams retained their interest. The Co., foot of Chestnut street; McKelvey & firm then became Reynolds & Williams, Miller, foot of Walnut street; Mawbin- the members being J. B. and Calvin B. neys’, 262 Main street: Parker & Castle, Reynolds, Wm. M. and T. Hud¬ foot of Parker street; T. B. Perteous, foot son Williams. The business con¬ of Walnut street; Phillips & Co., foot of tinued until 1868, when the firm Hanna street; J. J. Vandergrift & Co., was dissolved and the Williams Bros, foot of Chestnut street. All of the above erected a brick building, the first in Oil named were on the river front of the City, on the site of the present Oil Ex- * ' \ ym, j change, and c ntinued in buBineas^unfil TEeie were some of the leading business ' the disastrous fire of 1866, when they features of the year. were burnedLout . .Softer, this they went The chief reliance of the shipper of oil into the oil producing business J. B. Reynolds and the Williams Bros, were from the wells was Oil Creek, by means among the leading and most useful Oil of pond freshets, the mode of which by this time had become more systematized, City’s residents. The Reynolds firm was afterward continued as Reynolds & Mc- The transportation of oil by wagons was Caiice, and then as Beynolds, Broad- slow and unreliable. Four to five bbls. head & Oo., John H. Evans and George of oil furnished a good load for the roads Milford being members of the last of that time. But few of them averaged named. Walteb R. Johns. over a single trip. By wagon bbls. had to be provided, while by boats on the creek the oil could be transported by bbl. Oil. CITY CHRONICLINGS. or in bulk as suited the convenience of A Brief Compilation, Incidental and the shipper. The mathematician of to-day can figure Otberwise, from 1861 to Date. out at his leisure the time required to de¬ [Writtenfor the Derrick:] liver 1,000 bbls. of oil by means of wagons from the wells to the point of shipment. IX. When he is through he will fail to in¬ clude many of the contingencies existing 1890—Copyrighted by the OH City Derrick. at that date. Then the chances the ship¬ The growth of every branch of the oil per had to take on a fluctuating market business centering at Oil City was un¬ was also an important factor. By wagon broken during 1862. The “wildcatter” the rate of transportation per bbl. for dis¬ tances ranging from three to ten miles was then as numerous, possibly more so, was [email protected]. By the pond.!freshet the than now. But the bulk of producers usual ratio was $1 per bbl. In addition continued to place their money and faith to this the shipper had to pay his pro in the territory comprised chiefly within rata share of the price charged by the mill owners for the use of the water. the boundaries of the valley of Oil From this it will be seen that the ship¬ Creek. ment of 100,000 bbls. of oil by river in a A careful estimate made and published single week, with the facilities then of the daily production of the valley of available, was no ordinary achievement, being one that involved a large expendi¬ Oil Creek, dated June 1st, 1862, placed it ture of cash and skill. at 5,717 bbls. The stock on hand was “Society” events were not numer. us given at 92,000 bbls., and number of during the year. The principal one was wells drilling, 358. In October following the wedding of Fid Bishop and Miss Liz¬ zie, daughter of John P. Hopewell, Esq. the daily production was estimated at This was celebrated by a brilliant party, 4,000 bbls., and the stock on hand at given at the residence of the parents of 100,000 bbls. Prices of crude in Pitts¬ the bride. It served to remind the gueets burg was quoted at 20@23 cents per gal¬ present of the social enjoyment they had lon; at the wells $4 per bbl. Shipments been accustomed to in the places they by river for the week ending November came from. This was the first wedding 22,100,000 bbls. Refined in Pittsburg, we have any recollection of that occurred 70@90 cents per gallon; in New York, in the borough of Oil City. A few other 85@90 cents. In December crude at the social gatherings were had which proved; wells was sold at $5 50@$6.00, at Oil very enjoyable. City, bbls. included, $10. We give these In business circles the prevailing topic I items merely to show the fluctuation in was oil. Pond freshets were of frequent j prices during the year, commencing at 35 occurrence, and on such days the scenes cents per bbl. The cause of the advance at wharves, in the offices, hotels, and was due to the falling off in the produc¬ streets, was a busy one. Large amounts tion and to the more extended introduc¬ of money changed hands, the tiansac- tion of the refined article. tions running hardly ever less than from On December 9 a heavy ice gorge that $50,000 to $100,000. The pilgrims came had formed in Oil Creek, broke loose, flocking in at all times, oil lands and came with ail its force against the fleet of leases rose and fell with the prices of the | some 350 boats ou the“ river front, that ' oil, making values to a large extent! had just been loaded with Oil for Pitts- speculation. But this had no effect on 1 burg and was nearly ready to start, crush- the operators, who were as eager to oper¬ ing some 150 boats, and causing a loss of ate and prospect as if more fixed values 30,000 bbls. of oil. The total loss was es¬ ruled. timated at $350,000. The stout lines that Daring this year C. M, Titus, of lthica, held the boats were snapped by the New York, and Lyman Pray, of Charles¬ force of the masses of ice and water like ton, Mass., purchased of John Van Slyke, packthreads. The boats were crushed the Van Slyke well, on the Widow Mc- like egg-Bhells, and the whole surface of Clintock farm,on Oil Creek,having thena the river for miles was a massofsolin- daily production of 1,500 bbls , including tered timbers, oil and floating barrels. all the tanks and fixtures, and 3,000 bbls. Fortunately there was no Iobs of life. of oil, for the sum of $10,000. This was looked upon at the time as an excessive ler denominations. The -re¬ price, and it was stated that the pur¬ organizations having no church chasers were for some time uneasy oyer buildings, held services at such places as the uncertainty of getting their money could be made available. Public school back. But they succeeded in doing so - accommodations were limited to those of and realized a handsome profit in ad¬ subscription and the township, until dition. 1864, when a public school building was About the same time a scheme was built at the head of Centre street, costing projected for the purchase of the entire $7,000. This was destroyed by fire short¬ productive territory of the then valley of ly after its completion. Oil Creek, including also 150,000 bbls. of Our hotels and all lines of travel were j oil, then estimated as the stock on hand. well patronized during the year. Men As such purchase would have possibly eminent in finance, politics and science, involved a million of dollars, the capital¬ visited the Oil Country at this period ists of the Oil Country regarded it un¬ and thoroughly investigated its wonder¬ favorably, the outlay being considered ful possibilities, doubtless having much as too great to risk upon such an uncer to tell of th ir varied experiences iu the tain venture. The same idea occurred to land of oil. the writer, but his reason for not con¬ One or two hacks made regular daily summating it was somewhat different. It trips between Oil City and Franklin. would have been a good thing to do. “Lew” Hall, a noted character of his Comparatively few of the active oil time, was the owner of one of tnese. Old men ot 1862 have been mentioned, and timers will remember his dilapidated rig, their names will be given as they occur and his fund of cheerfulness under all to us. In' this connection may be given circumstances. “Lew” was an exclave, Joseph Bushnell, Wm. L, Lay, TVm. A. whose Southern master had freed him Shreve, C. M. Titus, Lyman Pray, t. has. and a number of others, buying and I Haines, A. W. Say, Dalzell & Ewing, stocking for them a tract of 1 md in Drs. Murray and Hostetter, E. A. Adams, Mercer county, which he then gave George and John Cornwall, Frank W. them in fee. “Lew” was a Democrat of Allen, E. H. Adams, Capt. Wm. Hasson. the strictest stripe, and had a great aver¬ In previous articles the names of the sion to the “Bobolitionists,” as he called firms of Lockhart & Frew, Lucesco Oil them. Company and Shirk & Co., all of whom We had also a packet line running on had oil yards and landings were acci¬ Oil Creek, making daily trips from Oil dentally left out of the list. Captain City to Petroleum Centre. This was the Joseph Bates, long a prominent citizen of staunch light draught flatboat, Clipper Oil City, was the representative here of No. 1, of which Thomas Hecker and F. Lockhart & Frew. In 1865 our towns¬ Fritz were the owners, officers and crew. man, Thomas B. Simpson, commenced The size of this craft was about 50x16 feet, near as can be remembered. The his novitiate in the Oil Country as book¬ motive power was a two-horse team. The keeper for this firm. And what D more packet wharf was at the west end of the noticeable, _ Mr. Simpson is the present creek bridge, now occupied by a portion representative of such interests of the of John Reinbold’a livery stable. The firm as remain in the Oil Country. schedule time to Petro eum Centre, a In 1861 Mr. Charles Robson, of Cincin¬ distance of eight miles, was three hours, nati, Ohio, established in the Third return trip two hours. A reservation was ward an oil well supply and brass fitting always conceded in case obstacles inci¬ store and shops. The latter were in dent to the perils of navigation were | charge of Fred Geigel, who still resides met with. A cabin was built i here, and has ever been a useful citizen. on the boat for the accomodation of pas¬ Wm. H. and George Nteffee had a gro¬ sengers, and a jug or jar of lemonade or cery and bakery, WinsorBros. & Minniss ice-water was provided for such of the (opened a hardware satire in the Michi- passengers as objected to drinking creek Igan block, Jacob Stein also had a bakery, water. The ice-water and lemonade part and one or two batcher shops had been of this story we givo as Etated to us by i located here. These last and the bakeries Capt. Hecker, assuming no responsibility were well patronized by the dwellers at therefor. the wells along the creek, most of these The driver, in addition to handling making their homes in shanties near the team and keeping a sharp lookout their wells. It also occurs to us that a for the best channels, was also provided brewery was located up Halyday Run, of with a long tin horn, which he sounded which Kumpf & Co., either was then or when approaching a landing place. He shortly afterward, owners. also used it to frighten off the lazy cows, According to the record, the first met with frequently wading and cooling church building was that of St. Joseph’s off in the creek, and who came in the Catho’ic Church, erected in 1861, and way of the craft It not unfrequently dedicated by the Right Rev. William happened that some of these bovines, Young, Bishop of Erie. Rev. David inclined to be frisky, would switch their Smvely was the first pastor. The first tails as they moved oft, which had a M. E. Church building was erected in dampening effect on the passengers and \1862 at the head of Centre street. The crew. Vresbvterians organized here in 1861, as On coming to a shallow “riffle” the team . waBnon urged forward by whip and voice and the wave of water made by the six¬ Company I mustered into the service teen foot bottom of the boat lifted it over. and taken from the official roster: When this failed the passengers and crew William Hasson, Chas. E. Hueeton, George R. got overboard and performed the opera¬ Snowden, William H. Rhodes, Cyrus H. Culver, Oliver P. Young, Abram S. Prather, Thomas tion. Hogue, Conrad Heaseley, James K. Elliott, Capt. Hecker relates a thrilling experi¬ Loren M. Pulton, Johnson W. Carr, Wilson ence, costing the life of one of his team. Camp, William Reynolds, Jesse B. Moore, Geo. M. Wingar, Charles Holbrook, Joshua Foster, He had a load of passengers at,Petroleum John A. Wilcox, William Gorman, David S. Centre, anxious to make connections Keep, Artemus Hollis, Daniel Weaver, John G. with the train at Franklin, and they paid McLane, George Best, Henry H. Bogue, Samuel Brown, Martin Bookster, Phillip Bartlebaugh, him extra to do so. While urging his William Bower, Israel B. Brown, Robert Craig, team at a good speed over a shallow place George W. Corbin. David Coldrew, Frank W. | j one of the horses stumbled and fell, the •Chesley, Richard Davis, John Ducket, Jacob .Dilmore, Daniel Downing, Eli Egal, William K. bow of the boat running onto him. The Findley, Daniel H. Finch, Herman Gunderman, I passengers became panic stricken and Simon Grossman, John Gibbons, Phillip M. rushed forward. Before the poor animal Hatch, James Hill, John W. Hogue, John E. Hogue, David James, Wisc’n W. Jenhiugs, ' could be extricated he was dead. An¬ Samuel Kelly, Wilson Kennedy, Charles other horse was procured and the Clipper E. Keep, Jacob F. Little, William arrived in Oil City ahead of time. Laney, James F. Lamb, David Lee, George R. Lockwood, Henry Miller, Patrick The firm continued in operation for Moran, Samuel W. Mathews, Samuel Morrison, several years and proved very profit¬ Adrian G. Manville, Boint McCray, Andrew able. In addition to passengers, freight! McCray, Samuel McFate, James E. McClane, H, R. McCalmont, Daniel McNaughton, John G. L. was carried, including express goods and Nyman, Lambert F. Nicklin, Samuel Ray, John large sums of money. It was an accommc- j Robinson, Henry Strohman, John Shifter, Hugh dation to the Creek people and they pa¬ Shaw, Joseph B Shirley, Owen Slamon, John Stlner, Joseph Small, William J. Sherrlff, John tronized it liberally. The praises of the W. Sharpnack, James W. Shaw, Jacob A. Shir¬ Clipper and a most graphic description ley, Adam Siverline, W. W. Shelmadine, Au- of his trip on that craft, was written by .gustus V. Turner, Wlllliam West, Marcus Wes- ner, Jeremiah WaldeD, W. G. Wadsworth, the late Benj. F. Taylor, one of America’s ■George P. Webber, Josiah Wilcox, Wibiam B. finest writers, among other sketches of Wesner, Jacob Yockey, Wesley H. Burg win. Elil his visit to the Oil Country, for the Chic¬ Beatty, James Bowen, Joseph H. Coburn, ' Samuel J. Colburn. ago Journal. Walter R. Johns. When mustered into the service at Harrisburg Captain McCalmont having Oil. «tT¥ CHUOSICtLINGS. been appointed Lieutenant Colonel of! A. Brief Compilation, IncWenttii asttl the regiment, William Hasson was mus-! tered in as Captain George R. Snowden I Ot&erwise, from 1861 to Bate. First Lieutenant and Charles E. Hueston| [Written for the Derrick.] Second Lieutenant. The following is a list of the casualties of Com¬ X. pany I: Captain William Hasson, wounded at Gettysburg; William Reynolds, died of wounds 1890—Copyrighted, by the Oil City Derrick. received at Gettysburg; George M. WiDgar, wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va.; David S. As a general outline of the business Keep, wounded at Gettysburg; Artemus Hollis, killed at Spottsylvania C. H. Va.; Daniel Weaver, features of 1862 has been given with killed at North Anna River, Va.; Wesley H. more or less detail in preceding articles, Burgwin, wounded at Gettysburg; James Bower, died of wounds received at Gettysburg; Israel the reader’s indulgence is asked to the B. Brown, died of wounds received at Wilder- ness, Va.; Samuel J. Colburn, died of wounds re¬ consideration of the share taken by Oil I ceived at Gettysburg, John Ducket, killed at i City and Cornplanter township in the Spottsylvania C. H.-Va.; Jacob Dilmore, died at I vWind Mill Point, Va,; Daniel Down¬ great rebellion then being fairly com¬ ing, killed at Wilderness, Va.; James , .Hill, died of wounds received at Gettysburg; menced. While the best energies of the John W. Hogue, died February 24,1843; Charles residents of the Oil Country was being E. Keep, died,near Fredericksburg, Va.; George R. Lockwood, died of wounds received at Get¬ devoted to the development of the new tysburg; Henry Mellin, wounded in action. Dan¬ iel MoNaughton, died of wounds received at oil fields, their patriotism and love of Spottsylvania C, H., Va.; Lamberton T. Nicklin, country kept pace with the exigencies of kUlad at Wilderness, Va,; Wm. J. Sheriff, wounded at Gettysburg; Adam Siverline, times. This took a practical Bhape early wounded and missing in action at Frederieks- 4>urg; W. W. ShelmRdlne, wounded and missing in the Summer of' that year, by the for¬ in action at Gettysburg; George P. Webber, cap¬ mation of a company of volunteers, over tured at Weldon Railroad, Va., and died in rebel prison at Salisbury, N. C. 100 strong, fully thiee-fourths of whom Twenty-four battles, of which the fol- ! were from Oil City. In August they left lowing is a list, is the proud record of Oil for the State camp, at Harrisburg, where City’B heroes of Company I, viz. Fred¬ they were mustered into the service, ericksburg, Burnside, Mud March, Chan- forming Company I, 142d Regiment, cellorsville, Gettysburg, Frankstown, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Thoroughfare Gap, Rappahannock Sta¬ At the company election, held at Oil tion, Meade’s Retrograde, Movement, City, Hon. A. B. McCalmont, of Frank¬ Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, lin, was chosen Captain; William Has- Tolopotomy Creek, North Anna River, , eon, First Lieutenant; C. E. Hueeton, Sec¬ Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Peters- 1 ond Lieutenant; First Sergeant, George burg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher’s Run, R. Snowden. The following is a list of Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, 2d, Fort i’ - M'i

T$w.HBT 1 slowlytodeathinhospitals,anddying sufficiently thegallantdeadwhodied the blessingsthatsuchsacrificesecured. that itmightlive,anditsmillionsenjoy partment, isasfollows:Totalenroll¬ vnation everrepaythei ment, 935men;killedanddiedof taken fromtherecordsofWarDe¬ Company I,soJohnG.McLaneinforms 21 officers,81men;capturedandmissing, 21 officers,408men;diedofdisease,etc, special order.A.B.McOalmont,the large portionofOilCityisbuilt,atthe of OilCity,andalsohadchargeGraff, mander ofCompanyI,wastheBurgess John G.McLane,DavidJames,Conrad tain WilliamHasson,C.EHusston, us, areresidentinOilUifyatdate:Cap¬ 2 officers,156nun.Totalloss,809. wounds, 7officesrs,133men;wounded, the NationalGuardofPennsylvania,n the commanderofFirstBrigade den, nowresidentofPhiladelphia,isthe of BrigadierGeneral.GeorgeE.Snow¬ out atthecloseofw*>rwithrank first companycommander,wasmustered fight, andwassoonaftermusteredoutby ment hewaswoundedinthefirstday’s Ghaucellorsville, otherengagementsand pany inthebattlesofFredeickfburg, lime ofhisenlistment.Heledcom¬ Hasson &Co.’stractofland,onwhicha Heasely, EobertCraig,JohnsonW.Carr. liberal contributionforOilCitytofur¬ companies formedinVenangocounty a largenumberormentothedifferent addition toCompanyI,OilCityfurnished Gettysburg. Atthelastnamedengage¬ nish forthewar.Butitwas'notall.The and meteveryrequirementotthedraft portion oftheOilCountry comprisedin share contributedbyOil City andthe ladies, added several thousanddollars $100,000. Thatofclothing andother Fund, standswithouta parallel. The the valleyofOilCreekfor the Sanitary field, duetothe effortsofourpatriotic necessaries forthebrave boys inthe total cashcontributionamounted toover and theresult shows how well thework more tothesum. secure the collection ofthislarge sum, missing. of starvationinrebelpri identified, wastedbywoundsoreickm-ts of all,foritmeansthattheirbodieswere ed andmissinginaction,”mostpitiful either neverfound,orelsecouldnotbe given. Tornbyshotandshell,"wound¬ presented bythelistofcasualtiesabove rest werekilled,wounded,capturedand burg fightandbroughtoutseven.The Company Itook40menintotheGettys¬ den succeededCaptainHassonincom¬ was succeededbyCyrusH.Culver. mand ofthecompany,andheinturn Forks, Appomattox.GeorgeE.Snow¬ Steadman, BoydfonBlankRoad,Five The listofthelosses142d,as The followingsurvivingmembersof Captain WilliamHasson,thefirstcom¬ Thi6 wouldseem,andinfactwas,a A thorough organization wasmade to What apictureofheroicenduranceis ”i'e fanthi,* vtug ui,cvern ings infrontofthePetroleum $5,000, andtheindividualmembers complied with.TheColumbia The demandinallcaBeswa3promotly the producersvalue,inspotcash,ono customary withthesolicitorstoaskof knowledgment wa3rendered.Itwas however small,andanequalac¬ der atAppomafox.Nosumwasdeclined, til thecloseofwarbyLee’ssurren¬ The:?e contributionswerecontinuedun¬ ance, andtheDeputyProvostMarshal as thebraveboysinfront.With of mind”duringthesedarkdays,aswcdl The “HomeGuard”werekept“inastate audience toafeverheat.Fortunately their eloquence,firingtheheartsof House. Thosewithoratoricalgiftsaired Public Safety,”calledpublicmeet¬ when itappearedeo,the‘•Committeeof earnest. Intimesofgreatperil,orrather ments. Thecelebrationofvictorieswas nished ofbattlesandimportantmove¬ for thecitybulletinboardrepor'sfur¬ the "grapevine”telegraphmonopoly, gan Hall,1,500ticketsweresoldat$1 of thesame,possiblyevenagreatersum. day’s productionoftheirfarmorwells. to put~rnpracticalshapetheirpatriotism. disfavor thanisthetaxcollectorofto¬ was regardedwithasmuch,orevenmore we hadno“ice-famine”inthosedays. that connectedusthenwithPittsburg and whatexorbitantsumswerepaidto every movementinthefieldwatchedfor, ences ofthosetimes.Howeagerlywas trophy erectedinthehallofsameto The sumscollectedweregiventothe same purposewereliberallypatronized. each. Entertainmentsgivenforthe landed interestofthesame,cheerfully. sum ot$1,750,oneday’sincomeofthe Clintock farm,JohnnySteele,gavethe liberal. TheowneroftheWidowMc- Other oilcompanieswereequallyas Oil Companygavethesumof Peace broughttothisfavoredsection dark dayshavelongsincepassedaway day. Butitistotheproudcreditofour ber toowellthemanystirringexperi¬ who werehereduringthewar,remem¬ The olderresidentsofOilCity,those Pittsburg SanitaryFair.Theelegant For aballgotupbytheladiesatMichi¬ so mayiteverwhiletimeendures. Upon lenged overeverypartofthe land.And glorious bannerofthefree, floatsunchal¬ been addedtoourUnion,and ourflag,the choicest blessings,Stateafter Statehas mqy wehopsneveragaintoreturn. people neverwenttoprotest.Those city, thatUncleAbe’sdemandsuponour Guard, the“draft”waschiefannoy¬ loved ones thattrembled inthe balance. guish forthe fate ofthenationor main therecollections ofthosetimes “memory’s paintedwall” willeverre¬ Oil Citywassufficientappreciation. were burdened withuuceitaintyandan¬ when hearts beat highwithhope,or ;or each’andallwereboth proud ofthecbarceafforded ed. ^hesolicitorshacran Waltkk E.Johns. BIB CITY CHROSICHNGS. last was paid by the shippers pro rota. A gentleman named DobbB, ^nose ability A Brief Compilation, fncidental and as a successful organizer was amply at¬ tested, and who enjoyed the fullest con- j Otherwise, from 1861 to Bate. fldence and eeteem of the shippers, 1 Written for the Derrick.} served as superintendent daring the en¬ tire pond freshet period. XI. Public notice was given in advance of the date of a pond freshet, and also of 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Dep.uick. the time when the flood of water would In the list of casualties in Company T, be let out of the last or main dam. This, (Petroleum Guards,)142d Regiment P.V., into which the waters of all the mills had been gathered, was located on the in last article, the name of Lieut. C. E. Brewer & Watson flats, just below Hueston, (our ‘‘Ed.”) was accidentally I Titusville. . , * omitted. We here cheerfully make the! All such were busy occasions fora few ■correction. “Ed.” was wounded at Gettys¬ days preceding the event. The greatest -activity prevailed among the boatmen burg. and along the wharves. The creek was Brief mention has been made of the well filled with the boats being towed by mariner of oil transportation by Oil horse-power to their different points of destination. TJpon their arrival at the Creek, known as “pond freshets.” To the wells the boats were loaded according to reader not familiar with the same,a more their capacity with oil in barrels or in detailed description may be of interest. bulk. Some of the bulk boats were This mode of transportation had been built with compartments, and had cov- , ered decks. In other cases the oil was used by the lumbermen from the earliest run from the tanks into the open flat- years of their business, not only on Oil bottomed boat, the boatmen having a Creek but throughout the general lum¬ plank platform . n which to stand while ber country. It was used to float the logs navigating the boat. When tne boats were loaded and the from the woods to the mills by means of date of the pond freshet had arrived, the the smaller streams, and from thence the boatmen stood by their lines, watching manufactured lumber to the nearest eagerly, with the hope born of anxiety navigable stream. It was technically and fear, for the approaching flood that known by the name of “bracket” or was to bear them and their greasy freight “splash” dams, and consisted in placing to the mouth of Oil Creek at Oil City. a dam across the streams, leaving a Afternoon was the time selected for let¬ eluice-way or “bracket,” by which logs ting loose the waters that were to form or lumber could be floated when a suffi¬ the flood. The hour had been announced, cient amount of water was accumulated. when the flood was to be let loose. As These sluice-ways forming a portion of no telegraphic communication could be the dam, were made of plank, and so ar¬ had for the first few years, these were ranged that a few blows of a sharp axe anxiouB moments to those concerned. would cut them loose, allowing the water A slight lipple of the creek waters, a to escape. tJpon this the logs or lumber gentle sp ash that raised a slight dash of were floated to the desired points. water on the shores, was the first signal It early occurred to the oil shippers to of the freshet’s approach. Then came a make use of this method to transport oil rash of water that filled the creek from from the wells to Oil City, and from shore to shore like the wave of ocean that thence the Allegheny furnished ample precedes the dash of the breaker. Then means of transport to Pittsburg. It re¬ followed the busiest of all moments to quired but a short time to collect a fleet the boatmen, all was activity, not hastily of flat-bottomed boats at Oil City suita-1 but in order. In swirling eddies came ble for the purpose, and to arrange with the flood, as refreshing as a shower in the mill owners located on the head¬ June, announcing to the waiting one’s quarters of Oil Creek, the then lumber that the “pond freshet was on.” country of the same, for the use of the Now was the important moment that water at stated periods. These boats called for greatest coolness and best judg¬ were towed by horses to the different ment of these har y fresh water mari¬ wells aloDg Oil Creek, where the oil had ners. The volume of water swiftly flow¬ been collected in barrels or tanks for ing along the narrow creek, scarce 60 shipment. This was made both in bar¬ yards in greatest width, was intended to rels or in bulk, as best suited the con¬ make a rise or depth of two or three feet venience of the shipper. over the shallow places. A loaded boat This method of shipment, or transpor¬ would go ahead of (he water if started tation, was soon systematized by the co¬ too soon, get aground, wreck itself and operation of tbe shippers. A superin¬ the other craft coming in its wake. To | tendent was appointed by them, whose loosen the lines, haul them on board, j duty it was to arrange with the mill- swing into the creek current, head down I owners for the use of the water at such the stream just at the proper time to i time as could be agreed on, and to col¬ avoid all risk, required less time than to : lect the money to pay for the same. This relate it. The nearest boats to tbe moulh , :-V .'Jf of the creek were the first to start, then were lost and wrecked. This occurred at I ou came the clumsy looking craft, singly, the creek bridge. Strange to say, no in groups, and again filling the creek I lives were lost in these disasters. On the from shore to shore, gliding along with occasion mentioned a lady passenger on the current made by the additional one of the wrecked boats was rescued waters bound tor Oil City, and hoping to from amid the crashing ruins by the gal¬ reach that point without accident. Each lantry of half a dozen or more of the res¬ of the boats were provided with steering cuers, who waded out into the oily apparatus, consisting of a long oar or stream and carried her safely to shore. sweep at bow and stern. The front was Her anxiety for her trunk which was on known as the “gouger,” the one at the the boat, was paramount to any desire to stern aB the “steering oar.” thank her rescuers. The trunk was The rushing waters, flashing of oar finally carried to the shore and then blades in the sunlight, shouts of boat¬ well the fair one failed, poesibly through men, boats moving along as gracefully as forgetfulness, to mpke the custom¬ their clumsy build admitted of, the hem¬ ary speech, and the wet individ¬ lock and other trees of the hillsides cast¬ uals sought dry clothing with feelings ing their shadows at places over the as remote from romance as can well be stream, made a picture of life and beauty. imagined. The average number of boats The channel wound round the many engaged in a pond freshet numbered small islands then in the creek, and ran from 150 to 200, though on occasions this over shallow places, and around sharp was increased to 300 to 400. The av¬ bends, requiring quick work with the erage cost of freighting by this method oar to keep the boat headed right. The was from 75 oents to $1 per barrel. The 1 time required for the trip seldom exceed¬ cost of the water from the mills to the ed two hours, the longest distance run by shippers varied with the seasons, from the boats being 10 to 11 miles. $250 to $400 in the later years. This Then with all intervening dangers j made their tax for this purpose average from one to two eenta per barrel, and in passed, the leading boats came in view of later years it seldom exceeded five cents. taeir destination when rounding the The business of freighting, as will be point where i3 now the Sent-ca street seen, was highly profitable. The aver¬ bridge. And then came the greatest dan¬ age run was 15,000 to 20,000 barrels of ger of all before they could be safely oil, and the highest 35,000 to 40,000. moored to shore. This was the massive Pond freshet days added largely to the Stone pier of the o’d wooden bridge that active appearance of the town, as it spanned the creek on the site of the pres usually brought several hundred to the fl ent iron structure at foot of Centre street, place, including most of the creek opera¬ | Unless the boatman kept his boat straight tors, all on business bent, and the amount in the channel, and this was hard to do of caBh then changing bands was very on account of the swift current and large, and the business men in every heavy weight of his boat, this last would branch were greatly benefitted. Sup¬ j either crash against the pier, generally plies of all kinds were purchased and causing a leak or wreck. It not unfre- taken to the various points along the quently happened that a large boat tak¬ creek on these occasions, or rather on the ing a sheer, or getting beyond control of days following. All had a good time the steersmen, would swing directly while it lasted. across the pier, like a pair of old fash¬ Pages could be written of the incidents ioned saddle-bags. The boats following, of the pond freshets, but the foregoing acting like battering-rams, Boon reduced will give those unacquainted with thiB the stranded craft to kindling-wood, and mode of it, an idea ot what it was like, the oil, whether in barrels or bulk, went and will tend to refresh the memory of into the. troubled waters, in the last case th3 many who then handled the proving a total loss. The old bridge and “gouger” and “steering oar,” and took stone pier was swept away by the flood their first lesson in ‘'snubbing” a loaded of March, 1865. On the bridge pond oil boat. The pond freshet was also freshet days, were gathered oil shippers commemorated in verse by a local poet whose ventures were at stake, as well as of that time, a limb of the law, whose a large portion of the people of the town, front name was Eugene Ferrero. It is watching for the approach of the boats. due to him and the subject that this relic ! These came in sight singly and in groups, of 1863 should form part of our nana- and finally ths surface of the creek was tion, and it is here given: well filled with moving crafts: If suc¬ Nine Barrels of “Riley” Oil—Being; cessful the boats passed under the bridge Too Thick to Settle. over the “bar,” out into the river, and BARREL L I’m asked to write in agiven time, were then tied up at the different land¬ A story that will read in rhyme; ings. Then came the bu»y task of trans¬ The power to wri.e, perhaps*f lack it. ferring the cargo of the smaller boate; Here goes, however, for the "Bracket.”

the larger ones being sent through to BA KRKL If, Pittsburg without transfer. The ponds are loosed, and with a rnsh, But the pond-freshet without more or Adown the creek come logs and brush; less loss of oil and boats, was an excep¬ And boards and blocks and other trash, tion. In that of May, 1864, 20,000 to 30,- Tumbling and mixed in a motley hash. 000 barrels of oil and some 150 boats 22 J BAP-EEL m. Weary and sad the boatman turns, troduced its use was readily adopted, and Brightening; up as the truth he learns; from that time to the present refined He Knows what means the rushing scene, petroleum, the universal light for rich His heart swells with the swelling stream. and poor alike, has never lost its hold BA HEEL IV. upon public favor. The passers stop as by a charm. Oil City’s growth was something mar¬ Look on awhile in half alarm; vellous during 1862 and the next preced¬ Then through the streets “pond fresh” they cry, • ing years. Main street, for nearly its en¬ While to the bridge they eager hie, tire length, was built up solid, many of the buildings being for that day, very BARREL V. substantial and costly structures. The The lovely, thoughtful and the strong. Are with us in this anxious throng. prices of real estate greatly enhanced and For Oil Creek’s in her gayest sheen. the best locations in the Third ward, When broken “brackets” fill the stream. which still continued to be the principal

BARREL VL part of the town, commanded fancy fig¬ The leading boat now comes in view. ures. The price of oil lands rose and Then another and another, too; fell, as it has ever done, according to the Follow quick with many more, ruling market prices of oil. In a num¬ Until the creek is oovered o’er. ber of cases in the oil field the operators BARREL VII. were troubled with an over-supply of oil. The bridge is reached, the “bar’s”to pass, That is to say, more production than the Two are over, but ah, alas; facilities of getting to market afforded, The third’s a ground. Hark! hear the crash, And squeak, and lo! the general smash. and inadequate means of storage for their greasy wealth. barrel vm. The evolution, so to speak, of the And now broken, crushed and jammed, means of storage from that date to the A dozen or more lies on tl^ strand; Ana shippers look out from the shore. present one of the iron tanks with an Rejoicing the damage is no more. average capacity of 30,000 barrels, is one of the marked features of progress in the BARREL IX. petroleum business. The first means of I The tale’s not told—tho engine’s broke, May-be’twas strained, i’ th’ last bold stroke; storage wa& pits dug in the ground. This Let off the steam, put out the fire. was eubject to such an amount of absorb- Your poet run quite into the mire. F. tion that it Boon became necessary to line Walter R. Johns. the pits with boards or plank. Then came wooden cylindrical tanks, of 50 to OIL CITY CHRONICLINGS. 100 barrels or more capacity, made of A. Brief Compilation, Incidental and closely jointed pine plank, sunk in the ground. A notable example of this oc¬ Otbei-wise, from 1861 to Date. curred at the Phillips well, on Tarr farm, |

[Written for the Derrick.] one among the first, and possibly the j largest oil well ever struck on Oil Creek, I XII. or ever in the Oil Region. This well j flowed, as estimated when first struck, ■1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Derrick. > over 4,000 barrels per day. Three mouths Referring back to the dosirg months after being struck, the well produced by of 1862, we find the summary for the actual measurement, 3,980 barrels in 24 hours. By the terms of the lease the j year a highly prosperous one for Oil City. lessees were obligated to deliver to the No less marked was t he progress made in ►land interest or royalty share to the land-1 the petroleum development and the ad¬ owner, his Bhare of the oil in barrels, iron1 dition of facilities for transportation. bound. Owing to lack of transportation - and other causes then prevailing, the Among these was the incorporation of ruling rate for oil was about 20 cents per the Oil Creek Impiovement, or Naviga¬ barrel, and the price of barrels about tion Company. This was an association $3.50 each. The anomaly of 20 cents worth j of leading shippers, hodmen and well of oil in a three dollar and a half pack-1 age, was the condition that confronted owners. As the title indicates, its object and forced the owners of the well, after was to improve the navigation of Oil allowing the oil to flow into the creek j Creek by the removal of the many ob¬ for a time, to cover over an acre or two stacles to the same. This the company of ground with sunken tanks to hold the oil until a compromise could be made successfully accomplished. with the landowner interest. This was ' Refineries multiplied in the principal . finally effected. cities and in the oil country. Pittsburg After the development of oil had fairly and Cleveland were becoming the ac¬ began, the building of wooden tanks be¬ came a leading industry. They ranged knowledged centre of the refining busi¬ in capacity from 150 to 1,200 and in cases ness a3 well as the principal distributing to 1,500 barrels. The best pine plank points. Efforts were also being success¬ was used in their construction. This fully made to introduce the new illumi- was closely jointed, bottom and top, and nant furnished by nature in the old then caulked with oakum, this last world as well as the new. Wherever in¬ named article then being kept in stock by every dealer in oil well supplies. The . Ranks and boats employed a number of furnished by the Third ward was neces¬ 1 caulkers. Harry Good, our late chief of sary to meet the requirements of the I police, is the only one of ih«.o3 that we growing town. The south side present¬ I can now recall, The first shipments by ed a mo3t pleasant location, but the Alle¬ rail were made in wooden tanks, called gheny intervened, and there were no I “tubs,” two of these with a capacity of bridges at that date, only a couple of fer¬ I 40 barrels each, being fastened upon a ries. As there was room on the flats of flat car. The only wooden tank in gen¬ the east side of Oil Creek and Cottage eral use now is the small ones used as Hill, the. town commenced to head that receiving tanka at the wells, seldom ex¬ way during the latter part of 1862, and ceeding 50 barrels in capacity. The Big by the close of 1863, a large number of Tank Oil Company, one of the stock con¬ buildings were erected, both dwellings cerns organised in later years, built a and store-rooms. Among those we can tank of a capacity, as near as we remem¬ remember the old store house of Graff, ber, of about 20,000 or 25,000 barrels, on Hasson & Co., afterwards purchased by Oil Creek, just below Petroleum Centre. J. B. Reynolds & Co., the old furnace This was a large circular pit lined and grist-miil, and the Mead House. This bottomed with plank. The company, so last named, located on the corner of Cen¬ far as recollection serves, never obtained ter and Seneca streets, was one of the -oil enough to fill it. It was a clear case notable hotels of the city, and many of hope unfulfilled, and “working in¬ sociable gatherings were held there. The terest” fund misapplied. ball given by “Charley” Rice in the win¬ One of the notable events of the latter ter of 1863, was a “society” event resi¬ part of 1862 was the completion of the dents of that date will call to mind from Humboldt Refinery, on Cherry Run, this reference. Mrs. Packer was the about half a mile from Plumer. It was hostess for a number of years. The first built by the Humboldt Mining and Re- building was burned in the big fire of | fining Company, of New York, under the 1866. A more substantial structure, built Eersonal direction of Messrs. Bruns & by Dr. Baldwin, followed. This became udovici, of that city, and principal stock¬ the property of the First National Bank holders of the company.. Neither money of Oil City, a portion of it serving as their nor best skill was spared to make this banking house until a few months since, •one of the most complete refineries of when the entire structure was torn down the country. The capacity of the works to make room for the four-story brick was 20 Btills of 40 barrels each, capable block now being built by the bank on of refining 1,500 barrels per week. Messrs. the old site. Bruns & Ludovici were social, accom¬ A barrel factory, with capacity of 200 plished gentlemen, and averse to being barrels per day, was completed by Roby deprived of city comforts in the way of & Co., of Buffalo, N. Y., on the flats in living. They built a cottage on their the Third ward, in beginning of 1863. grounds and furnished it with all the Two stage lines furnished transportation modern conveniences, including a French from Franklin to Pittsburg, starting from cook and wine cellar. Here hospitality the hotel oi Lucius Pike, in Franklin. was dispensed freely, as many of the old One was by the way of Butler and the operators can recall. The railway that other by way of Enon Valley, Mercer they predicated on was built up Cherry county. It was a long rido over rough Run (the Reno railroad), but by the fail¬ roads, and a journey in no wise to be de¬ ure of the company never reached Pit- sired. To make tki3 connection necessi¬ hole and was Boon abandoned. This tated a ride in a rough hack over a still caused the cessation of work at the Hum¬ rougher road from Oil City to Franklin. boldt and it was finally abandoned and Yet it was well patronized by leading allowed to go to decay. Their cottage men in all the walks of life and from all was still remaining a few yearB ago, but sections of the country of that day. Mil¬ we believe has bee^ reported burned lionaires, those that hoped to be, men of within recent date. By a strange vagary science, commerce, civil engineers of na¬ of fate, the contractors of the present new tional fame, were all on a common level building of the National Transit Com- then and accepted the accommodations £any, in Oil City, purchased and used a afforded without any very great amount urge amount of the foundations of complaint. stone of the Humboldt in the foundation | During the legislative session of 1862- of the National Transit structure, the I 63, our representative, Hon. M. C. Beebe, latest and best in the oil country. long since deceased, was kept busy intro¬ The Humboldt Refinery is also notable ducing bills for the furthering of projects located in the Oil Country. One of them as being the first to prove the possibility was the granting of the privilege of con¬ of forcing oil through iron pipes by veying “oil in pipes sunk in the ground,” means of steam pumps to any considera¬ from the wells to Oil City, and also to ble distance. In February, *1863, a pipe various railroad points. This measure line was laid from the Tarr farm to the did not meet with favor from the team¬ Humboldt, a distance of two and a half sters and boatmen. These felt that in miles, over a steep hill, and the oil was case such scheme was perfected and put successfully forced through it. in successful operation, their occupation To return to Oil City. It soon became would be gone. Strange to say this op¬ evident that more room than eou d be position was sufficient to postpone the enaction of the measure. it is but just to say that an- sand. 36 feet, the thickness of the first other reason possibly had. more and second sandrock being ten weight with the legislative—- authorities-- feet each. This • is taken from Preparations had been made for building the general average of the other wells railroad lines through the valley of Oil drilled on same farm and in immediate Creek from the terminus of the railroads vicinity- The farm consisted of thirty- then centreing in this part of the btate, six acres. Almost simultaneously with both by way of Franklin and Oil City. A the striking of the Noble & Delamater I line was also projected by the Allegheny came that of the Caldwell, estimated at Valley from its terminus at Kittanning at 1,000 barrels per day, on farm of same to Oil City, and another on the upp-r name, just adjoining and owned by Pitts¬ Allegheny from Oil City to lrvineton. It burg parties. The Caldwell it was found was urged with some force that the tians- interfered materially with the flow of the portation of oil in pipes wou.d be a sen- Noble & Delamater. The last named ous detriment to these enterprises. More parties purchased the Caldwell well, pay¬ will be given of this in suceeemng art!- j ing for the same the sum of $145,000, and then plugged it up. The total production of the Noble & Oil- CITY CHRONICIjINGS. Delamater well was estimated at 1,000,- 000 barrels. As good prices ruled during A Brief Compilation, Incidental and the period of this well’s production, is is Otherwise, from 1861 to Date. safe to estimate the total value of its pro¬ [Written for the Derrick.] duct at from three to five millions of dol¬ lars. The first invesl ment in sinking the XIII. well was about $4,000. 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Debrick. It was without doubt the most remun¬ erative well ever struck. Is it to be won¬ Lucianytof Samosata, is responsible for dered that people became wild and the strange story of Minerva—how Jupi¬ plunged recklessly into speculative ven¬ ter commanded Vulcan lo split open his tures when a result of such magnitude skull with his sharp axe, and how the was presented to them. The Craft well, warlike virgin leaped forth in full ma¬ on the same tract, had a total production of 101,860 barrels. If any doubt had pre¬ turity from the cleft in the brain, thor¬ viously existed of the permanent supply oughly armed and ready for deeds of of petroleum, it was dissipated by the martial daring, brandishing her glittering facts above given. The demand for oil weapons with fiery energy, aua breaking territory at once assumed almost a craze, aud hence 1863 was more noted for the at once into the wild Pyrrhic dance. amount of prospecting than for the Reference is made of this acc ent amount of production. The first named ft myth as being the most typical illustra¬ bore good fruit in subsequent years, being > tion that occurs of the manner in which the means of enlarging the area of the oil j field. the petroleum business assumed, in so In Oil City, as well as throughout the brief a time, such extensive proportions. Oil Country, with the beginning of 1863 It wore no swaddling-bands, acknowl¬ began a more substantial growth of every edged no leading-strings, but sprung at branch of business pertaining to oil, and j with it a better class of improvements for ! once into full maturity. In one brief the as yet straggling town. Comfortable ; year from the date of the striking of the dwellings and spacious business struc¬ Drake well, it eclipsed the whale fishery, tures were erected. Among these were a gray with time, and strong through the hall or two where people could meet for energy and vigor with which it had ever social enjoyment. In these last named, been prosecuted, and all other illuminat¬ in addition to dancing parties and balls, ing substances. It furnished a flame concerts and fairs were held for the pur¬ clear and soft to souse and eight as the ■ pose of providing comforts for our brave solar ray of Old Sol himself. ‘Cheap as defenders then fronting an armed foe in daylight,” and nearly as inexhaustible, the Sunny South. Did we dance in those was the familiar greeting that met the flays, the youtb or maiden of to-day may new product when first subjected to the | ask? Prof. Decker had then a large danc¬ skillful chemist’s magic alembic, and ing class of ladies and gentlemen and fitted for use by the refiner. Prof, Carrier’s string band furnished Noted as the year 1862 had been for music that would not seriously suffer by the striking of the great oil gushers, the comparison with any we have now. The | year 1863, or rather the beginning of it, “polka quadrille” set a number of the j showed equally as generous in response members still surviving now sedate in all I to the manipulation of the oil minere’ but business matters, were renowned for \ drill. The Noble & Delamater well, Far- the grace with which they acquitted rel farm; Oil Creek, was struck in Janu¬ themselves. The ladies also gave leap ary, 1863, commencing to flow, as esti¬ .year balls. mated, 3,000 barrels per day. It ceased In the beginning this year was to flow on the 28th day of February, marked by the construction of the Mead- 1865. The depth of this well, to third ville and Franklin branch of the Atlantic And was about 478 feet; thickness of' & Great Western Railroad to the last ’ Ts&dafe., r 25

named place, begun and completed during the same. We also find a notice came in, as it were, as an afterthought. of the commissioners appointed by act of It was built on the end of the church Legislature and further empowered by structure. The shape of it was so lamiliar , the granting them of a charter for the that some irreverent person styled the sale _ of stock, at the “Oil Exchange” edifice“The Church of the Holy Derrick.” at Oil City, Pa., of “The Farmers’ The first building was burned in the Railroad Company, of Venango County,” great fire of 1866. It was afterward re- the books)for same to be opened and re¬ | built and subsequently abandoned when mains so, June 25th, 1863, between the the present fine brick structure (Trinity) hours of ten a. m. and three p. m. The was completed. same was Bigned bv S. P. McOalmont, P. During the session of the legislature a H. Siverly, J. S. Myers, S. Q. Brown, bill was introduced by Mr. Beebe to Thomas Hoge, J. L. Mitchell, William charter a pipe line from the Oil Creek Phillips, M. Waters, W. D. Brown, N. F. wells to Oil City and also to extend the Jones and Jonathan Watson, commis¬ same to the railroad station at Garland, j sioners. The stock waB all taken at the October 1st, 1863, oil was selling for $7.75 time specified, but the gentlemen named, at the wells and $10.50, barrels included, for some unexplained reason, never built at Oil City. the road. To show the.inflammable nature of the The “Farmer’s Railroad” afterwards town buildings a destructive fire, caused I built from Oil City to Petroleum Centre, by some thoughtless person lighting a was a different affair. The first named, match by rubbing it against the receiv¬ , near as we can recollect, was to be a ing tank of the Linden well, on Main steam railroad from Franklin to Oil City, street, was barely averted. A letter from and a horse railroad up the creek from Capt. Hasson gave some interesting de¬ j latter point. The “Oil Exchange” spoken tails of the battle of Fredericksburg, in of was the first institution of the kind in which his regiment, 142d, was engaged, Oil City that we have any authenticated in front of Stonewall Jackson’s forces, record of. It was a room adjoining the losing 250 men. November 5th, this banking office of Culver & Co., a few year, the number of refineries in Cleve¬ doors from the Petroleum House, fitted land was given as sixteen. up as an Oil Exchange and reading room September 3, 1863, mention was made where oil men could meet and transact of the transferring of the interests of i business, by Mr. John H. Coleman, the Messrs. Vanausdall, Phillips and Kipp, in ! cashier of Culver & Co. the Phillip’s well, Tarr farm, to Lockhart The town authorities about this time & Frew, at the following figures:—Phil¬ with a fitting sense of their dignity and lips, $62,000; Vanausdall, $52,000; Kipp, duty, passed an ordinance prohibiting $42,000, Notice of application was made the erratic horsemen of the period from August 27th, by C. V. Culver for incor¬ riding on the public sidewalks. As these poration of the Oil City National Bank, last furnished the only dry places along under the new banking law, with a capi¬ the streets for a considerable portion of | tal stock of $100,000. During this year, the year, a fair amount of revenue fro:,. ! in accordance with time honored custom this source found its way into the bor- the question of a new county, with Oil 1 ough treasury. The citizens also raisid City as the county seat, was agitated. The death of Capt. James Hanna, one of a sum by subscription sufficient to build our best citizens is also on record for this a substantial footwalk over the Creek ! year. The March borough election re¬ bridge. The local journal further made j sulted en the selection of a Republican | a strong appeal for legislation authoriz-1 ticket. Railroad being completed to j ing the town authorities to levy a tax to 1 Titusville and extending down Oil Creek, ! provide for the paving of Main street, was also one of the welcome signs of ' and there was then as now frequent com¬ progress. plaint made of the unsatisfactory condi¬ For week ending March 26th, 1863, the ) tion of the street lamps. river report notes the arrival at this port, Proposals for building a public school from Pittsburg of thirteen steam vow- house was published, and the first boats, three passenger steamers and a Methodist Church building, head of Cen¬ large number of flats and barges. April tre Btreet, was completed and dedicated. 3,1863, notice was given of the incorpor¬ Rev. PersniDg, of Pittsburg, preached the ation of the Oil City & Petroleum Bridge dedicatory sermon. He also improved Company, with a capital stock of $10,000, the occasion by taking up a collection to with privilege to increase same. Johu pay for the building. As memory serves H. Coleman, M. H. Hamilton, J. J. Van- he had the door closed a portion of the dergrift, Win. L Lay and Win. H. Ew¬ time, or rather locked as some say. The ing were named a9 commissioners. result of his appeal, as near as can be re¬ Notice was also given of the purchase of ^ called, was a collection amounting to | the Bastian farm, 80 acres, South Side, about $6,000 in cash. A very creditable i by C. V. Culver & Co., and Wm. L. Lav. • ■ record for the liberality of our people at It was further Btated that the purchasers that date. The structure was a very intended to lay the land out in town lots creditable one in all respects except the and make it an addition to O'l City. be'fry. This important part of it appears Waltek R. Johns. to have been omitted from the plan and a well. The knowledge to improve on OLD OIL DAYS. 1 the methods adopted came when the well J was completed. While the successes were many, so were the failures. For¬ tune seemed to favor all alike at the be¬ Another in the Series of Oil City Chron¬ ginning of the drilling venture—the re¬ icling. sult was one that could not be predicated with any degree of certainty. This, pos¬ sibly, made the oil business more attract¬ ive, for to the maBS of men the element THE BCSTLING DAYS OP ’68. of chances where there is a prospect of gain, is always a desirable feature. A few oil stock companies had already been The Value of Oil Lands—The Speculative formed in previous year of 1862. The stock of these met with ready sale tn the Fever and How It Worked— great cities, largely due to the depreciat¬ Oil City’s Growth. ed state of the national currency conse¬ quent upon the war then in active prog¬ ress, and the desire to invest in anything that promised even remote returns. The The rapid improvement made in the business of procuring options on tracts of mode of refining and fitting for use the oil lands and farms soon became an ex¬ new product of petroleum, the success tensive and often a remunerative one to those engaged in it. These options were met with in its introduction at home and obtained by what would now be called a abroad, and the additional facilities de “promoter,” for a stated time—thirty, viBed for its handling and transportation sixty or ninety days, or even a longer during 1862, were all largely added to in term as the case might be. This would be taken to the cities where no difficulty the year following, and served to make was found in obtaining from the State still more attractive the glittering possi¬ department a charter, and placing the bilities of 1868. stock on the market, and it then became The following comparative statement a speculative commodity. The first thing to do was to sell enough of the given shows more clearly than any we stock to provide a.fund for the develop¬ can make of the growth and progress of ment of the lands, and purchase of the the business for the years named: 1862 same from the owner. Thus provided —Production, in barrels, 3,056,60§; aver¬ stock could be issued to any desired ex- age price for year, $1.68; value, $5,135,- lent and the stockholder squeezed until his puis9 or endurance was exhausted. 098.08; barrels exported, crude equiva¬ This was a very attractive business for lent, 272,192; crude, value of export at many, and prospective millionaires were wells, $457,282.56. 1863—Production, in numerous at this early date. In after barrels, 2,611,359; average price for year, years large sums were realized by, the $3.99; value, $10,419,322.41; barrels" ex “promoters but the results were very ported, crude equivalent; 706,268; crude, uncertain. value of export at wells, $2,818,100.32. Oil City’s growth kept pace with the In addition to this to e home consumption general development. Building opera¬ was increased in still greater ratio. Add tions became extensive, and the borough to all this the value of the wells produc- limits were materially extended. Among ing, machinery, the large amount invest¬ the first to embark extensively in the ed in the different modes of transporta¬ real estate business was Culver & Co., tion, and an approximate idea can be and Vm, L. Lay, in Laytonia, on South formed of the business that really was Side. Charles Haines and J. H. Marston, only in the second year of a successful early in 1863, purchased from Graff, growth. Hasson & Co., the strip of land extend¬ The value of oil lands, for all such were ing from what is now Harriott avenue classed that surrounded the producing along the front of Cottage Hill to the wells, came into active demand and com Plumer road, containing about 20 acres. sequent value for actual development. This was then a fine grove of young - Though slow at first the fever of specu¬ trees. It was laid out into lots, and the , lation in oil lands soon became wide street named by them Grove avenue, was spread. It affected alike the resident of opened out and graded. Mr. Charles ! the country places with those of the Haines, one of the owners, waB a gentle- i cities and commercial centres, and even man of original as well as practical busi- ! cast its seductive influence over portions neES ideas. His first move after obtain¬ of the old world, where the value of pe¬ ing possession of the property, was to troleum had become known. The busi¬ Mm up the trees in the grove and then ness was one that required no special white-wash the trunks of the same. mechanical or scientific training. In This made the place an attractive one fact, it had to be learned from actual and from the Btart. The appearance of the generally costly experience. The main white-washed grove, in either daylight essential was to have the sash to provide ] or moonlight, was decidedly unique. the machinery and the expense of sinking j The lots sold rapidly and before the season closed the erection of Borne of the shirk A co. Oil received. 2,516 buildings on this, the finest site of the Oil shipped. 2,473 city for dwellings, had been commenced. Empty barrels received.10,188 During this year Mr. Wm. H. Ewing HANNA’S WAREHOUSE. built his fine residence on Colbert ave¬ Oil received. 2,159 nue, Cottage Hill. This successively Oil shipped. 1,902 passed into the ownership of Capt. J. J. Empty barrels received... 4,144 Vandergrift, W. J. Young and is now It must not be understood that the owned by the First Presbyterian Church, above comprised the bulk of river oil and occupied as a parsonage. A number shipments. The warehouses mentioned of buildings were erected on the property are those who were in the line of ship¬ of Graff, Hasson & Co., on the East Side pers and transacted a general commission of Oil Creek, and some buildings on the and storage business. The majority of South Side were among the improve¬ the oil landings were used on private ac¬ ments made. count, and a large amount of the oil was In the columns of the local journal of shipped direct to Pittsburg without that date we find a notice that R. Cris¬ transfer. well & Son were prepared to furnish from Some sales of real estate on the river their brick yard a choice quality of build¬ front in the Third ward, made by the ing brick—previous to this stovepipe was Michigan Rock Oil Company this year the material in general use for chimneys are worth noting and are here given:— and flues. Whitcomb & Standart—old Lot, 100 feet front by 246 feet, to Pen- residents will remember “Steve”—were nock, Bell & Co., for $2,500; lot 50x246 the agents for the Franklin branch of feet, to T. B. Porteous, $1,250; lot, same the Atlantic & Great Western Railway at size, to Long, Miller & Co., $1,250; land¬ Franklin. ‘The card of the Amer.cm ing, 50 ffeet front and five lots back, to Petroleum Company, No. 10 Pines.re.--, Oil City Refining Company, $2,250. Capt. New York, sets forth that the compare J. J. Vandergrift purchased several lots about the same time on private terms. was prepared to supply crude petroleum The Michigan Rock Oil Company also (or rock oil) for foreign or domestic con¬ sold a number of their lots between sumption, from their producing wells Main street and the river for building and royalties in the Oil Country. Re purposes, 24x100 feet, for $250 each. On fined oil for export in wood or iron bar¬ Main street prices ranged much higher rels, &cThe New York Warehousing in this and year succeeding. One build¬ Company, of that city, offered inducs- ing lot on the corner of Hanna street, ments for the “storage of crude and re¬ the first cost of which was $800 was sold fined Oil and naphtha, in separate fire¬ for $10,000. The Hopewell property was proof brick, slate ro f warehouses, the sold for $100,000 during the speculative same having a capacity of 40,000 barrels.” period of 1864 and 1865. Daring these One of our modern iron tank3 of to day years a large portion of property on Main would nearly meet such requirement. street changed hands. The extension of the Oil Creek Rail¬ As a proof of that the early residents road from Titusville down the creek to of the Oil Country did not forget pre¬ the Miller farm, was one of theirnportant vious religious training, we note the pic¬ events of the year. Mention is made nic of the Tarr Farm Union Sunday also of a number of other railroad pro¬ School, J. M. Barrows, Supt, 100 pupil's jects, among these were the continuation and 12 teachers, on July 9,1863. of the Allegheny Valley Railroad from During the year a constant increase of Kittanning through Clarion county ro development and general business were the mouth of Oil Creek. One from Oil the marked features. Hotels were al¬ City to Ridgway, ELk county, and the ways crowded with new arrivals, the Warren & Franklin Railroad, now rhe pond freshets occurred at stated periods, Allegheny River Railroad. The last the Allegheny fleet of oil brats and named and the extension of the Alle¬ steamers were kept busy when the gheny Valley became realities afterward. stage of water admitted, reports It is to be regretted that, the road to of the successive victories or re¬ Ridgway was not built, as it would have verses of our armies in the been a valuable addition to Oil City’s field came at intervals to cheer or de¬ present admirable system ot railroads. press, but the current of business life Still it is one of the possibilities of the flowed aloDg in uncreaBing and increas¬ near future. ing force during tbe year 1863. The following statement of the receipts Walter R. Johns. and shipments of oil from Oil City ware¬ houses for th° week ending April 2,1863, is give: i to sho w the extent of the river trade... these at that period, as follows: MICHIGAN ROCK OIL COMPANY. Bbls. Oil received. 1,482 Oil shipped. 1,392 Benzine received. Ill Benzine shipped. 114 Empty barrels received. 325 yOnd comparison, all combustible sub¬ stances melt and vanish before it like OIL FIRES. frost-work from the rays of the sun. The heaviest volume of water thrown on burning oil only serves to increase the No. 15 in the List of Oil City Chron- fierceness of its combustion and enlarge iclings its volume. All that human power can do, where it cannot be smothered out by earth or steam, or to confine it within DETAILS S05I55 DEVASTATIONS. possible limits, is to let it burn until its flames cease for want of fuel. Of the first fires among the oil boats at I Oil City, occurring during the season of Tank Fires and Oil Boat Flames—Some 1863, we will essay a brief description. Enterprising Thieves of Those To form a proper idea of the scene pre¬ Days. sented on the occasion of these, the reader can understand the whole river front from the point at the mouth of Oil Creek to the eddy commencing at the 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Debbick. old Moran House lined with oil boats, in In a general way we have endeavored places three and four deep, fastened to to give a comprehensive outline of the the shore, laden or being in process of beginning and progress of Oil City and same preparatory to beginning their trip to Pittsburg. Upon the occasion of both the petroleum development from the be¬ fires this was the condition of affairs. ginning to date of and including 1863- The first fire occurred during the night That the same was subject to reverses on a bulk boat at tht: held of the oil fleet. that tested the endurance of the resi¬ It was caused by one of the boatmen lowering a lantern into a compartment of dents who were eugaged in the oil busi¬ the boat to ascertain if it ras leaking. ness, the brief relation that follows of The gas generated from the oil caught the losses incurred by disastrous oil fires -fire from the blaze in the lantern, ex¬ will in some degree show. As there was ploding with a shock that lifted the man and lantern several feet in the air, land¬ no system of “general average” in those ing them on the shore, rocking the days, that admirable plan of oil insur¬ houses of the entire town on their foun¬ ance being due to the United Pipe Line dations with Euch force as to awaken the j Company years afterward, these losses sleepers, with dim consciousness that the j final day most of them were conversant were total. The loss by the ice crush of with had come, and casting a blazing 1862, estimated at $500,000, has already Bpray of oil over the adjoining boats, been noted. To the same year should be which ignited like tinder. The bright credited a destructive fire that occurred light of the flames served to restore any at the Blood farm, on Oil Creek, in Octo¬ presence of mind that had been lost, and ber of same. A space eauivalent to as soon as possible the residents gathered about 20 acres was burned over, on which along the wharves to assist in saving1 were a number of flowing and pumping their property from destruction. At the wells, wooden tanks and a number of beginning of the fire one excited indi¬ buildings. The gas from a flowing well vidual provided with an axe, proceeded taking fire from tnat of an engine-house to cut the lines that fastened the boats to near by was the cause. Seven flowing the shore. If successful in his endeavor and three pumping wells, with their der¬ this would have caused the burning boats ricks and machinery, and 100 wooden I to drift among the others and thuB in¬ tanks, containing 40,000 barrels of oil, I sure the destruction of the entire fleet as were destroyed. The loss was estimated 1 well as the property along the river front. at $1,000,000, many of the best wells be¬ Before the man with the axe had cut ing ruined. In 1863 oil fires occurred, i many of the lines a level-headed boat¬ but were not as extensive or attended i man knocked him over and thuB averted with so great a loss. In the years that the impending danger. followed fires were numerous and de¬ In a few moments some forty of the oil structive, both of oil and property. The boats were on fire. These the boatmeD, principal fire during 1863, that we re¬ assisted by willing hands, pushed out in¬ member, excepting the two among the to the stream with long poles, and the oil boats along the river front, was one burning boats were floated by the current that burned the Michigan block and past the rest of the fleet. This was only some other buildings on Main street. the work of a short time, but it seemed j The terrible aspect presented by a an age to those witnessing and partici-1 blazing mass of petroleum is one that pating in it. Pen nor pencil could ade¬ has to be witnessed in order to form a quately describe the scene that was pre¬ conception of. A cloud of black smoke, as¬ sented in this fleeting space of time. The cending rapidly skyward, is evolved by blazing masses floating majestically the burning oil, dense and suffocating in along, the dense black cloud of smoke its nature, far surpassing any from thej that hung over them like a huge canopy, combustion of other known substances. illumined with, the brightest colors of The heat from its flames is intense be-] a

the rainbow by the frequent flashes of into which the floating oil was collected. fiamee, the hardy toilers whose forms It was dipped or ekimmed off the sur¬ were often obscured by the smoke, the face of the water with loDg-handled tin explosion of the barrels of oil caused by or iron dippers. When small boys en¬ the intense heat, all served to form a gaged in the business, the good scene such as the imagination was housewife was often worried at the dis¬ incompetent to fully grasp in all its details appearance of her culinary ware. The of granp and terrible beauty, and one heavy capitalists engaged in the business that surpassed the genius of the painter. used an oil boat swung broadside to the The destruction caused by this fire did current, and the oil thus collected was not end at Oil City, but was extended to dipped into the boat. After being sub¬ Franklin. One of the burning boatB jected to a certain amount of heat, an old floated down the river to a point just boiler being generally used for the pur¬ above the suspension bridge over the pose, this dipped oil became merchant¬ Allegheny at Franklin, where it was able. Greed caused a cessation of this caught and fastened by a line to a fence business. Shippers managed to endure post on the shore. The owner of this post, gimlet holes bored in the bottom of their which was possibly worth ten or fifteen boats, but drew the line when augers cents, fearing that it would be broken by ! were brought into requisition by the dip- the strain of the line, cut the boat loose. I pers, and hence the business became un¬ The burning mass floated under the profitable. bridge, set it on fire, and totally destroyed 1 Eiver thieves existed then and were that $30,000 structure. The total loss by evidently in robust health, as they too this fire, including oil, boats and the frequently appropriated oil boats. These, bridge, was estimated at $150,000. or a still later and more improved class The other oil fire occurred in Decem¬ of thieves, progressed with the develop¬ ber, 1863. amor - nnme oil br*''1- that had ment. In later years it was no uncom¬ groun' d frau -receding * .'.freshet mon thing for them to load up and car¬ ry off an engine and boiler during the at the foot of Complanter Island, the interval required by the pumper to call cause being the same as that of the first at a neighboring engine house to borrow i named. After burning for a time one of a chew of tobacco. Well3 were stripped the boats less firmly grounded than the in a night of tubing, casing, drive pipe, I rest, floated off in a direct line toward cable, machinery, fools and engine house I the ferry landing on the South Side. and every movable thing around, and When near the shore, as if impelled by even the derrick was not safe. The only some invisible force, the blazing mass thing left was the hole and the lease as a changed its course and came nearly mark by which the owner could identify ; straight toward the oil boats at the head what was left. of the fleet. For a brief time the dis¬ Borough ordinances were passed this traction of the fleet and a large portion year requiring the owners of lots on the i of the town seemed inevitable. Boats South side of Centra street from the were hastily manned, chains fastened to Creek bridge to the northeast corner of the bow of the burning boat, the boat¬ the M. E. Church, to build Bidewalks men sturdily bent to their task, moving along to the front of the same. Also for¬ it out into the stream, towed it along bidding “ail persons from placing fire past the long line of boats and grounded coals which may be on fire in any pub¬ it on the island at the foot of Moran’s lic streets, alleys or vacant lots within Eddy. While this was being accom¬ the city limits.” This looks strange in plished, the hundreds on the shores these later days since natural gas came watched the movemHnts with almost into use. breathless interest. When the danger The first show was that of Keshaw- was over hearty cheers greeted the brave gence’s Indian Troupe, billed for Oil City men who manned the boats. As near as on Monday and Tuesday, September can be remembered the following are the 28th and 29th. As memory serves this names of the crews of the boats who show was liberally patronized by both ; saved the oil fleet and the town: Wm. L. our residents and those of Oil^Creek. j Lay, John Kightlinger, C. M. Titus, John Irwin, Wm. Phillips, John Yanausdall, ! Captain Wm. Watterson, John Shoup, j Wm. Hunter. The business of “oil-dipping” in the early years was a profitable industry, and was followed by both men and boys. From the leakage of the many boats the surface of both river and creek in this j locality was generally covered with oil. i When a pond freshet or other disaster j occurred the “dippers” had a bonanza, 50 | to 100 barrels frequently rewarding the j labor of a single individual. The opera- j tor with limited capital used boards or an | oar-stem thrown out into the stream, ] which acted as a boom, forming an eddy 30

who traversed it. f:: • Y Speaking of the ever to be lamented SIXTEENTH and greatest of America’s humorists, “Artemus Ward,” the best part of his en¬ In the List of Oil City Chron- tertainment, socially considered, was given at the Petroleum House, where he iclings had his quarters after the lecture. This took place in the sitting room, where he was given a reception by a number of GIVES SOME INTERESTING FACTS leading citizens, and told his inimitable Btories until the early breakfast bell rang, j and still his audience longed for more of him. Of the Early Life of the City—How This theatre building in after years be¬ a Church Was Built—A came dilapidated, was declared unsafe i Correction. by the authorities and torn down. The I _ next venture in this line was a building | erected by a gentleman named McFar- j land, on the east side of the creek, lo¬ 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Derrick. cated on the present site of Trinity M. E. While the on subject of public amuse¬ Church. This we think was burned in ments, which Berved to close last week’s the great fire of 1866. The next and final building was the structure where article, mention may be made of Bas- the present opera house stands, built by com’s Theatre building; opera houses John Love. So much for the drama part were not so numerous then as they are of the period. now. In 1862, as near as can be remem¬ The first carpenters and tank-builders were German Hill, Wm. H. Drewatt, bered, Mr. George Bascom, of New York Wm. Bell and Wm. Nugent. Dr. S. S. State, then and for years afterward a resi¬ Christy, afterward Bargees of Oil City, dent of Oil City, commenced its build¬ established the first drug store, associat¬ ing on the hill side directly opposite the ing with himself his two brothers, A. J. and John A. Christy, both now deceased. Petroleum House, on Main street. The Drs. Colbfrt and Egbert and the Griffith excavation for the foundations had to be Bros, followed soon after. Charles. F. blasted out of the solid rock, and it was Hasson, brother of Capt. Wm. Hasson, a slow and expensive job for all con¬ was our first practicing attorney. For a | long time his practice was not extensive, cerned. It was finally accomplished and but became better when other lawyers the building, the extent of which can be located here. T. S. Zuver, John B. Smul- ' readily surmised by a glance at the space len were next in order. In the years still remaining, was completed, we think, following up to 1866, Isaac Ash, Eugene Ferrero, James 0. Boyce, H. C. Graham, late in 1863, or early in 1864. It was a Wm. McNair, Wm. G. Grange, J. B. Mc¬ large building and well arranged for the Allister, H. A. Converse and E. Shaw I purpose. located here. During its existence a number of the An idea can be formed of the extent then traveling companies held forth of the business of oil shipments by the there. Among these the most prominent Allegheny River, which for the year was that of J. F. Sherry. Mr. Sherry, if 1859 to and including 1865, is given in we mistake not, leased it for several sea¬ round numbers as 2,142,194 barrels. sons, and furnished our play-goers with a Value of same at average ruling prices, very creditable series of entertainments. $17,525,960. “Artemus Ward” gave his lecture in the Our attention has been called by a old building. It was a rich treat, char¬ friend to a statement made in a paper acteristic of the man, and delighted the read recently before the British Associa¬ large audience present. The subject of tion for the Advancement of Science, in the scene on the drop curtain is now for¬ London, England, by John H. Harris, of gotten, The rest of the scenery and ar¬ New York, entitled “The Different Meth¬ rangements were in general respects about ods for Transporting Crude Petroleum in the same as to-day. The history of the The United States,” published in the drama, so far as we have read, fails to London Engineering and Building Record, Btate the precise date when the practice of July 26th 1890, of which the following of the male part of the audience “going extract made goes to show that the gen¬ out” between acts, was introduced. Aris¬ tleman named was not well posted in the tophanes and Shakspeare are both mute early methods of oil transportation: on the subject so far as we know. Any¬ “Mr. Harris said that the only method way, the practice was in vogue at Bas- of getting oil to the market in the early com’s. We have it from beet pioneer days was by putting it into oaken barrels authority that a bar constituted a part of at the wells, each barrel of a capacity of the building. Also that said bar was 40 to 50 gallons. One or more of these I built against the side of the hill, and ac- ft barrels only could be drawn by teams ' cess had to same by a board passage-way, (on account of the nature of the roads) | narrow and shaky, in keeping with many from the wells in the wilderness to Oil MBI I ' foranartificialflood,hasbeenfullyde¬ i “onotthedamsthatsuppliedwater their first churchbuilding, belongs to f,lr?t Presbyterian Church,ofthiscity, tal insecuring tothecongregationof proved asuccess. between NewYorkand Liverpool, had 361,246 barrels.Itisalso noted inOcto¬ ber ofsameyearthatthe iron tankship shipments overErieRailroad,66,369 following figuresshow:September— rels. ShipmentsbyOilCreek Railroad barrels; byFranklinbranch,20,750bar¬ same year,wasnotinconsiderable,asthe Franklin branchoftheAtlantic&Great Uil GreekRailroad,completedtoMiller fectoriiyre andcoversthesubjectsaiis- If armin1863,andtheMeadville the gentleman’spaperispreparedwith Western Railway,completedtoFranklin Freshets’ andthemodeofconstruc- scribed inapreviousarticle.Therestof men onlysawintheirdreams.“Pond feet ofwater,wasasightthatoldboa*-: Juno, builtforcarrying petroleum oil was theaverageloadforatwo-horse another meaning.Fivebarrelsofoil they werespelleddifferentlyandhad with 2,000barrelsofoilfloatinginthree Oil Greekintheearlydaysofoil,but stowed alongthebreadthandlengthof Mr. Harris,wererodoubtplentifullybe- teanij andtheeightofabargeloaded wells thatcoveredthevalley.“Dams” sadly interferedwiththeworkingof the formationofthesepondswouldhave erage scarcely150yardsinwidth,hence obtained inalltheseearlyyears,willav¬ The creditof being chieflyinstrumen¬ topographical featuresoftheOilCreek from whichthebulkofproductionwas' ing” OilCreekinthemannerdescribed these dams.Theboatssoldforwhat would havebeenagoodonehadthe they wouldbringinPittsburg.” as thegreatlaborandcostofbuilding with theircontentsinthesedrives,aswell Valleys. Thismethodoftransportation dent tothelossofmanyboats was accompaniedbygreatexpense,inci¬ navigation intheOhioandMississippi the headwatersofsteamboat flatboat navigationtoPittsburg from whichpointtherewasgood The railroadshipmentsofoilbythe its junctionwiththeAlleghenyriver, they reachedthemouthofOilCreekat dam, andtheoperationrepeateduntil were floatedonthefloodtonext in thedamwasopenedandthesebarges ciency ofwaterhadaccumulated,awing and pondswereformed.Whenasuffi¬ ■were erected,whichsetbackthewater, different pointsalongOilCreekdams barges werefloateddownOilCreekon what wastermed“PondFreshets,”At As OilCreekwasnotnavigable,these bulk bargesholdingabout2,000barrels. Creek, wheretheywereemptiedinto alley permitted.Thevalleyofsame. The gentleman’sideaof“slack-water¬ lsTfc .toOctober1st,1863, DETAILS THE DIFFERENTPROCESSES. Number 17intheList ofOilCity tained thenatureofcontents. when heopenedtheenvelopeandascer¬ One mayimagineMr.Moore’semotions the “committee”hastilytooktheirleave. here issomethingfromthepeopleofOil City,” withoutawaitingforananswer, ing atthedoorofMr.Moore’sresidence, 1 committeeofthePresbyteriancongrega¬ and withthebriefspeech—“Mr.Moore, that gentlemanwascalledtothesame, and giventothecommittee.Onarriv¬ I tiibutedandhandedovertoabuilding money wasplacedinalargeenvelope Joseph Bushnellwasone,appointed to presentthesameMr.Moore.The pose. Acommitteeoftwo,whichMr. 1 theirhatsseveralsizestooBmallforcom¬ was speedilycontributedforthispur¬ scription forhim.Thesumof$1,150 duly installed,Mr.Ewingstartedasub¬ their firstpastor,Rev.TV.P.Moorewas the churchbuildingwascompletedand and elegantbrickbuildingfollowed, and completed.Thepresentsubstantial this andsubsequentcontributionsthe Church congregationwascommenced tion whowerethenholdingservicesin first structureoftheFirstPresbyterian such roomsastheycouldget.Andwith fort. Bethisasitmay,bynoonofthe following dayasumof$6,000wascon- and onawakeningnextmorningfound scribing severaltimestothesamepaper, good causethattheycontinuedthework none whovisitedthemwereallowedto so itisrelated,becamezealousinthe escape fromcontributing.Someparties, the principal_resortsoftown,and during agoodportionofthenight,sub¬ Subscription paperswereplacedatall until agoodlysumwasraised. subscriptions fromthepeoplegenerally selves tomakeapersonaleffortsecure ceived, asubscriptionpaperdrawnupin work. Hispropositionwasfavorablyre¬ subscribed liberally,butpledgedthem¬ proper shape,andallpresentnotonly City, andinsistedthatthenthere gestion tobuildameetinghouseinOil most liberalheartedofmen,madeasug¬ would beagoodtimetocommercethe deserving objectsin spirit ofallclasses LOCATING WELLS. afternoon whiletalkingwithsome friends, Mr.Ewing,whowasoneofthe A briefoutlineofthe Mr. Wm.H.Ewing, Not contentwithhisfirsteffort,when it wasdone,goesto The _ideawasatoncepopularized. Chronicling® _ Waltee R.Johns. now ofPittsburg, those days.One show theliberal our peopletoward manner inwhich ifv I T *C

_ \ • :.. . in monthly payments of $10,000 each. At Old and New Ways-The Origin of that date, taking into consideration the Oil and Gas—The Views of an amount of oil being produced on the Eminent Authority. farm, and its value at ruling rates, the proprietary value of the Tarr Farm was estimated at $440,000, and the working j interest at as much more, making a total j lg90—Copyrighted by the Oil City Deerick. value of $880,000. If to this was added | Mr. Walter Siverly, of Siverlyville, hag the value ot the oil produced on this kindlv famished us with the letter that farm previous to this sale, the grand tota1 would foot up from $1,500,000 to $2,000,- follows from his uncle, M. J.Siverly.now 000. The farm contained 198 acers. of Davenport, Iowa, who was one of the We have endeavored to give the lead¬ early settlers of this locality. Mr. Siver- ing features of interest transpiring dur¬ ly is now in his 84th year. The first ing 1863. While the daily production of this and succeeding year was less than house occupied by the family of his un- 1861 and 1862, the amount of develop¬ Walter Siverly informed us, ment was greatly in excess. No less was was a cabin or log house, on what is now the general growth of Oil City and other Colbert avenue, the present residence of towns along the valley of Oil Creek and at points along the Allegheny River. The Mr3. Murrin being located on the site of erection and establishing of several busi-l the same. Here is Mr. Siverly’s letter: ness houses, on the east side of ihe creek j “Davenport, Ia , Aug. 20,1890. at Oil City, as wTell as a large number of • Walter:—Myself and father made the dwellings, was a notable feature. Prici-' pal among the bus ness ventures thus 1 first settlement on the Siverly farm in noted was that of the Reynolds and Wil¬ 1S20. The neighbor nearest us was W. liams Bros, and Chas. Robson & Co.’s Kinnear. At the mouth of Oil Creek, on pipe and oil well eupply Etore. While the , the opposite side, was Mr. Halyday. One history of 1862-’63 ia only partially told, I and a half miles up the Creek was the enough has been furnished to give the Cary place, and Hamilton McClintock reader a fair idea of its leading events. was the next above. The nearest neigh¬ So we will reluctantly pass on to the bor up the river was John Henry, above equally stirring history of 1864. Pithole. S. Powell was there before us. The speculative boom in oil lands and We moved into his house when we first every branch pertaining to the oil busi¬ •N, came. There was no road from Powell's ness throughout the Oil Cpuntry, com¬ and we moved through the woods. In¬ menced in the season of 1863, attained its dians were plenty. I knew old Corn- greatest proportions in 1864, and culmi¬ planter and dozens of others, and a dirty nated with the suarender of Lee at Ap- . set they were. Ricketts and the others pomatox in the Spring of 1865. you speak of came here before us. A large amount of oil lands changed m. t. s.” hands in 1863, and were used in the in¬ We refer back to the Bascom Theatre corporation of oil stock companies. Dur¬ for the purpose of correcting a date. Mr. ing this and the year that followed opera¬ Charles Johnson, who then had a livery tions in this special branch of the busi¬ stable and afterwards a hotel at No. 49 ness were not confined to the Pennsyl- Centre street, claims to have been the oil fields. Stock companies were formed j first manager and opened the theatre on large tracts of land in Ohio, West Yir- } with the company of O’Bara & Blake, ginia and Kentucky. The “wildcatter,” early in the Winter, December, he in fact, was almost every where. In the thinks, of 1865, and thus gave to the peo-' last named States but a limited amount [ pie of Oil City their first theatrical enter¬ of development was done. The values tainment. Having made money ad¬ of undeveloped oil lands was in the early vancements to the company to enable as well as the same are in the present | them get in proper shape, he acted as day so uncertain that they may be truth¬ • treasurer in order to get his money back, fully classed as an “unknown quantity.” i and was for some time connected with Hence the basis on which oil stock com- i the concern. During thi3 time Lotta, panies were formed, was in the highest Julia Daly, and other celebrities of the degree speculative. Brief mention has day trod the boards of the old structure been made of the indications that caused ' “Artemus Ward” also delivered his lec¬ the first efforts of the driller. They were 1 ture during same period, and it proved a in the shape of what was known as : good, attraction, the receipts of the house “surface indications.” These consisted 4 for the same, as Mr. Johnson states, be¬ of oil floating on the surface of the water *■ ing $667.50. of streams or springs, and in cases were In August, 1863, Mr. F Prentice pur¬ apparent in the Boil of marshy places. ; chased for Bishop, Bissell & Co., of New That the signs ' were not reliable it re¬ York, one-half of the interest of Mr. quired an immense expenditure of money James Tarr, being one-quarter of the and labor to finally prove. landed and about one-eighth of the oil Prof. Alexander Winchell, in his ad¬ interest in the Tarr Farm, on Oil Creek, miral “Sketches of Creation,” says on for the sum of $110,000, the sum of $50,- this subject: “Surface shows” have been 000 being paid in cash and the balance the fascination of many. The places of most copious escape to the surface were leum development in elaborating facts regarded as the favored spots where the and theories relating to it. However ‘drainage from the coal measures,’ in dis¬ potent a factor the oil miner’s drill has regard of the laws of gravity and hydro proved, it is unwise to ignore the aide namica, had obligingly deposited itself. that science has from time to time Such shows were always illuBory. A brought to bear on the subject. As to great‘surface show’ is a great waste. the formation and storage of petroleum, When nature plays the spendthrift she an eminent authority says: “Crude petro¬ retains but little treasure in her coffers. leum is not a product of definite compo¬ * * * * The production of petroleum sition. It seems to be a varying mixture in economical importance has always of several hydro-carbons, some of which, been from reservoirs in which Nature for as naphtha, volatilizing rapidly when ex¬ ages had been hoarding it up, instead of posed to the atmosphere; others as kero¬ making a superficial display of her sene, slowly; while others as bitumen, are wealth.’ ” nearly fixed. It contains various quan¬ It was Impossible To be guided by the tities af aluminous matters and other im¬ purities. It occurs in stratified rocks of above sage advice in the beginning c-f the ' all ages from the Laurentian to the re¬ petroleum develodments. Every opera- cent. Observation has shown that it ; tor had a theory and these took a wide ; does not exist in large quantities in any range. It was argued that the oil on the formation, except under certain intelligi¬ surface of streams came from reservoirs j ble conditions. Petroleum and the oth¬ in the subterranean depths. The success er hydro-carbons are produced from or¬ of Drake’s venture was a solution of this, l ganic matters by distillation in close ves¬ hence the penetration of the drill was ; sels. Any vegetable substance is the only true teEt, and the best place to capable of affording them. The do this was in as close vicinity as could refuse of the kitchen may be made to be had to a producing well. The general illuminate the mansion. Artificial dis¬ j distribution of oil bearing; rocks, direc¬ tillation of any of the rocks containing tion and depths, camo in liter days. In organic remains gives rise to petroleum. the location of these, the science of geo¬ Distilling shale oil is a large industry in logy, intelligently directed, has latterly Europe. Nature herself is also engaged aided the oil miner’s drill most effectual¬ in the business, and competition with ly in solving to an extent at least, the her i3 hazardous. The shales of earth’s problem of natural oil and gas. crust are inclosed in rocky retorts, her¬ As before stated oil wells at first were metically sealed. The unquenched fires drilled in the valleys and on the banks of the molten nucleus of this planet im¬ of streams and even in the beds of same part their warmth to the ever-cooling So implicit at one time was this last be¬ crust. The rocky retorts in nature’s vast lief that application was made to our laboratory are warmed, and their organic State Legislature for corporate powers by contents undergo a slow distillation—the a company to take possession of the Alle- products escape in the form of gas and 1 gheny river and other streams for a j oil, and slowly filter through pores-and a term of years, said company to pay a I crevices toward the surface until inter¬ royalty to the State and drill on the tame cepted by some imperivoua stratum. These I for oil. The virtue of the witch-hazel products from the nature of the case, can¬ t wig in locating oil wells was held in es- not descend. They are lighter than water, ) teem, and strange to say many good and must tend to rise through the water wells resulted from locations thus made. in the midst of which they are disen¬ gaged. A large portion of oil and gas ■; One clairvoyant in South Oil City made a Bnug sum by using her art in this thus elaborated escapes to the surface and | business. Other wells were located by is lost. In order to prevent this the re¬ dreams. “Spiritualism” wa3 also one of tort must be furnished with a closed con¬ ’ the agents used. The “Harmoniai” well, denser or receiver. The exhalation from the first drilled, and that also led to the the mother shale must be intercepted by development of the Pleasantville field, a stratum of a clayey or impervious na¬ has been noted as an example. In this ture. Beneath this the oil and gas will case, as stated at the time, Mr. James, accumulate, displacing the water previ¬ > the medium, was forcibly lifted from his ously occupying the space. This reser¬ ! buggy while driving by the place where j voir may be an open cavity, a fissure, a the well was located, carried over a rail shattered stratum of rock, or a mere : fence by the “spiritual power” and set porous sandstone. * * In order that | down on the spot where the well waB af- these products may be locally restricted, I terwards drilled, and it proved a good the impervious stratum must present the one. No operator professed to have any form of a dome or roof. The underlying faith in this kind of agency, but the leases strata may, and generally do, conform to adjoining the “Harmoniai” were consid¬ the roofing strata. We have here the ered at first to be the most desirable. requisite conditions for accumulation.” : Other, in fact the mass of early operators, The Bpace thus given needs no apology. I drilled their wells where the most favor- It will serve to make the ever-recurring I able working conditions could be had, question of the formation and storage of I and their success averaged about as well. petroleum more tangible, and will enable Jiodern science has been earnestly at the general reader to form a more intelli¬ 1 work during all these years of the petre- j gent conception of this latest and most wonderful cf nature’s products. Walter R. Johns. Drake’s well. When a new well was struck the fortunate owner only had to ; HALCYON DAYS. name a price for the whole or an inter¬ est in it. The appearance of the oil coming from the ground had an When the Oil Country Boomed Galore intoxicating effect on the minds of the With Money Plenty. crowd of eager speculators the flocking to the oil country from everywhere, The boom that continued during this and a large portion of the succeeding year OIL CITY CHBONICLINGS NO. 18. proved a good thiDg for many who would otherwise have been unable to realize t «ost from, earlier ventures. It was doub¬ ly so to the original land owners. While The First Railroad and Its Effects—The many of this last named class sold their Clark’s Summit Enterprise—The lands out in fee simple, others leased at r. Oil Companies of 1865. an eighth or quarter royality. From even moderately productive farms the royal¬ ties footed up from §100 to several times 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Dereicx. that amount per day. The use made of this suddenly acquired wealth on the The completion of the Franklin branch part of the farmer, so far as real benefit of the Atlantic & Great Western Railway to him was concerned, depended upon from Meadville to Franklin was a very the man’s business qualifications. While important and much needed addition, some concluded that they would enjoy this wealth in cities with their families, a not only to Oil City but also to the oil mode of life, for which many were illy region. Previously the Allegheny river fitted, others bought good farms, put had furnished the chief means of trans¬ away the bulk of the money realized in porting the various supplies for the the best investments to be had, and lived a life of ease the rest of their days. city and the new industry, as well as But in general respects they compared for travel. What was still more cheering with the class of the suddenly rich of was the fact that preparations were al¬ every stage of the world. ready in progress for extending this Oil City continued to progress in 1864, | and the demand for more room waB met brauch of railroad to Oil City, where it by the inviting flats of the east side of would in a short time connect with the Oil City, Cottage Hill, and the South Oil Creek Kailroad, then being extended Side. One of the features of the year was to Oil City, and with the Allegheny River the purchase by Charles Pither, George Cornwall and T. Hud. Williams of a por¬ Railroad, also in process of construction tion of the hill property, belonging to the from this place. This prospect gave new Michigan Rock Oil Company, since , life to the town at the ‘ mouth of the known as Clark’s Summit. This was Creek,” and also added to the volume of formed into a stock concern, known as I development throughout the various oil the Oil City Park Company, with a capi-' fields. tal stock of $10,000. The stock was read-1 A number of hack lines were put on ily taken, the ground cleared, a road the road from Oil City to Franklin for built along the side of the hill, and a the accommodation of passengers, and race track laid out and put in good sbape ' the hauling of oil well and other sup¬ on the Summit. The first race meeting plies employed a large train of wagons. was held, as near aa we can note, on July! Teaming in the oil country was a source 4,1865 A large crowd of people from all! of revenue to farmers throughout this parts of the country were in attendance, | and the adjoining counties that served I as well as a good string of horses. This to lift many a mortgage and increased meeting was a great success, and the the bank account of the hardy agricul¬ evect, with its many stirring incidents, turist. Rut this was a mere trifle as will be recalled by many of our old resi¬ compared with the rapid rise in value dents of the present day. Other meet¬ of their lands where the same wa3 in the ings occurred, but owiDg to the fact that vicinity of producing territory. professional jockeys made it a means for The mania for oil lands c.r anything their own advantage, the race feature be¬ having a remote resemblance of it set came unpopular, and the meetings were in early and confinued throughout this discontinued, and this finally ended its and the following year. Lands that be popularity. In after years Philo M. fore the oil discovery consisted of a few Clark, a public spirited citizen, with scraggy buckwheat patches and an occa¬ others, bought these lands, laid them off sional field of wheat or corn were read¬ into town lots and built an incline rail¬ ily disposed of to form the leases for oil way from the mouth of Halyday Run to stock companies, for sums ranging from the Summit. He and his associates §25,000 to $100,000, according to prox¬ failed to realize their hopes, for the rea¬ imity to producing wells- all this for son that they were some years in advance lands that had never averaged bo much of the town’s requirements. The road¬ as §10 per acre previous to the striking of | bed of the railway still exists as a me- 1 mento or an enterprise that may in a short time be again utilized and with a as the above natr ed give. As near as | successful issue. Within the past year can be estimated fully 900 oil stock com-1 a number of good oil wells panies were formed during 1864-’65 with I have been obtained on part of the old a published capital of $600,000,000. From Park grounds. A familiar figure at these this the reader can judge of the extent of j j race meetings was Rev. Madigan, then or human credulity and the amount of! ! afterwards pastor in charge of the Catho¬ money wasted by investors in the 6tock. lic Church at Corry. No one enjoyed A number of oil stock companies paid with greater zest than this gentleman a dividends, and some few were paying in¬ trial of speed. Mounted on a thorough- vestments. But these were the excep¬ I bred, which he rode with rare grace, tions, and owed their success to strict j booted and spurred, his fine figure and business management. Some of these ! genial manner furnished a worthy proto¬ we will have occasion to mention later type of Charles Lever’s “Father Tom,” on. Brief mention has been made of the j which all readers of Charles O’Malley will boatmen of Oil Creek and the Allegheny j remember. An accomplished Christian River of these early.yeara and a descrip¬ gentleman, honored and beloved by his tion given of their crafts. The boatmen j congregation and all who knew him, it were drawn from every rank of is a sincere pleasure to the writer to recall life, and it was a good paying busi¬ him to memory. By the way, his rever- ness. Less than $1,000 served to ! ence, Father Coady, of Titusville, was furnish an outfit oi boat and a team of j the means of furnishing the writer with horse3. From two to three men consti¬ j the adventure of “Horrigan” with this tuted the average crew, including offi¬ same horse of Father Madigan’s. Father cers. The title of “Cap,” or Captain was : Coady can tell the story with les3 embar¬ always given to the owner of'the boat. rassment than Horrigan. Ihese titles so obtained remained with We will digress briefly to give the the owners through life. Freights in those days averaged from 75 cents to $1 reader an idea of what some of the early j per bbl. v\e have a number of the old average oil stock companies was based on : river and creek boatr -n still residents from a standard of value, as compared here. Among these we can call to mind with their capital etock, taken from the only a few. Isaac Gibson was one con¬ prospectuses of those named as follows: versant with the handling of a “steering BALTIMORE PETROLEUM COMPANY, oar’and “gouger,” and could “snub' a ofBaltimore, Md., Thos. B. Porteous, Agent, Oil loaded oil boat with neatness and di City, Pa. Capital stock 1300,000. patch. John McGlaughlin, Willian Represented by the following property:—103 acres in fee on Pithole Creek, one and one'quar- Barker and John Sweeny, all are old ter miles from the Allegheny River, tract of 10 time ri vermen. Capt. \V m W utters on acres, including both sides of Pithole Creek at and the Connor Bros, were river pilots. its mouth (afterwards part of Oleopolis;) one- third of 33 acres and 60 rods on river, between Property of all kinds changed hands so Oil City and Pithole Creek, baviDg on same one rapidly in 1864 that it would be almost producing well of 16 barrels; four acres of laud impossible to give a list of it, and even on Wykle run—one well drilling on same; one- quarter working interest in lease on Cornplanter were impossible, we can see no special use tract, Oil Creek—well going down; one-eigth for it in this connection. Many of the •working interest in lease on Blood farm, old farms have already been given, and well on same; one- fourth interest in lease on others worthy of note will follow. Bnchanan farm, well going down; same in lease on Widow MeCiintock farm; lot in Oil City, im¬ The residents of those times will recall provements, house renting for $500 per annum, the scenes of each day. The almost con¬ with room to drill a well on lot; one- half work¬ ing interest in two wells on Cherry Run: fee tinuous trains of oil wagons that filled simple interest on lot of ground on Halyday Run. every road leading from the wells to Oil GERMANIA OIL COMPANY City, groups of horsemen assembled in Of New York, capital stock 83,000,000, 600 000 front of the Petroleum House and other shares, par value $5 each. President, J. F. hotels, and not unfrequently pedestrians, Schepeler; Treasurer, H. Holthausen; Secretary Charles Throckmorton. Office 33 Pine street, carpet-bag in hand, trudging through New York. Represented by the following prop¬ mud and oil, all eagerly bent on securing erty: Mt. Holly well on Graff. Hasson farm, 15 a share of the natural wealth that bad barrels; lease of 2% acres on same, one well down and testing 5 bbls.; Hebbard we'l on Ham been lavished on this favored section. MeCiintock farm, production 75 to 80 barrels; Oil City streets, owing to this vast one-eighth free interest in 2'/^ acres and lease of Amount of travel, were converted into two acres adjoining Blood farm; large lease on Egbert farm, adjoining Jersey and Maple Shade almost unfathomable lakes or lams of well; lease of 1% acres on Wildcat Hollow, on sticky, greasy mud. Through this the which is a well producing 30 bbls.; one-half mile tide of travel incessantly forced its way. riverfront on Allegheny, iust above Brewer farm, on which Is one well, 250 feet, with good Walter R. Johns. show; 106 acres on Macrae Run opposite Macrae farm, well partly drilled, with good indications. Have ample room on lands in fee and leases for 203 wells. Total yield from well of company, 133 ON HORSEBACK. barrels per day. These are given as specimen bricks. The oil operators of the present date cau see at a glance the cash va’ueof the struc¬ A Trip Among the Producing Territory ture. Hundreds of companies were in Old Times. formed, the large majority of which had hardlv the semblance of such a showing OIL CUT CHBONIOLING NO. 19. , and atsame all its different bearings. Next in order came the] Hamilton Me- Clintock farm. Passing by t he Gaskill A Day Spent Among the Wells and Pro¬ Bros’ Mt. Holly well; those also of the ducers—Some Familiar Figures— McKinley and Hebbard Bros., all noted The Indistructability of producers of their time; the village of a Bull Wheel. McClintockville was reached. Here thei rider drew rein and exchanged views' with the leading producers of the locali¬ ty who made this their headquarters. In 1890—Copyrighted by the Oil City Dekkick. addition to McMullin & Son’s black¬ Daring the first years of the petroleum smith and machine Bhop, was the Mc- industry a journey through the valley of Clintock house and several storeB. The Oil Creek, from Oil City to the Noble & hotel and the store of S. S. Watkins was1 the gathering place of operators and oil | Delamater well, a distance of 11 miles, dealers. After a short stay we journeyed, at least once each week, came in the line on. of the writer’s duties. As the same had Crossing over the bridge which here! to be performed on horseback over gen¬ spanned the creek, the route led along a narrow flat, on which was the Clark & erally very muddy roads, it will be seen Banks, and the site of the Burning well, | that but brief time was allowed to each , where a few years previous Bouse, the of the localities visited in order to make founder of Rouseville, and some 40 the trip by daylight. Journeying after others, were burned to death, the gas from the well taking fire from a forge nightfall was attended by possible peril near by soon after being struck. This to life and limb, and as much as possible is supposed to have been the largest avoided. The impulse to again, in fancy producing well ever struck on Oil Creek. at leaBt, take one of these journeys and It was ruined by the fire. Rouseville, ■then a thriving oil centre, was next in give from memory brief sketches of the the order of stopping places, being located scenes then presented along the line of on the John and Archie Buchanan farms, the route, is one that cannot well be re¬ and the outlet for the producing wells sisted, and is here given. along Cherry Run, this stream here mingling its waters with those of Oil Two roads then led from Oil City up Creek. Here, too, was the Cherry Run the creek, both diverging from Main ! Hotel, kept by Harry CaBtle, the most street at the west end of the old creek genial of hosts. It was the general cus • bridge. The first of them was along the tom to alight here, and after a brief con¬ hillside, then called the “Narrows,” verse with Castle, call at the office of where is now the Lake Shore & Michigan Brown, Mitchell & Co. This was the Southern railroad track. The other led center for oil men and by these gentle¬ across the creek bridge, thence up tne men the traveler was always courteously Graff-Hasson fiats, now Seneca street. received. Among the many operators There was then no bridge over the creek here to be found, none were more noted at head of Seneca street, and all who for good fellowship than our sailor friends,! crossed had to ford the stream. The first, Captains Crowell, Hath way and Trundy, named road along the “Narrows” was the j who had sailed their whaling ships out wagon road, as they thus avoided the j of New Bedford (Mass.) harbor, and fording of the creek. The road up the through Arctic and tropical seas and flats was used by horsemen, as the other | braved the Cape Horn passage. Petro¬ was so narrow that it was difficult to pass leum had caused them to forsake the by the wagons. pursuit of the whale, and try their ! for¬ An early Btart was necessary, and when tunes in the land of oil. They were in¬ the first gray Btreaks of morning began terested in several wells and no set of to make their appearance, so likewise did men were ever more deserving of suc¬ the horsemen, singly and in groups, cess. They took their chances as philo¬ along Main street, starting cut on their sophically on land as at sea, were court¬ day’s journey. After crossing the first eous gentlemen, and whenever occasion ford a short ride brought one to the office required “spliced the main brace,” with of Major Adams, then and until the date characteristic heartiness. Such tales of of his decease a few years since, the the sea they told were a pleasure to hear genial Superintendent of the Clapp farm. and we trust their: lives have been pleas¬ After a brief chat with the Major the ant. A number of oil companies were rider resumed his journey, passing clus¬ formed from part of these Buchanan ters of wells on each side of the road. farms. John L. and F. W. Mitchell, of F. Many of these were pumping, and the S W. Mitchell & Co,, and Samuel Q. Brown, creaking of working beams, puffing of j the first owners, realized a large sum. engines, clouds of black coal smoke, the As was stated at the time, the net in¬ jar of the tools in the drilling wells, and come returned by F. W. Mitchell, for the the whirr of descending rope and tools first year after the governm|nt income in the wellB, teams, and the smell of oil, tax went into operation, was $99,000, all all combined to make a scene at once of from his nroducing interests. — - Passing through Rouse-- , 'arm adjoining it was also largely pro¬ numbers of oil derricks and over the ductive. ford of the creek, brought us to the Just across Oil Creek was the Story Widow McClintock farm. Upon this the farm, owned by the Columbia Oil Com¬ Lloyd & Co., the Van Slyke & Ham¬ pany. This was the best exemplification mond, all notable producing wells, were of successful business management that struck in the different year?, as well as the early history of the oil business af¬ many others of lesser note. This farm fords. It will be treated of in detail in became famous throughout the country another article. George Boulton was the as the source of the wealth of “Johnny superintendent, and the members of the Steele.” The young man is said to have company were residents of Pittsburg. been an orphan, and was taken and cared It is said that Andrew Carnegie, the -for by Mrs. McClintock. Soon after the present many times • millionaire, was at farm had become so largely productive, one time interested in the same. _ Three Mrs. McClintock waB burned to death by 1 refineries were in operation on this farm, an explosion of the oil she was burning ; viz: Crystal Oil Works, B. J. Kimball & in a stove. After her death it wa3 found Co., proprietors; Big Tank Oil Works, that the farm and a large sum of money Fish & Colvin; Croton Oil Works, Scott, Crane & Co. that had been accumulated from the oil Crossing the creek we come first to the royalties had been left to young Steele. Hayes farm, owned by the Dalzell & The press of the country published many Ewing Oil Company, and then to the wild exaggerations regarding his reckless famous Hyde & Egbert farm, where the expenditure of vast sums of money. Maple Shar e and other noted wells were From all we can gather the total sum he located. The farm contained only 38 realized ranged from a quarter to a half acres, and yet is said to have realized million of dollars, and he was credited nearly $3,000,000 to its owners. In 1865 with squandering many times that Dr. M. C. Egbert is said to have returned amount. However, it is true that the an income of $300,000. That of Mr. I youDg man failed to secure the oppor¬ Hyde, the other owner, was possibly not tunities his wealth made possible. The less in amount. It was a bonanza. Van Slyke well, on this farm, producing Petroleum Centre, located on the G. | 1,500 barrels, per day when first struck, W. McClintock farm, was next in line of with the tanks, machinery and a large march. It was then a flourishing town, amount of oil on hand, was sold to Capt. which afterward became only second in Lyman Pray, of Charlestown, Mass., and size to Pithole and Oil City. A ride C. W. Titus, of Ithica, New York, for the across the Boyd, Mcllheny and Foster Bum of $10,000. This farm is now owned form, brought the traveler to the Noble & by Mr. J. W. Waits, at present resident in Delamater well, where after a short stay Oil City, and he has realized handsomely and enjoying the hospitalities of Messrs. from its production. It Steele’s time Mr. Craft, Noble & Delamater, the homeward Waits was a poor boy and resided in journey was returned and completed. Rouseville. Only a passing glance has been given of Another ford of Oil Creek was neces¬ scenes of never-failing interest, rich in in¬ sary to reach the producing portion of cidents of the early struggle of operators. the Rynd Farm, which was located next Millions of dollars had been realized to the Widow McClintock. Here was a along the route traversed, and the end no number of wells and a still greater num¬ one can foresee. ber of oil stock company’s interests. Capt. But few traces, beyond a rotting bull- Atkinson was the resident superintend¬ wheel here and there, or a blacxened ent. He was a cultured gentleman, and fragment of the roof of an old engine made his callers comfortable. Next house, now remain. By the way, these above was the Blood, and adjoining that old bull-wheels seem to be as indestructi¬ the Tair Farm. Here was a good sized ble as the old fashioned hoop-skirts town, and a large number of resident that adorned the back alleys in former operators. Among those we can recall was days. Daring the time spoken of in our J.W. Doubleday, Sumner & Pratt,Barrows journey, the valley of Oil Creek from Oil & Hazleton, Maj. Woodford, H. O. Fil- City to the Noble & Delamater well, was kins, Charles and John Knox, McWil¬ an almost continuous towD, with its liams & Co. We have spoken already of villages named, churches, school-houses, the Tarr Farm Sunday School, J. M. Bar- hundreds of oil wells, a hive of busy in¬ rows, Superintendent. The Bible class, dustry. Scores of wagons and horsemen presided over by the same gentleman, were met along the route, and the evi¬ was equally as deserving of note, and dences of wealth, though not apparent in among its members were a number of the the rugged surroundings, was neverthe¬ parties above named. We were told that less being poured forth in a ateadv they became so interested in the study abeam, a volume could be filled with that they sat up nights to get up puzzling description of the Oil Creek Valley, but questions for Mr. Barrows to solve. At this will suffice for the present. any rate they afforded a good field for Walter R. Johns. missionary work, and this both Mr. Bar- rows and themselves enjoyed. The Tarr was among the most valuable of the Oil Creek farms. A portion of the Blood producer usually does when she begins I LUCK IN OIL. to flow. Well, one foot went into this hole, and to prevent a fall the other quickly fol¬ An Oil Man Tells How Tilings Work lowed it. The driller on hearing some¬ Sometimes. thing that sounded like a swear word, looked around the corner of the derrick,. and seeing Mr. J.’a condition, said with a smile that presaged a laugh LUCK HAS MADE SOME STRIKES, at a more opportune moment, “Mr. J., that is hard. luck.” The reply came promptly: “No hard luck at all, bad But Experience is the Better Dog Every management—bad management.” To il¬ Time—One Man’s “Good Manage¬ lustrate luck in oil affairs a little further, I will cite a bit of inside and unwritten ment.”—Inside History. history of the Wildwood pool, to 3how that all fortunes in the oil business are not the result of “good management,” When Petrolia was in its prim:>, there but are sometimes the result of accident. About three years ago a man conceived was a certain producer whose name shall the idea that a section of country in the be “J”, if you please, who always insisted vicinity of Wildwood contained an oil that there was no such thing as luck. “It field, and acting on this idea he went to was all management—good management work and leased a large tract of land for oil purposes, and after many trials, suc¬ —or good judgment—good judgment,” ceeded in getting up a company to drill a He always repeated those words to add well. This company was gotten up by force to his point. He had been very giving another party one half interest in successful and had accumulated a consid¬ the leases to drill the first well. The well was drilled, and as is the usual re¬ erable store cf this world’s good s in the sult of the first venture, was a dry hole, shape of greenbacks and oil leases, and with merely, as he says, the ear marks of was on the high road to a competence. an oil well, and, as usual, again All or most of his fortune had been made his company deserted him, and he was forced to try other fields and pastures from a single good oil farm near Petrolia, new, while the leases were held on to, to which he had acquired by the accident of take the chances of some one else drill¬ marriage with a relative of the owner of ing in that vicinity. Another party came the farm, a maiden lady. That made in and took up a block of leases adjoin¬ Mr. J. the first choice out of would-be ing the first, drilled a well and struck oil, lessees, and he secured the lease. After and wildcatter No. 1 was saved. The having drilled and developed the farm year before that, when wildcatter No. l’s for third sand, and it had proven only leases came due to do some work or pay moderately productive, another man his rentals, (it was In March, 1889,) his ] demonstrated the fact that there was a company said to him, “Give the leases fourth sand underlying the third, and back, we don’t want them, they are no much more productive. Mr. J. at once good.’” In compliance with this order pulled the tubing in one of his wells and he went to the land owners and offered proceeded to drill it down to the fourth to give the leases back and a quit claim sand. It started off at 3,000 barrels a day. to the land, but they refused to take back Several others followed suit, and of the leasesjunless he paid the last year’s course J. became wealthy, and it was rental, which amounted to quite an all from his wonderful “foresight and amount of money. Money with my judgment—judgment.” wildcatter was scarce at this time, as he Before Mr. J. had drilled his wells had been playing in hard luck for many down to the fourth sand, he was willing | years, as wildcatters usually do, but by to part with his wells and the farm at giving his company a good talking to about junk price, with a small allowance and reiterating his belief in the value of for the depleted production, but could not the leases, he succeeds in getting the find a purchaser. To illustrate how pre- money to pay the rentals for another sistentlv he stuck to his idea of judge¬ year. ment, I will tell a little story: At one The rentals paid kept the leases alive time when he was bringing in one of his to the 28th day of Maich last, and on the wells, he stepped behind the derrick to 24th day of March the Griffith well, ad¬ go to the tank to see her flow. Now the joining, came in large, and then there drillers in order to fill the forge, had dug was some tall hustling to put the money a hole about two feet deep and four feet in bank, as per contract to pay the ren¬ square. This hole had become filled up tals. Now it was the landholders’ turn level full with sand pumpings, and the to kick, and they refused to take the tool dresser in cleaning out his forge had money, but it was in the bank and the thrown light dry ashes on top of the leases were saved to my wildcatter and mud and it looked like dry land. Mr. J. his associates. To-day this same property walked briskly toward the tank, as a has a production on it cf nearly 4,000 barrels a day, and is known as the Gib- |j eon & Giles by some and by others as the Roth Oil Company, being one and the | same, Gibson & Giles being the men who Sixty Persons Reported Dead j drilled ths first well for a half interest in ! the leases. Their half interest is intact, j but the other interests are somewhat and scores Injured, split up since. Gibson & Giles, seeing the ear-marks of an oil field in the well, stayed with their entire interest. Now the indulgent reader of this may An Awful Experience-that infer that I am a firm believer in luck. That would be a mistake, for I believe None Will Forget in that a man who has made if a life study can get nearer to an oil pool the first a Lifetime. time than the man who knows nothing about it. There are plenty of instances of new men jumping in and making a The most appalling calamity in the his- strike the first time, but there are in- numerablelcases where they have not even I’tory of Oil City fell upon it Sunday, re- got in the oil belt. We never hear any¬ {suiting in the destruction of life and prop- thing about those, and it is the lucky 1 erty to an extent which as yet can only strikes that are conspicuous. be approximated. Thus far about fifty The trouble with the wild-catter is that j bis company does not stay with him long i lives are known to have been lost. ) enough. They will stay with him for | At 11:30 a. m. a large pro¬ ; one well and if he doesn’t strike the first J portion of the population of the I they throw him overboard, regardless of' city was distributed along the banks and bridges of the Allegheny river the fact that his well has all the ear marks of an oil well and there is no rea- and Oil Creek, watching the rise of the sonable doubt but he is in tho near vi-*| flood in both streams, the chief cause of cinity of an oil pool. . ^ Jjl the rise of the latter being due to a cloud burst above Titusville Saturday night. At the hour mentioned an ominous cov¬ (oj J, ering of oil made its appearance on the crest of the flood 'me. flowing down the Oil Creek Valley and the danger foreboding waves of gas from distillate and benzine could be seen above the surface of the strem. PEOPLE BEGAN TO FALL BACK Ifi-om the bridge and the creek, but they (had hardly begun to do so when au ex¬ plosion was heard up the stream, which was radidly followed by two others and .quick as a flash of lightning the creek fol¬ ia distance of two miles was filled with .an awful mass of roaring flames and bellows of smoke that rolled high above j the creek and river hills. No pen can picture the scene then witnessed—one that will always live in the memory of those.who saw it. Oil City, it may he stated for strangers who read this, is bounded on all sides by steep hills. Oil 'OIL CITY’S AWFUL Creek comes down the valley from the HOLOCAUST. north and just before its confluence here with the Allegheny is crossed by a bridge to the portion of the city embraced in the Third Ward, which lies along the west bank of the creek and the north bank of the river. Nearly all that portion of the town was on fire within a few minutes’ from the time of the explosion and no I one knows as yet how many of the inhab- itarns are ashes in the ruins of their; the creek came froma tank lifted by the homes. flood and is supposed to have been ignited A Blizzard representative, stood at the by a spark from some wells on the west time of the first explosion at the east end i bank of the creek, above the Lake Shore of the Creek bridge mentioned. Almost! tunnel. as quickly as the words can be written THE FIRE SHOT UP THE CREEK fully five thousand people in that portion as well as down, and several tanks were of the town were wild with terror and soon on fire at a number of the refineries rushing to the hills. Men forgot that1 up the creek. The damage to property they were men and scores of them, to-: by fire alone can not be even approx¬ gether with women and children, were imated. The Bellevue Hotel, Petroleum knocked down and trampled upon both1 House, the Oil City Barrel Factory, the by horses and people in the mad flight new building of the Oil City Tube Works, for places of safety. Just as the big furniture and undertaking es¬ THIS FRANTIC MASS OF HUMANITY. tablishment of Paul & Sons and about Had started up Centre street the 150 dwelling houses have been totally second explosion occurred, knocking destroyed. many people down shattering the win¬ The bare description of the scene wit¬ dows in the main part of town and al¬ nessed when the fire started would more most transforming day to night with the than fill every inch of space in the Bliz¬ immense expanse of smoke preceding zard and not approach the requirements .the second burst of flame. Many thought. of the description. In writing at all the THE DAY OF JUDGMENT HAD COME, mind reverts at once to akd many prayers were heard mingling THAT AWFUL SIGHT with the moans and lamentations of the that Niagara of fire, that veritable rush¬ fleeing multitude. The hear was intense ing hell of flame and smoke. May the and the wierd . and awful spectacle pre¬ Oil Creek Valley—or any other valley — sented to the panic stricken stricken never be filled again with such an aval- people was that cloud-burst of fire bor¬ anch of destruction; may the Grim dered and overcapped by a great canopy Reaper never ride again on such waves of dense black smoke, was falling upon of death anywhere on earth. Frenzy, the city. It was no wonder that fright, prayer and unmeasurable grief: PEOPLE WEPT AND FAINTED, HOPE, ANGUISH, DESPAIR AND DEATH, l and, leaving everything behind them, the living and the dead. O, the pity of ran or were helped away to the hills. it! the pity of it all! No wonder thal And after they were out of danger and people fell everywhere upon their knees before, came the anxiety and suspense as and prayed to the Almighty to sav to relatives and friends who had been them, and that those who el id so wer along the creek watching the flood when not confined to the members of churchesa the avalanche of flame came. They That the main portion of the city wa:S have since continued the search for the | not wiped out was due to the splendb' missing ones, and the city to-day, like I work of the firemen and the fact the last night, is full of the searchers. the wind was blowing from the east. THE FLOOD IN THE VALLEY Chas. Frank, his father and Marioi had inundated the upper portion of Crowther, who live a couple of miles out town, flooding from fifty to seventy-five the Dempseytown road, were on the nar¬ houses along North Seneca street. The row stretch of land above the LakeShon most of their inmates reached places of i tunnel when the explosion occurred an< safety by the use of boats or by swim- began a ming and wading, but a number of them ! REMARKABLE FLIGHT FOR LIFE were yet in the upper stories or in the which they succeed in winning. Mi water when the fire came and Crowther had an arm broken and wa THEIR FATE WAS QUICKLY SEALED. otherwise injured, but all of them su< Some of them were seen to jump into j ceeded in reaching the mouth of th the water to escape death in the flames, j tunnel and running into it, just as th From the remnants of the only buildings ; great wall of flame closed upon it. The; remaining in this waste after the flood reached the other end of the tunnel i, thirteen persons were removed in a boat, safety. three of them severely burned but Let us not touch upon the horrible di alive. The distillate and benzine on tails so long as they may be avoide- but describe the progress of the flames. hundred it will be less than now antici¬ That, part of the city lying north of the pated. Following is the Boiler Works along Seneca street and LIST OF THE DEAD. j between that street and the W. N. Y. & | Select Couhcilman John B. Beinbold, P. tracks, which portion of the city had (proprietor of the Bellevue Hotel. While been inundated by the flood, was the (Mr. Beinbold's family, all but two of first to go. It embraced nearly if not whom were at home, hurried away to a fully one hundred residences, and they (place of safety, he ran to the barn to un- ■ tie the horses. His body was found were quickly BURNED TO THE W ATER’S EDGE, about 5 o’clock in the ruins of the barn. and the flood was leaping over their He had one leg buned off, but was lying ruins. Once again let us defer the hor¬ under a heavy piece of timber and had evidently been knocked senseless by the rible details to be recorded. Sweeping down to the Centre street same. He had been partly burned in (the body when the timber fell and was j bridge across Oil Creek, the flames be¬ gan to cut their terrible swath of destruc- but little disfigured. itfon through the Third Ward. The Among the first bodies reported found i Bellevve barns were the first to burn, were four at the south end of the W. N. quickly followed by the hotel, Paul & Y. & P. creek bridge. Three of them Sons’ furniture and undertaking estab¬ were finally identified as those of H. W. lishment, the Petroleum House and the (Shafer, of Franklin, operator in the | twenty buildings lying between the office of Cornwall & Reed and the Postal | jcreek bridge and the alley below the office; a book agent named Bristol; Chas. j Petroleum House. A quarter of a mile Miller, a machinist in the National below the flame swung in from the river Transit shop. They had been watching and burned the Oil City Coal & Lumber the flood at that point, were literally Co.’s mill, the Chautauqua & Sandy {roasted as quick as a flash and dropped Lake Ice Co.’s building, t.heDiebolt resi¬ 1 almost together in a heap. dence and C. Roess’ tenement house. Daniel Sullivan, aged forty-five, for¬ Above the Creek bridge, besides the j merly an engineer on the W. N. Y. & residences in the inundated district as P., was found dead on a pile of boards noted above the Oil City Barrel factory, in Wick’s lumber yard. He was unmar¬ the new buildings of the Oil City Tube ried and lived with his parents. Mrs. Works and the intermediate buildings in John Roach and little child were burned that section were destroyed. A train and drowned at their home on North had been run out on the Nypano bridge Seneca street. The husband and father to hold it down. Six of the cars were saw them die and his efforts to save jburned and the bridge badly damaged. them are expected to result in the loss of .The Creek bridge was saved by the his own life. Grant Terwilliger, who Ihard work oe the fire department, was heroically working to save women and the fire was kept to the west side of and children, was drowned, as was also the creek, though it twice leaped over his brother Will. They dived into the and caught the belfry of Trinity Church water as the flash came did not appear and the Derrick office. The latter was again. Both were married and leave not damaged except by water but the families. building had to be abandoned temporar¬ E. Y. R. Planke, here on a business ily, and this morning’s Derrick was ac¬ trip from Carthage, N. Y., was among cordingly issued from the Blizzard those in the vicinity of the creek, rail¬ office. road bridge and was burned to a crisp. The bodies of Councilmen Bartholo¬ After the first wild rush to places of mew Lyons, his wife and fourteen-year safety on the part of the masses was old boy, when found in the ruins of their over, came the reaction, and the thoughts home presented a touching spectacle. of self were supplanted by The wife held the boy to her breast and THOUGHTS OF OTHERS. Everywhere the question was asked, the arms of the husband were about both “How many do you think are dead?” In the wife and child. J most cases there came back the fitting Mrs. Edward Mills, of 30 Seneca street, answer, “God only knows.’ And that was found in the evening with her two answer is still the fitting one to be given. i children burned almost beyond recogni¬ , If the los3 of life does not reach nearly a tion. A. F. Moran, of Rochester, N, Y., aged be found. about thirty years, was found drowned A little nine-year-old girl named Edith on Seneca street. Freeman, whose parents live on Seneca street, was found in the ruins of the P James Rogers, of the Clapp farm, ’ j started to float down in a boat from one house this forenoon. of the refineres and was lost. Wm. S. P. Steck, who made a strong fight ' White, of Clapp farm, was in the boat for life, died at 10:30 o’clock this morn¬ with him and was also lost. He leaves ing. a wife and five children. One of the bodies found at the railroad Edward Keating, a W. N. Y. & P. sec- bridge immediately after the fire was tiolr boss, was dreadfully burned, and identified this morning as that of Attor¬ after running to his home on Palace ney J. L, Dorworth,_ Hill, dropped dead. Thus far forty-two bodies have been Willis Stewart, of Siverlyville, one of found. heroes of the rescuing party, who was The Coroner and jury are now viewinaf caught in the fearful flames also per¬ the ruiaius. ished. There were several Harry Holmes, of Jamestown, N. Y., TEMPORARY MORGUES, a young barber about twenty years of and the sight presented at each seemed ago, employed in John Uhlander’s shop, more horrible than the other. At the was drowned on Seneca street. City Hall was a sight to cause the most Farther up the body of Walter Mc¬ stolid heart to sicken and the strongest Pherson, of Rouseville, was found. frame to tremble at the spectacle tiiat Express Messenger John O’Leary and met the gaze. Lying side by side were , his aged mother were found dead to¬ the charred remains of ten of the victims stretched out along the wide hall on the , gether and the sight presented was both j frightful and touching. The son had ground floor. evidently made a vain endeavor to save ONE LOOK AT THE AWFUL WORK the mother and had then knelt by her was enough to gratify the curosity of the ! bedside in prayer. When found he was morbid sight-seers. Silent in death, still kneeling there burned in the fright¬ burnt beyond the semblance of human ful manner indicated in the report above beings were forms that with the rising | of the bodies at the Mayor’s office. of the morning’s sun were full of life, I ambition and hope. At night their ‘ The body ofH. D. Dougherty, of the souls were in the beyond. At the farther Summit, was found at 8 o’clock this end of the hall lay all that was once a j morning. The only manner in which it happy family. Bartholomew Lyons, could be identified was by a fragment wife and son, all terribly burned. Next found of the shirt he wore. His wife to them lay Mrs. Mills aud her twin had made the shirt and to her fell the! daughters. The former was only slight¬ sad lot of making the identification ly burned but the latter two through remembrance of the way she! were burned to a crisp. Only the had made the button holes. bodies were left and the blacked William Eakin, aged fifty-five years,' ahd criip arms were clasped about one and his two sons, Frank and Ed Eakin, I another, showing that they were in one both married, lost their lives at the1 ahother’s embrace when the summons father’s home, on Seneca street. They came. Mr. Mills only came to thisjcountry sent their mother and sister over the from England a little more than a year temporary bridge and remained behind ago. Four months ago the remainder of to pile the furniture out of the water. the family arrived, and now all have They were caught in the flames and lost. been swept, as with a breath, from the The bodies of all were found and identi-1 face of the earth. Walter McPher¬ tied this morning. son and Grant Terwilliger. lay The body of Sheridan Wick who is sup¬ side by side, the former only posed to have jumped into the water to! slightly burned but the latter beyond escape death by fire, was found this! recognition. The left hand was burned morning near the Wick Lumber yards; oft’ and the stub of the arm was raised and taken to the Mayor's office. imploringly toward Heaven. Mrs. Ed. Mills has been found frightfully1 O’Leary and her son John, an express burned. Three other children are yet to i messenger on the Valley road, laid side / %i,sa SSE■ 45 ?/% ■■¥.-.

from the bridge. I had scarcely pulled by side. The former was a frightful ' lever when there was a flash and I saw a sight but the latter was even more slight flame dart through the cab. It shocking to behold. Nothing but the char¬ scorched me about the neck and hands. red trunk remains. The head, I sprang off the engine, and ran down arms and legs were charred j the track.and was about three car leligths entirely consumed and all that remained from the engine when the explosion presents more the appearance of a pice took place. There was a hissing sound of burnt wood than what was only a few all around me, and little flashes of hours before a human form. I flames.” WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. One of the men who work in the Union Two Blizzard men were standing on Refinery was near at the same time, and i the south stone pier of the creek railroad recognizing the danger from the gas bridge when the gas commenced coming arising from the creek, had just started | down the stream. It seemed to hang to tell Carr to pull away, when he saw’ over the water like a haze, a kind of a him jump on the engine. He says that I transparent shimmer, such as is some- at the same moment apparently there was 1 times caused by the sun on a hot sum- a flash of flame under the engine, jmer day. The air was soon im- j which seemed to shoot out into j pregnated with it and the the staves at the barrel works, throwing odor became so strong that them high in the air. There was an in¬ the spectators commenced feeling dizzy. terval, of, it seemed to him a minute be¬ J. L. Dorsworth, H. W. Shaffer and fore the explosion took place on the some others who were killed were stand- . creek. j ingby the side of the Blizzard men when they concluded it was time to move away from a deadly enemy which could not be seen. Mr. Dorsworth was standing with his hands on his hips, looking up the stream when the Blizzard men left him. The news- j paper men crossed the foot, bridge and had just started down Shamrock street, when, glancing across the creek, to where Livsey’s wells, on the west bank of the creek, by the side of the Lake Shore Railroad track, a flash was seen.

THE GAS HAD IGITED Instaneously it flashed across the creek, ahd in half the time it takes to write it, everything between the startilig point and W. N. Y. & P. tracks, east of the Barrel Works was in a sheet of flame. The Blizzard men started up the hill and had gone perhaps fifty feet when the explosions occurred.

AN ENGINEER’S EXPERIENCE. Bigler Carr, the engineer of the engine standing near the Creek railroad bridge, near the barrel works, says: “I noticed a haze rising on the water and fearing it might be gas, told the engineer of the special which was standing near, to get out of there as quick as he could so to An awful calamity has befallen our let me out. My engine was standing on pity, the magnitude of which can hard¬ the switch near the end of the Creek ly be comprehended or realized. The bridge. The special pulled down toward whole city is stunned by the blow and the depot, and I got in the cab and tried to run it out of the switch, going to¬ is practically at a standstill. Our people wards the bridge. I was then some 75 feet ■seemed dazed. The city is in mourning. & U&M I , & ' { ' It is thought that when all is known theI i death list will reach nearly or quite 100. j ACTION OF ODD FELLOWS. Assistance is being forwarded before it An impromtu meeting of the I. O. O. is even asked, and the big-hearted; of Oil City was held in the Lodge room of 589 for the purpose of perfecting ar¬ donors may rest assured that our) rangements for taking care of their dead people are not unmindful of their and injured brothers; to be known .as great generosity. The blow is a severe the “I. O. O. F. Relief Corps.” The com¬ one, and it falls at a most inopportune mittee appointed to care for the dead time. But the city will survive it. We consists of J. H. Fulmer, D. S. Davis. T. C. McCoy, H. K. Mohr, T. W. Stew¬ have passed through ordeals before. It art, J. S. Shearer, W. II. Havis. Com¬ behooves the citizens to exercise great mittee to care for the injui’ed—E. J. caution and to do all they can to assist1 Ross, W. T. K. Smith, J. P. Rhorbacher, in relieving the suffering of the homeless Chas. Neidiclc, G. W. Fry, J. C. Lowe, N. A. Sassman, Jacob Simon, W. H. and the sufferers. Behind the clouds is Auugst, S. H, Hoskins. F. A. Dodding- the sun still shining. ton, D. E. Keller, J. T. Bennett, Geo. E. Rarer and Otto O’Koerber, Wm. Mc¬ SHERIFF RAY’S NARROW ESCAPE. Kenna, Win. Kramer, J. D Helmers, Sheriff L. L. Ray was in town Sunday J. E. Ulander, Johu Farren, Geo. Foltz. and had a narrow escape when the ex¬ The suggestion was made that the secre¬ plosion occurred. He had been doing) tary of each Lodge bring before his indi¬ good work in the morning, in keeping vidual Lodge the question of special people away from the Centre street, relief. bridge, and succeeded in stretching AMONG THE REFINERIES. ropes across the ends of the bridges. The impression seems to prevail that Just before the explosion be was talking a number of the refineries up the creek with John Reinbold in the front of the have been destroyed. Such is not the latter’s barn. Mr. Reinbold stepped into case. The Penn Refining Company has the barn. The Sheriff turned to him as | been the principal loser. The company he left and said, “Well, John, you have ; lost ten refined oil tanks, varying in ca¬ escaped rather luckily.” Then lie shook: pacity from 300 to 1,000 barrels, each hands with him and left. The Sheriff partially filled; also one agitator, two had just got around the corner of Paul’s j steam stills and condensers,cooper shops, building when the big explosion came. barrel and filling shops. The damage is This explosion killed two in erf who were estimated at $40,000. The Independent standing at the bridge in front of Paul’s. Refinery sustained a loss of about $25,000 The Sheriff was knocked unconscious. by the destruction of ten refined oil The first thing he realized was a woman tanks. The other refineries, with the tugging at his arm, crying, “For God’s | exception of the Valley, sustained ma¬ sake, save my children.” Hardly know-1 terial damage. The Valley lost a 1,000 ing what he was doing, he grabbed , barrel tank. One of them and ran around' n. c. zuyer’r experience. |hrough the ward until he met a couple j N. C. Zuver, a barber employed in rof men. To one of them he gave the Kehlman’s shop, had an experience he baby, and then went back to help the will not soon forget, for he was the last mother with the other children. He j man on the Lake Shore track to get into then sent to Reno for hose to assist in the tunnel, and he reached it by running putting out the fire. The Sheriff says it at a speed which in all probability he was the closest call he ever had in his could never attain again. He, like the life, and is an experience he does not I others before him, ran into the tunnel care to repeat .|3 ahead of the wall of flame, taking with MYRTLE HAWK DEAD. him the awful thought that the great Myrtle Hawk, aged fifteen years, who i billows of fire came from a torrent of oil with her mother and others was re-! which would pour into the tunnel after moved by the rescuing party from the them. But the prospect of even a few flooded district after the fire, died to¬ minutes more of life was better than to day at the residence to which she was j surrender', and the victorious race was taken on the hill. Her death was the! run. Comity, N. Y. BENZINE CAUSED THE FIRE, CHARLES BAKER. j D. E. Bvles, of the Independent Re- J JAMES W. BRISTOL. j fining Company, says that a man who I DANIEL SULLIVAN. j lives right by the Keystone Refinery, saw I JOHN REINBOLD. the tank which contained the benzine I MRS. JOHN ROACH, | empty itself. It was a tank with a * Body supposed to be that of WM, capacity of about 20,000 barrels, and ! HASSENFRITZ. , was pretty nearly full of benzine. Mr. I EDITH FREEMAN. Byles also says that there must have Body of a baby was found on Seneca • been oil mixed with the benzine, as it ! street at 3:15 p. m. had a dark appearance when it came In addition to the Coroner’s list EU¬ I down on the water. Benzine has a light GENE FRITZ died at 3 o’clock. MISS | appearance, and gas rises easily from it HAWK died at 2 o'clock. when exposed to the air. Some of the BE CAREFUL OF THE GAS. Independent’s men were up at the Con¬ Too much care cannot be taken in the tinental when they first noticed the gas turning on and off of the gas in the i and escaping benzine. The fireman told houses. Many people who left their I them to put out their fires, and then ran homes with such suddenness yesterday | down to the Independent and gave the left the gas turned on. The supply was same order. afterward shut off but again turned on, THE CORONER’S INQUEST. and people who have not yet returned The Coroner’s jurf has had a busy should be sure the rooms are free from j day. Coroner J. M. Snowden swore in gas before they strike a light. J. M. ! his jury this morning, and the work has McCarthy with Amos Steffee went up jbeen severe, The following are the this afternoon to the rooms which his i names of the jurymen: C. H. Duncan, I wife and himself had left yesterday. ,1 Foreman, M. Lowentritt, William Gates, ; The rooms were filled with gas, '■ J. H. Payne, D. R. Merritt, W. L. Lay. but the odor of it was detected, |R The jury has been obliged to view all the windows and doors were left open of the bodies. The sight has been a and no bad result followed. Let every¬ most sickening and horrible one. To¬ body remember that the gas has been night the list of those who have been 1 turned on and let everybody be accord¬ identified, or partially so, stands as fol¬ ingly careful. This is the chief lows: danger to be guarded against WILLIAM EAKIN. at present. Let everybody who EDWARD EAKIN. ; has a home or room left from E. W. BURBANK. which they fled yesterday see that the BARTHOLEMEW LYONS. gas is turned off all right and let the KATE LYONS, his wife. greatest precaution be taken in turning WILLIAM LYONS, his son. it off and on. Let no oue forget this. Six-day-old infant of D. CAPLIN. ANOTHER FIVE HUNDRED. MRS. FLORA O’LEARY. Bear Creek Refining Co. ) Pittsburgh, June 6. j JOHN O’LEARY, her son. Continental Refining Co.: EMMA BRIGGS. Draw on us for $500 for Oil City Re¬ MRS. MILLS and two children sup¬ lief Fund. Write how our friends have posed to be hers. Unknown child found in front of J stood the storm. Bear Creek Refining Co., Briggs’ house. B. B. Campbell, President. WALTER MCPHERSON. record of families on the flats. JAMES BURNS. The Blizzard reporter this afternoon i Girl, unknown, about twelve years I endeavored to get a list of families who old. I lived on burned flats. The list is as tol- s H. W. SHAFER. lows, beginning at the house occupied , £ J. L. DORWORTH. by Lowe, which was partly burned, on ■>_ HIRAM D. DOUGHERTY. Seneca street: CHARLES MILLER. Mr. Lowe, wife and baby, saved. EDWARD MILLS, and three girls, 1 Geo. Kramer, wife and three children,;

suppose to be his daughters. CD O b JAMES HOLMES, Jamestown, N. Y. d :1 E. Y. R. PLANK, Carthage, Jefferson •.t Mr. Martin, and | three children, saved. children; boarding house, had some L. Fouq.uet and wife, saved. boarders. f N. Smith, wife and five or six children, This was the last house on that side. ! saved. Next on Standard street, a double house, Jas.|Wilson and wife, saved. occupied by Dan Fry, wife and three M. Lyons, wife and child. Lost. children, and J. W. Baurllinger, wife John Campbell, wife and baby, saved. and five children. Ben Wright, wife and three children, Phil. Johnson, wife and daughter, saved. _ _ = _ | Another family lived in same house, I saved,. unknown. Mr. Benton lived alone. D. Sullivan, wife and six children. This brings the list to Stevens street. Mr. Hamer, wife and five children, First house unoccupied. saved. Wm. Caldwell and wife, mother and In the next, a double house, Mrs. daughter. Beston and two daughters, saved; and House with six occupants. Andrew Black, wife and two children. Jim Fahey, wife and four children. Chris Kramer, grocer, wife and three Jno. O’Leary and mother, lost. children, saved. Jno. Hart, wife and son. Unoccupied house. Mrs. Hines, widow, nine chidren all Trax & Kramer block, with four fami¬ saved. lies in large building and one in small J im Downey, wife and children. addition. Mike Fahey, wife and four children. Lambert Eisenman, wife and three W. A. Smith, wife and five children. children, all saved. Mike Martin, wife and five children. Family in next house unknown. Feeney, wife and four children. 1 W. S. Wick, one son lost. This makes a complete list as near as Mr. Cuplin, wife and three children, can be ascertained, of the families, all lost. burned out on the flat. Egan, family unknown. EARNEST GREETINGS. McMullen, family unknown. Everybody in Oil City to-day has felt Mr. Downs, wife and five children. like grasping each other by Two families in double house un¬ the hand and congratulating each known. other on their being alive. There is J. Hassenfritz, wife and five children; hardly a person in the town who, two lost and others injured. almost without knowing it, Mr. Harlow, wife and baby. has not shaken hands with scores S. Steck, wife, daughter and son. of people and extending such congratu¬ These were the families on westjside of lation. Certainly the people of the city Seneca street. Beginning at the bridge have never before felt so grateful for; on east side, is the boarding house occu¬ their existence. pied by the two Misses Coburn. A PITTSBURGH STRAW. J. Roche, wife and three children, Pittsburgh, June 6.—A grim earnest Sam Richardson, wife and three chil¬ of the terrible calamity at Oil City was dren. afforded at the Union Depot this morn- Mr. Freeman, wife and three children, ing A car loaded with coffins was sent little girl lost. up over the Allegheny Valley road.l W. Briggs, wife and daughter, the lat¬ There were thirty-eight rough boxes and; ter drowned. fifty-five caskets. S' F. Terwilliger, wife and two cliil- j dren. J. T. Hawks, wife, son and daughter, and Wm. Monks, wife and child. Frank Goodrich, wife and three chil¬ dren. F. N. Clark, wife and three children. Ambrose Heil, wife and four children. Jno. Eisenbeis and wife, and Jas. Graham and wife; all saved. Mr. McReadv, wife and five or six "IBS' 71 his vest nTOTtcr V_ _ like to have the 'change—in wl.„v . notes. I told him it made no ditte* so that I could get $10 out of it. Me ‘.V 'then went down into his pants pocket land pulled out a roll of $100-bills, hand¬ jfe . w./ ing rue nine of them; then into another pocket, and from a roll of twenties he handed me four, and from -still another roll he gave me two ten.ff air of this Date, v ithout a smile on his face, for the joke was not on him by any means, and then J1? h.e would be glad to change any bills 1 might have in the future, just to save me the trouble of “walking to the ”! MY DAYSTm bank, you know.” “Billy” was in his shirt steeves with an old straw hat on, Ins pants tucked in his boots, and no one would have taken him for a walking ME ML COUNTRY national bank, but money was plentiful and lie only had liis share of it, I pre¬ sume. But I am led to ponder over the query of how many men there are now Thomas Martindale Tells of His m Od City in these days-of “half-dollar oil who could in such an emergency Experiences as a Young be equal to the occasion. Alas! I fear there be not many; for flood and fire, Man. the infatuation for silver mining schemes on the “bottom floor,” gambling on the exchange in margins, the ex¬ Why He Bought Goods in New York In¬ haustion of the adjacent territory of its oleaginous treasures, and the octopus stead of Philadelphia. grasp of the Standard Oil Company— squeezing, sucking and crushing the re¬ sources, the ambitions and the very JTlien, as Now, Philadelphia Mer¬ life out of the eyer-hopeful “operator,” have worked sad havoc and distress in chants Talked About New York So this once opulent region. Much That Their Customers Went Having gotten myself fairlv establish¬ ed m business and paid off all the old Over There to Get Goods. bills of my predecessor, who had con¬ fined his purchases principally to near¬ by points like Brie, Corry 'and Titus¬ Iu the wide distrust of stocks of banks, ville, I came to the conclusion that as lof moneyed institutions generally, that the jobbers in these towns had to have [now exists and the consequent hoarding their profits after paying freight and [of money, iu the figurative "stocking”— other expenses' that the correct thing to lout of sight, out of use—and therefore! do would be to purchase from first [doing no good, it is refreshing to look jback to^ the palmy days of ’Ob in Yeu- hands in Philadelphia and New York. I Jingo County, Pa., when money was; ; I put Philadelphia first iu the list, be¬ plenty, was freely, lavishly spent, where j cause I dealt largely in canned goods, poverty and want were unknown—for anil Philadelphia then, as now, held su¬ Jif any special case of moneyed distress m premacy in this line of merchandise |or actual suffering was discovered, the over the whole country. I therefore Igenerous-hearted oilman at once opened made a trip east, and came to Philadel¬ |his heart as well as his pocket to re¬ phia. My recollections of the city were lieve it. A few weeks after becoming! not very pleasant, as passengers then proprietor of the "Chequered Store” in? i-pre landed at the old depot at Thirty- Oil City a customer bought a few dol¬ 'st and Market streets, and it was a lars' worth of goods to take out to a ‘Pfng, dreary ride by the street cars well he was drilling, and handed me a. |

here is a point that it would be TfflPI dwell upon a bit. Of what eartl . delphia (express rates, $8 per hundred . is it to inform a purchaser that our weight); pineapples by express, peaches * prices here are but a fraction higher and berries by express, Bermuda pota- | than in New York, or the same ns they toes by express: the first asparagus, , are in New Y6rk. pr even lower than the first fresh tomatoes, etc., by ex- 3 in New York? Why should our busi¬ press, and such of these luxuries that , ness men thus unconsciously, but never¬ would be improved by the spray frornl I theless pust as surely, advertise a rival the fountain were placed in the open city? When I am buying goods in Liver¬ window, and never failed to attract pool or Glasgow or Belfast I am not \ attention and make sales, and the mod- told that their prices are as low ns they ' est little business soon grew to such are in London If I am purchasing in proportions that the question of a free Bordeaux, or Marseilles, the sellers delivery became every succeeding day there do not indirectly turn my thoughts one of prime importance.- For instance,| to Paris by saying that I cannot buy one day a lady from the top of Cottage tlVe article one franc less in Paris than Hill (the then fashionable part of the with them. Yet here in this great city town, distant from my store over a mile it is even now a common daily occur¬ at least), who had been in the habit rence which very few stop to think of walking over frequently to purchase about of always quoting New York I some little dainties, carrying them home prices in trying to effect a sale. This with her in a market basket, told me habit received one black eye when the if I had any way to send a barrel of| Wholesale Grocers’ Sugar Association, flour over the “creek” and up to her with the aid of the sugar refining com¬ house, that she would buy one. I took; panies, made an equality of rates, condi¬ her order, and then tried to hire some! tions and prices on refined sugars in teamster to take it over for a moderate 18 States of the Pastern seaboard and | charge, but it was no use. So I hor-JJ the Ohio Valley. Now if from any geo- rowed a wheelbarrow, loaded the barrel graphical or other reason we do not! of flour upon it. put a strap on the han¬ or cannot compete with our rival city,] dles to place over my shoulders, and there is no good business policy in ac¬ started merrily on the journey. The quainting your buyer with that informa-1 sidewalks were anything but good, and tion, and where we beat New York, as; where they were broken I had to take we surely do in the majority of manu¬ to the road. The mud was a “hold-; factured articles, as well as in a great fast,” and the barrel had to he frequent-] many other lines, there is still no ad-1 ly unloaded to enable me to get the vantage in reminding the customer of wheelbarrow on terra firma again. This even that fact. We should mind our was in the business part of the city, hut own business. “Shinny on our own when I commenced to climb the winding side” and let the “other fellow alone, road up around Cottage Hill then the and .we would be very much better off work began in real, dead earnest, and; for it in the end. long before the top was reached I wasi This, my first trip in purchasing dripping with perspiration in front of goods, was of great advantage. I saw the customer's house. There was a huge and bought many nejw things which had flight of steps from the road up to the never been kept in jthe oil country be¬ front door to be surmounted. I got the fore; gained confidence in my own judg¬ barrel to the top all right, knocked atj ment iu buying, and it was not very long the door, and the look of amazement until customers came to me from all on the good woman's face I will never] parts of the town. X fitted up the front- forget when she saw how her order window with a foupitain, where I dis-J had been delivered. But my work was played fresh lettuce with other vegeta-i 'Still undone, as she wanted the flour! hies, brought by express from Cleveland] "carried up another flight of stairs and put out on a platform built against the back of the hill. The stairs were nar¬ row and tortuous, as well as steep, and it was an awfully hard job, but it was From, at last completed, and the run back to the store was a frolic compared to the jslow and laborious ascent. I found I had been gone nearly three hours. My clothes were covered with flour and mud, hands blistered and shoulders raw I from the chafing of the strap; and that Date, ./\3., settled it. I found that I must, some . | way or other, get a horse and wagon, , and that without delay. King Richard offered a “kingdom for a horse,” but 1 had no kingdom to give, and very jvery little money. THOMAS MARTINDALE. THE OIL COUNTRY

Thomas Martindale Continues 1 His Reminiscences of the Boom Country,

AN OLD LAND MARK TO GO. The Trades League Nearly Lost His Services 'To-day workmen will commence the removal of the Tremomt house to a Through a Runaway. new site on Cornplan'ter run, it having been decided that it is dangerous to How the Oil City “Derrick” Made public safety and is virtually a fire War on a Railroad and Won. the j?nd death trap. Had the old Tremont house the power of speech, it would Fight—Other Incidents of Its relate many incidents that^go promi- Career. ! nently toward the making of the his¬ tory of Oil City and Venango county. While wondering how I would ever It was- built originally as a hotel in get money enough to buy a horse and the eastern portion of Pithoie, during wagon, a man came along one day with the most stirring scenes of that much a nondescript turnout consisting of a common box wagon with no springs or ;!talked of magic city of oil. It was. for seat, ^ drawn by a horse sailed “Old some time the principal hotel of Pithoie tam' which went on three legs, and a and as such did an enormous business. harness made partly of clothes cord, One year after- the “big fire” in this leather and canvas. In a spirit of hi¬ city, in 1S66, it was torn dowin and larity i asked him how much he wanted hrougtht to this city by Dr: R. Colbert tor the "Bucephalus” and rig. He said and 'Squire Reynolds and rebuilt on that wasn t liis horse’s name, and he the property on Spring street, where it had never heard of any horse called Bucephalus before. His horse was still stands. For years, it was used a3 plam “Old Sam,” and he “allowed” he one of the select boarding houses ofi jcould go slower than any horse in the the city and finally passed into the l oil country, and if I felt like buying him hands of Rev. Father Thomas Carroll, he would sell horse, harness and wagon of this city. After renting the house for >25. _ As that was about my limit for some time, the present proprietor that time, for a delivery rig, I closed decided it t-o be unsafe and refused to the bargain at once, and then started rent t)he property nearly three years the 'Charley Run slow express,” to de- liver purchases right at the wells. The ' ago. Since that time, the property has old horse had a stiffening of the knee been neglected and no repairs were joint of his right foreleg, and this stiff made and this spring he decided to leg he would put carefully forward and have it removed. The task will be un¬ then draw his other legs up to this dertaken by John Harkins, of Corn- “leader,” which made his pace wofully planter run. There are many oil men slow, something like two miles and a in different sections of the country and half an hour. The turnout became the object of any amount of good humored many 'n the city, who have made their badinage and chaff, and really was home in the past in the old house, who- a tiptop advertisement, but 1 had a ■will feel that in the removal of this great difficulty in getting a driver. As old land mark of the palmy days of the horse couldn’t hear the gibes at his oildlom, they are losing an old friend. expense he didn’t worry, but the drivers ' ---- - could; and it was seldom that I could hire a man who would hold the position over a week or two before the ridicule of the citizens would drive him down (from his board seat in disgust. Among these worried Jehus was au English- ✓Who when he came to work, said] open culvert was reached, a'ud I there¬ /would do anything, no matter what fore pulled with might and main with /r was, to get a “start in Hamenca, my right hand until I noticed that the and lie eheJrfully consented to drive horses had swerved, and down the sidel ' “old Sam;” although he assured me he) they went with such a velocity that the! “ ’ad never driven an orse before. At wagon broke from the tongue and made the end of two weeks he cried quits, a clean somersault over a fence at the i and asked to be given something else to bottom, fetching up all right on the! do, as he was “halways a-fearin the wheels. The horses stumbled and rolled ’orse would run away.” . , , , over, one horse underneath me and the So I had a sign banner painted, draw/ other over me and I sandwiched between ing attention to the new store, and them. One of them gave me a kick on “George” carried it around over his the top of my head which bared the shoulder day after day without com-j skull and made me unconscious. When plaint. And then I gave him some I came to I was sensible of lying on a1 bills to collect, one of which was tor; bank with an Irishman bathing my 50 cents on a down-East Yankee woman face and head, while another son of the, noted for her acerbity and volubility v “Emerald Isle” was asking him if lie of tongue, and who had frightened off shouldn’t run for the “doether.” “Toj other collectors that had interviewed the divil with the doether,” said No. l,j her on the subject before. She evident¬ “don't you see lie’s killed entirely?” ly “lit on” to George in her liveliest But I was soon able to get up, much fashion, for when he returned he told to the relief of the bystanders. We me a talc of distress that would melt ?ot a team to pull the wrecked wagon a stoic, and wound up by saying, that to town, leading the horses, and next he would do “hanytliing—hanything in lorning the “Derrick” had a chance the world; would even drive old Sam to make a sensational story on the but he’d never, never, call on that juarrow escape of the editor, who was woman again.” positive he jumped over the telegraph Business prospered apace, and 1 soon wire when the team made the jump found it necessary to open another store on top of the bank. Afterward when¬ —the “Blue Store”—in the centre of the ever these horses ran away the people town, and I therefore was compelled to used to remark that business at the part with the famous “slow express “Blue Store” must he getting bad. for and bought a pair of Canadian horses, these runaways were only an advertise- with a handsome spring wagon, which icnt. and you never heard of them proved as fast as the old horse was excepting when there was a drop in oil, slow. In turning the horses had a, md business wanted livening up. nasty fashion of making a spring when As I have mentioned the Oil City they were half way round, resulting gen¬ “Derrick” a word or two may not be erally in pulling the driver off the seat out of place about the early history j and then a runaway was the result, Of this really remarkable paper. It. was causing some very serious smashups. founded by C. E. Bishop, of James¬ Without any exception this pair of town, N. Y., and Captain W. H. Long- horses had got away with every driver well. The latter was business manager I had, but I always attributed it to ■and a very capable one, shrewd, bright, carelessness of the men and didn’t plucky and careful. C. E. Bishop was blame the horses. One day Mr. Frank he editor, a fearless and incisive writer, H. Taylor, the editor of the. “Oil Gity ust the man for the place. .T. .T. Me- Derrick,” asked me to let him go "up aurin, now of the "Harrisburg Tel¬ the creek” with the team. He wanted egram.” was the special correspondent to see them speed a little on their re¬ from the oil fields. His letters over the turn with the empty wagon. So I con¬ signature of “.T. .T. M.” were eagerly read cluded to drive them myself and take a by every one, as they gave the latest and few hours off from the store. We had most reliable news of the ever-chang¬ a good-sized load of flour and groceries ing. ever-shifting oil fields. A brother to deliver on the Oil Creek road about of Mark Twain was for a time on the half way up to McClintoekville. We de¬ local staff: his name was Orion B. livered the stuff all right, and as the Clemens. He at that time was writing regulat* road was bad I had been using a concordance of the Bible and was the abandoned roadway or embankment more interested in that than in his local of the Lake Shore Railroad, which was reporting. Griswold, the humorist, was about eight or ten feet high, with here also on the staff. In the vernacular of i and there a stone culvert in, but with no the oil regions, the paper was “red hot’ J bridge across them, so that teams had and it soon had lots of libel suits, al¬ to lead down the sides of the embank¬ though through Longwell’s astute man ment at these openings and go around agement they never amounted to much. them and up again to the top. Where Some way or other they always pe¬ I unloaded the last lot of goods there tered out as a rifle and nothing was was a stretch of about half a mile of heard of them afterward. It is said straight road, and then one of these that Clemens wrote a local notice, dur¬ culverts yawned open—a veritable death¬ ing the one week he was on the paper, trap. I started to turn around with Mr. which resulted in a big fight between Taylor seated on the left-hand side, and the "Derrick” and the Allegheny t al¬ when the horses were nearly at right ley Railroad, arid did more to make angles to me, with one rein tight and Bishop and his paper famous than any¬ the other loose, they gave a spring, thing else. There was a bridge owned landing me on the tongue of the wagon, by the A. V. R. R. crossing the Alle¬ and away they went like a flash. Tay¬ gheny River diagonally just above Oil lor jumped and escaped without in¬ City. By reason of the approaches hav¬ jury. I hung on with one arm grasping ing a high grade and the tracks entering the right rein and fully alive to the fact the bridge from each end at rather that if the lmrses were not pulled off the an acute angle, it was alleged that the embankment sure death was ahead for construction and engineering was faulty, the horses as well as myself when the fissures very often opened in the piers and workmen were seen plastering them up with cement. Clemens wrote just a Continuation of the Philadelphia Mer¬ little sketch, investing the bridge with ' life and speech, and in a quaintly hu¬ chant’s Reminiscences of morous fashion making it complain to “Boom” Times. :the public of its harsh and cruel treat- Jment, being racked (if I remember right¬ ly) daily by numerous trains trying to HOW PROFESSOR KING SAILED OVER THE ■ttwist its very life out, and that ‘its legs j(piers) were constantly needing atten¬ COUNTRY IN A BALLOON. tion on account of the strain put on jthem and that all that was done to give relief was with the inevitable barrels And Thereby a Well-Known Artist (of cement, etc. Broke a Solemn Vow to Visit a The article attracted the attention of the president of the railroad, Mr. Wil¬ Namesake and a Spicy Correspond¬ liam Phillips (now deceased), and he ence Ensued. took it so much to heart as to prohibit the sale of the “Derrick” by the news¬ boys on the trains. Then did Bishop I am reminded almost every day of rise up in his wrath, and, dipping his the fact that the pioneers of the pe¬ pen deep into vituperative ink, he made troleum industry are to a large extent open war on the railroad, christening it scattered to the four winds of the with heavy leaded headlines, “The Road heavens. Wherever speculation is rife, of the Valley of the Shadow of Death.” business most intense, most profitable, It was in the spring of the year, when there you will find them. Since com¬ the frost was coming out of the ground; mencing this series of articles on the railroad was laid along the wind¬ “early life in the oil country” I have ing banks of the river and a perfect; been called on by numbers of former holocaust of accidents from land slides residents or by mem who formerly did occurred, in one of which my friend, business up there, and whom I had John S. Rich, was injured, a broken (almost entirely forgotten, so swiftly rib puncturing his lung, from which he does the rush of time obliterate mem¬ died afterward. The president of the ories of former acquaintance or asso¬ road next prohibited the express com¬ ciations. New York, Chicago, San Fran¬ pany from carrying bundles of the pa¬ cisco and Canada claim a great many pers, and would have stopped them in of these early seekers after oleaginous the mails if he could. Then the “Der¬ wealth. While in Philadelphia I often rick” carried the warfare into “Africa,” get a pleasant nod of recognition or a alleging tha.t the road was badly man¬ warm grasp of the hand from men aged, that it was in very truth bank¬ whom I first met on the banks of Oil rupt, Unit people who were compelled to Creek or at some of the other notable travel over its tortuous tracks did so at oil fields not far removed from the the peril of their lives, advised its read¬ ‘laughing waters” of the', Allegheny, ers to shun it as they would a pestilence and many a man is now in successful and also advised them to use a railroad business here who got his first start just then completed, by which they could reach Oil City from Pittsburg, via m ,sedinS goods in Venango, Crawford and Forest Counties. As, for instance, | New Castle, Pa. The oilmen, to a man, Harry Fry, now of H. A. Fry & Co.; were, of course, on the side of the pa¬ per. Its circulation went up with enor- o0c.erLCoElly’ of Comly & Flanagan; nious bounds, while the passenger k* S. Thomson, of Mitchell, Fletcher & traffic of the A. V. R. R. fell off alarm¬ ?0,i H- T. .Tames, of M. H. Darrow ingly. I he fight was an unequal one, the Co.; C. H. Lapp, of the Lapp Drug railroad having no chance to defend Company, now president of the Drug itself from the persistent daily attacks, Exchange; William Johnston, of John- and it was forced to cry “peceavi.” The s r0ITT ^ arner & Co.; J. S. Cravendyke, road finally did go into the hands of a of Harry Mackenzie & Co.; Sam Tav- lor, of S. M. Wanamaker & Co. All 1 eeeiver or was foreclosed and now is1 a part of the P. R. R. system, and is? these used regularly or occasionally to , so much improved under its new owners carry the grip and ply the vocation of that accidents rarely occur, the dangers a knight of the road.” Sam Taylor, . fancied or real, of travel over the line who represented Sam Wanamaker & have been eliminated and it is now no Co., was an adept at recitations and story telling, and his visits were looked death ualied "the road of the valley of forward to with delightful anticipations THOMAS MARTIN DALE. hy the habitues of the old Petroleum -tiouse, where the wealthy operators con¬ gregated, for after fixing his hearers’ hearts, or exciting their mirth by won¬ From, der™ original recitations and more won¬ derful mimicry, he always had the latest assortment of jokes and stories to tell, which lasted far into the "we >. +1hou,rs/’ and then, of course, he had the latest designs in men’s attire to show, and goodness me,” what or¬ Date, /t-yj. ders he used to take and what prices ihe got; in very truth, none but he and his emp oyers could tell. I have heard i tries ,t. Savely said that “Sam” looked with ! disdain on anything less than $75 for IN THE.... ,ar‘ ordinary suit, and a wedding suit t-Wri 1 Wi?n 1 PH1 down the figures that Dame Rumor insisted were authen- Oil Country *,l “s ,,yle .S0?* °f a swallow-tail suit I when Sam had booked the order. Frank H. Taylor, the artist, who is as promised. Nothing up here fo snub her up to: besides, we’re all in a hurry to-day, editor and artist of the Trades League’s and if I should “drop In” it might break great “Book of Philadelphia,” was for¬ something. Yours everlastingly, merly on the staff of the “Graphic” FRANK H. TAYLOR. and Frank Leslie’s “Illustrated Week¬ “Daily Graphic.” ly.” Among other strong desires that The balloon at this time was sailing oftentimes possessed him was the de¬ rapidly away in a northeast direction sire to be and two hours later came to grief upon “Up in a balloon, boys. the top of a mountain in Potter County, Up in a balloon, Pa., 120 miles distant. They struck in All among the little stars, a tall pine tree and hung there for quite Sailing ’round the moon.” a while, until some one of them managed: This desire of his was gratified ini to climb down and get assistance from, his being the artist of no less than a party of woodsmen whom they found! eight voyages up in and above the a few miles off, and with their aid were clouds. enabled to get the balance of the party He had as a correspondent a namesake down in safety, and the torn and man¬ whom he had never seen—F. H. Taylor, gled air-ship packed up and forwarded! editor of the “Oil City Derrick.” Taylor to the nearest railroad station. A few of the “Derrick” was facetious and so days after, Taylor, of the “Graphic,"; was Taylor of the “Graphic,” but Tay¬ arrived home he received the following lor of the “Graphic” had solemnly letter from his oleaginous namesake: promised Taylor of the “Derrick” that Frank H. Taylor, Philadelphia: the very first time he was within one My perfidious friend—Just what I always hundred miles of Oil City he would expected of you. I kuew you’d never keep make him a visit, no matter what the your promise, that you would put in some circumstances were, and I want to show sort of an excuse, hut it don’t go. When I get a message from heaven I want it you how Taylor of the “Graphic” broke from something a sight more “angelic his promise to Taylor of the “Derrick,” than you are ever likely to be. No doubt and how he couldn’t possibly have kept you "looked down"- upon us and felt very his engagement without breaking his “uppish,” but we, of Oil City, never allow precious neck and every particular bone any one to look down on us. We’re as in his body, depriving himself of his hold good as anv one else. And I want you to upon life’s frail thread,and going “down, ’ know I’m going to take the “rise” out of you in the “Derrick” about your uppish down, down among the dead men.” ways and “airy” manners. Yours,

On July 5, 1873, the balloon “Buf¬ The following year the “Leaginous” falo,” with Professor Samuel A. King, Taylor visited the “Quaker" Taylor, and of Philadelphia, in charge, and Taylor of the “Graphic” as the artist of the r“our” Taylor found the other Taylo* party, left Cleveland, O., and on the such a good fellow that he allowed him second day they ran into a storm and to have the use of his nape right along, j then shot above it. For a long time just the same as if he hadn t selected j there was nothing to be seen below it half a dozen years ahead of him, them but the warring of the storm ifor his own especial and individual use. clouds. Until, just about noontime, a Had these balloonists been able to rift in the vapors below showed them I see the country below them without in¬ a marvelous sight. It seemed as if they terruption while passing over the V alley were over a great and populous city,! of the Allegheny they would have seen having an enormous number of churches,! a landscape unequaled anywhere in the steeples of which pointed heaven-1 mv ken on this northern continent. ward from both sides of a valley,through There can be no lovelier sight than which a tiny stream of water seemed a trip up the Allegheny. On both sides to be flowing. Taylor remarked that of the river the scene is constantly this was the most religious section he changing, the mountains receding from had ever seen. Nothing but church the view, then advancing, the. stream steeples, and a lot of round structures winding and turning to all points of that they tok to be big mousetraps. the compass. Always presenting some¬ The church steeples turned out to be thing new, something bewitching to the oil derricks and the mousetraps oil eve and the senses,and before the hillsides tanks. Then the aeronauts heard the were robbed of their great wealth of screeching of steam whistles and ringing! white pine trees (those giants of the! of bells, and they discovered that they forest that added additional beauty to were over Oil City, hut three and a the scene, protection to the innumera¬ j half miles up in the air. (Taylor swears ble springs, and afforded a slow melting ' to this and won’t take off a foot of the storage house for the huge accumula¬ distance; it was 3% miles or nothing). tions of the winter’s snow), the scenery The Western Union Telegraph Com¬ then must have been grand and rugged- pany had provided the balloonists with in the extreme. But when once the large envelopes, addressed to the West-, sturdv woodsman found that there was era Union Company, and asking thej big profit in marketing white pme tim¬ finder to forward to the nearest office,! ber at from 816 ^ $20 a thousand feet, and Taylor of the “Graphic,” i emem-1 flip rperry ring of tliG axe was Heard i along‘the7 banks of this beautiful river I bering his promise to Taylor of the and its affluents, the Redbank, Clarion, , “Derrick,” wrote a letter to him en¬ Tionesta,Broken Straw.Conewango, Kin- closing it in one of these big envelopes. Putting in a handful of shot he sealed zua and the Tuna. Tract after tract it and tied a tail of paper about six feet was denuded of its white pme, the chop¬ long to it. and dropped it over the side pers caring nothing for the damage done to the oilier valuable timber m Pitting Into space, and this is what he said; it out. Trees were allowed to fall m “Balloon Buffalo,” July C, 1875. anv direction, crushing in their descent 3% miles from Oil City. STRAIGHT UP. Prank H. Taylor, Oil City “Derrick:” -j Dear T.—Sorry I can’t conveniently stop| “M fejoSBl TSVT& (forest—the white pine and all else might I go to the clogs. Rafts were built and of nearly a ton of drilling tools the manned for every creek and stream that sounds being constantly varied bv the entered the river above the Kedbank, operation of “drawing tools,” changing and every spring and fall the river was the “bit.” for the “reamer” (the “bit” did : alive with acres of floating wealth, the cutting, the “reamer” reamed out which served to furnish cheap and good the boring of the hole and made it uni¬ houses for the sturdy settlers of tha form in circumference) or “running” the | south and southwest, and which more sand pump, which last operation made a than anything else enabled “the Star of violent clatter and a great amount of [Empire” to take its “westward way.” clirt. The power was necessary in or¬ j THOMAS MAKTINDALE. der to pump out the soil, clay or sand rock that the drilling tools had cut up. jhe sand rock in which the precious deposit of oil was found in the terri¬ From,. tory adjacent to Oil City being at a [shallow depth of from 500 to 800 feet (according to the undulations of the surface), little time was consumed in drilling and tubing a well—say from three to five weeks, if no mishap, such as lost tools in the well, or a hole get¬ Date ting crooked happened—and as there was only a small percentage of “drv Holes the production naturally in- creased faster than the consumption, and the price of oil commenced its down¬ ward flight and kept falling and falling until I believe it reached nearly the two dollar mark. Then excited meet¬ ings of excited men were held, where It was solemnly asserted that oil could not be produced at less than $2.50 a bar- rel, that to sell oil for less than that figure was selling below cost, something ,af the °*1 men had never contem¬ How the Great Thirty-day Shut¬ plated. B was bfIieJTed that the oil buyers, down Was Brought refiners and others had entered into a conspiracy to depress the market to ruin > About, the producer, to paralyze business, to check speculation, and to brin# dire disaster upon the land. Therefore, it was A Tremendous Effort to Raise the Price of resolved that a “shut down” of all the pumping wells of the region for thirty

Crude Oil. for the difficultiesbe,«enf0 .7?thatd asencompassed a Panacea round. about. It was believed that at the expiration of that time the oil It Succeeded Temporarily, But It buyers would gladly pay five dollars a J Induced So Many Men to Go Into barrel and the producers would show them that they were their masters and the Business That Prices Soon not their servants. And so the great ! Declined. thirty days shut down,” as it was I- called, was inaugurated. Of course, this decision was not I think it was in 1871 that one of reached without a great deal of debate, the most famous attempts of modern and after file signatures of almost every times to regulate the law of supply and j producer of note had been obtained to demand (and of course to advance an agreement pledging the honor of the prices) was undertaken in the oil re-1 signer to shut down for thirty days all his wells'(and I believe drilling was to gions of Pennsylvania. The “boom” be discontinued as well, although this I | figures of four and five dollars a bar¬ am not sure of). Committees were rel had induced every one who had a Seo, th.af t,h.e Producers kept few dollars ahead, or who had credit MKand Wltk this practical cessa¬ enough to get a boiler and engine and tion oi all business pertaining to produc- ' an outfit together, to lease a tract iu country waited with bated some likely territory at a royalty of bieath the outcome of this heroic rem- ecly. It was heroic, in more senses than from one-eighth to three-eighths of what¬ one, tor a producer stood a very good ever oil might be found, and to “jump chance, indeed, of having his property the drill” (as boring for oil was called) utterly ruined, as if much water should as fast as steam and “steel bits” and get into the well, the water being of “reamers” and “sand pumps” could be heavier gravity than the oil, it was made to do their work. Day and night liable to exert such pressure upon the ,as dri.ve n back int0 the Porous the work progressed, the hillsides and rock, the honey-combed passages of valleys and even the mountain tops at winch would become so paraflined when night were lurid with the glare of the tne well started up again after the thirty . tool dressers’blacksmiths’ fire dress- nays stoppage, as to prevent the oil from mg his tools, and the air was resonant being drawn up by the suction of the with the sounds of his hammer on the pumps. As a matter of fact, a large anvil as well as with the steady rhythm °f -wells wei’e completely ruined or the walking beam lifting up and by this unique shut down, pounding down with its pendant weight then, again, the producers depended upon their daily output' of greasy fluid! birthplace of Moses, to pay notes at the bank or mati ring of ancient and modern obligations for well supplies, drilling “unspeakable Turk” with his Infly horror outfits and living expenses. So it must of pork, and the “Christian dog of art have been with no ordinary feelings of infidel,” turning his face' resolutely solicitude that they watched day by against the civilization of the West; day, the fluctuations of the market, the dark recesses of Africa, the jungles; and pondered over the probable outcome of Guinea; our antipodes, the Aus-j of the crucial trial, for their wealth, tralians, tending their great flocks of fortune, and in many cases, their very “sheep by night” or training their young existence as solvent operators, depended nien to astonish the rest of the world upon the result. Surely the temptation in athletic sports; »Hawaii, the king¬ to surreptitious pumping must have been dom of the deceased poker playing King; intense. As the men knew that right Greenland, with “it’s icy mountains;” beneath their feet the lives of their India, with her “coral strands;” Lap-1 oleaginous mines of wealth were daily i land, Iceland; Palestine, with its tra- j being imperiled by the pressure of ] ditions of the “tragedy of the ages;”; water, and that a few hours’ pumping , “Jerusalem the Golden;” Bethlehem, might, save the property, and add hun¬ i once _ vi»ited by the “wise men of the dreds of dollars to their bank account ■l East” and who were glad to worship as well; but through the vigilance and | the “new-born Babe” in a manger; 'persistence of the leaders in the move¬ ' Greece, where the fires of incense were| ment in keeping up the excitement, and of yore kept continually burning in wor- the individual nerve, grit and honor of Kship of her numerous divinities, and the producers, there were very few •i where art and science iliumined the lapses from the compact, and what few' . then known woild—these all—all have there were soon felt the fury of invec¬ welcomed and been gladdened by the tive, scorn and contumely, which was un-; ; product of our oil wells and refineries. I Thousands of millions of gallons of oilj sparingly heaped upon them by their have been exported to these countries, fellow's. I know of no instance in any i There‘has been no one product of our! part of the world in any line of busi¬ resourceful Commonwealth, yea, even of ness, vrhich has attempted to curb over¬ Vi the whole Republic, which has so well production of such magnitude as this, t advertised us, so broken down the bar¬ which had such far-reaching conse¬ riers of restricted commerce and made quences and required such grit and the interchange of commodities pleasant determination as this movement ♦id. , . as well as profitable as the petroleum And what was the result? At the ^ of the Keystone State. Through it the dose of the “shut down” oil sold readily homes of these diverse foreign people— at $4.50 for a short time only. And | aliens in manners, religion and dress, then the drill was started again. New7 y wherever the sun does most shine or wells, new territories came in with in¬ . does least warm with his heat—have creased production. The big tanks again been made more happy by it. were filled to thp top, new tanks were By it learning has been encouraged built to store the overabundant liquid, and diffused in tjie introduction among pipe lines were started to pump the them of this God^fiven illuminant. Our oil to Cleveland, where the. Standard Oil own country has been enriched by the Company was rapidly gaining power ; exchange of wealth and yet the price and wealth. Refineries sprang up like ,v of oil has fallen lower, lower and still mushrooms in the night at Titusville, lower, until now it circles, year in and Reno, Franklin, Siverlyville, Oil City, year out, around the half dollar mark Jfittsburg, Corry, Boston and Philadel¬ —a little over one cent a gallon*. phia. Salesmen, selling the product of The recollections of the "30-day shut- these refineries, found their way into - down” cannot but bring “a sigh to the every hamlet, village, town and city of heart” of those wrho were interested this great United States; then to South in it, but to those who were not it is America and Mexico the “light of a notable, a forcible, illustration of the progress” was carried by the pushing supreme folly of trying to overcome the drummer, with his samples of 110 de¬ inexorable law of supply and demand grees and 150 degrees fire test in glass , by an arbitrary but at the same time! bottles clear as crystal. But not even , temporary remedy. And suppose the on this continent was a limit reached attempt had succeeded—that oil had in the effort to take care of the surplus been kept at the maximum price all! oil of the oil regions of Pennsylvania, these years by continual restriction in for we soon heard of shipments to Eng¬ production? What a difference it would I land and her sister islands under the have made in the economic conditions rule of the good and gracious Queen. of the whole world. The price would, ) Then France, Italy, Germany, Austria, have been prohibitory to a large propor¬ / Holland, Belgium and even Spain (the tion of those who now use and are most conservative of all the European benefited by the light; the consumption countries) gladly opened their purses would have been principally local, or, and gave their coin in exchange for our at most, confined to the United States. "bright light” and “new light..” But So that in the end the doctrine of the the end was not yet, Asia, with its “greatest good to the greatest num¬ teeming millions of toiling, suffering, ber” lias been exemplified; for although poverty-stricken humanity; Japan, the the prices have been ruinous to the ma¬ land' of perennial flowers, the rododen- jority of the oil producers and to the dron’s home and birthplace, the land of oil country at large, the world has been little people, little houses, of quaint a great gainer, and human happiness manners and kindly felings: Corea, the and comfort greatly enhanced. mysterious, almost impenetrable island THOMAS MAltTINDAJLE. of queer traditions and cruel fancies; Ceylon, wjth her spicy groves and' fra¬ grant tea; Egypt, rich with ancient lore, the resting place of untold millions of of a once highly civilized people, the | {rain I all, but in the main maintaining a nearly uniform flow, carrying on "its bosom the Indians’ canoes, with once In a while the longboat of some adventure¬ some trader pushing his way up the stream and into the various creeks, bar¬ tering his .beads, trinkets, powder, shot, flints, blankets, Knives and muskets for the skins of bear, deer, mink, otter and beaver. When his stock was sold out and his boat loaded with a rich ; cargo of pellries he allowed his boat on the return trip to drift gayly ilo'wn with the current until Fort Duquesne or Fort Pitt was reached, where his wares would find a purchaser. The discovery of oil soon changed all this. 1 he boilers at the wells needed wood for fuel, the building of the oil derricks, of oil tanks, of engine houses, jot plank roads, ot dwelling houses, stores, churches, bridges, all needed lumber, which the grandly wooded sLfaj.' !Continuation of Eeminiscences of ol the valleys and mountain tops fly and cheaply furnished. But in ad¬ a Well-Known Philadel¬ dition to all these demands the shrewd lumberman found out that there was phia Merchant, plenty of money In cutting the rich white pine (with which this section of country was so well endowed), and 'Terrible Losses to Property by Flood in rafting it down to market and realizing $16 to $20 per 1000 and Fire. feet. So then the mountain sides soon swarmed with woodchoppers, who plied the keen-edged ax in telling the giants jMrs. Martindale and Her Child of the lorest. The buzz of the circular saw filled tbe air with its musical 8 Injured by Lightning—Terrible cadence; stream after stream, moun¬ Fires in Oil Tanks—The Lumber¬ tain top alter mountain top, and hill¬ sides without number were laid bare to ing Interest. the scorohlng rays of the sun or the _ withering blasts of winter, the liberal rainfall was therelore not harbored and Probably no section of country retained by the restraining embrace ot '; over tbe world’s surface lias been so root, tree, leaf or plant, but almost as , j cruelly ravaged by fire and flood as the soon as It swiftly fell it coursed its way -j oil regions of Pennsylvania. There are to the river, swelling it into a furious | very good natural reasons for this fact flood, which as quickly subsided, leav¬ |which will easily commend themselves ing the stream shallow and sluggish When the snows of winter would come < | to the reader. deep upon the land, the frost kin<* The oil development mostly follows would freeze the river to its very bottom” : the windings and turnings of the Alle¬ A lew warm days, a warm wind from gheny from Parker’s Landing up to the the south, the sun bursting through the J headwaters of the mountain streams, clouds would melt the snow, which had > which give to it its copious supply of soft, little shade to protect and nurse it. And j sweet water. The Indian name ot Allo- away it would go, first on top of the ice, gheny, ^signifying “laughing water,” then in under it, then the ice would £ will convey a good idea ot its pristine give way with a crash, rush along for a { purity* mile or more, meet a firmer frozen Ido not think it is by any means a mass, halt for reinforcements from the model water lor man’s use, as it Jacks rear to give weight and impetus to the Slime with which i furnish hone forma¬ obstruction, and again and again the tion in_lke human anatomy. Dentists ice gain would be piled up, flooding tbe ban Its, tbe flats, turning over houses jof the oil country often advise their crushing bridgos, destroying file, may {patients to wash their teeth in lime be, and then again it bursts, carrying 'water because of tbe almost total destruction and devastation before it. absence of lime in the river water, for Few- buildings there were strong enough in the continued use of it the teeth be- to resist its lurv. |come soft, so soft as to be unable to hold I built a two-storv brick store the fillings, and they readily crumble away under ordinary friction and use. OiA Jfrox Aiay jo .loqurmr n sjsans : ran In ante-oil times, no doubt the river ■b st:q pan ‘aoqnttuiijA m Suudtnruhs and its great feeders, tbe 'iionesta, f S®1 PF> tic oj n.vvodifqp.w. Clarion, Oil Creek, Tuna, Red Bank and t oq.w aiiQ arj -gjH •ouitud shMitit French Creek, were well-behaved, con¬ m no eiotu .to qtnour v. joi pomfpioi servative streams, content to keep ua aqs rnoq.u. ‘aour.ij oqt J0 i.m ftn'nvs within their banks and jog along S! <‘‘s-rau,um,'i flnjuiJiiqa jsom RiAt Aiorjej a u no a’ a‘[0aO[ ‘aam v down to the great fattier of waters, the Mississippi, at an even pace, , onG ')r[ ’s.ipj. anasa.i oj sjeamo occasionally a little quickened piq oailU -T0 b-bf qooj jt pnu ‘qout v new by melting snow or unusually heavy i,J0q» JO -paw -Siumo-A'p.inm JO pur.vt ioff uav'oj eqf Joojos ot aanr.ij Suno/ am fltt.u cloqs aqt qj jisia .iaq jo uoiscaao 'Tt eiunitansiToa qtr.ti seqi.iosep anrr I ran SmPnli ‘P’F'H: it'd!|odo.u.)jv- atjt can HAiotUAvop sn.vv aunt jmn tii uaiu u ?;„sk m- .iaq e.vuil ssauc br ' -- * THE ALLEGHENY ON A TEAK PAST OIL CITY.

pour their burning contents on the satiiV inflammabls oil derrick, thoframe rated ground, thence in fiery molten ty, the shanty stores of some thriity streams it reaches out its line of death town are in a few minutes level witn and disaster until it reaches the water ground, the inhabitants fleeing to course, the creek or river, then the sur¬ hills for their lives, the very air is face of the water becomes a sheet of trees are scorched and burned, flame, destroying everything in its twisted and torn out of shape screeching of steam wbis- reach.

m

i AT OIL CITY ties, the clang ot the tire alarm, the ex- etectricity all of these persons feel ti. plosionj ot tank car3 and tanks many influence of the strange current long a brave soul has made a quick but l'ear- be lore tho explosion comes. What lul departure to the regions of the here- Pworider, then, that they are as sensitive tter. Thus it was in the great tire of as a barometer to the approaching storm, une of last year, when over a hundred for people perished in the fatal Oil Creek From cloud to cloud the rended lightnings Valley, and perhaps over a million dol¬ rage. Till in the furious'elemental war lars’ worth of property was destroyed. Dissolved, the whole precipitated mass Insurance men cannot be blamed tor Unbroken floods and solid torrents pour. looking with an eye of solicitude on Thomas Maktindale. risks in this region. For years I con¬ sidered myself lortunate in having to pay only 6 per cent, insurance on my stocks of merchandise in the three frame stores which I at one time was From, C ^ proprietor of. There is still another element of danger in this sorely-tried country lightning in season and out of season. The largo deposits of oil kept in tanks are always evaporating. The gas from the oil being, lighter than the air, it ascends and forms a vacuum, Date, land should there he any electricity [fooling around within the confines of [the country it will rush for that opening, a EK> YOU EMBER? the bolt tails, the thunder crashes, ti e oil explodes, and the oil tire is at once |The Organization of the Petroleum I under way. No waiting; no warning, lit is “up guards and at them” every Guards 31 Years Ago. time. True it is that tanks are better protected now with lightning sale- | Thirty-one years ago to-day, August !guards than they used to tie, but still jtlie risk is there, and such thunder;) ill, 1862, t(He company known as the |storms as afflict this country would try Petroleum Guards was organized in the genius ot Rider Haggard to describe. this city, and it is a matter of pride to . I remember one that visited Oil City the citizens that no company in the June 9, 1874, that was closely akin to the Union earned a more brilliant (reputa¬ supernatural. I had been up the riverr tion for valor and every quality that (anii was returning by train when the goes to make the perfect soldier than engineer put on brakes and stooped a this first and only company ithat was few miles below Tionesia. Looking out organized in this city. In 1862, when Jof the car window we saw a hurricane Lincoln issued his call for 800,000 more coming up tho river, plowing tho water men, fvhat is now the Third ward and into loam like a steam boat, accompanied with hailstones,thunder an

iviu light-1 ,the portion of the city south of Centre ning. The passengers ail got out of the street between the creek and Spring train and hunted the shelter of the land | streets, comprised about all of the city. ward side of the car; the 1anil was heavj’ | Hon. Wm. Hasson was then the pro- enough to break some of the glass in prietor of a flourishing hardware store the car, but no one was hurt and we on the corner of Seneca and Centre proceeded on our way. On arriving at streets; he was also burgess, and C. E. Oil City a man met me and asked “How/ | Heuston was constable. Burgess Has¬ is she?” I took the question in a joking son and A. B. McCalmont were among sense and said “All right” and passed on, only to be asked the same question the first to receive the call for more by every man 1 met. Then I commenced * troops and had a call for a mass meet¬ to inquire and learned that my brick c ing of the citizens published in the Oil store on the river bank had been struck City Register. The meeting was held by lightning and my wile and 2-year- in the Petroleum House, which was old son bad been hurt, also tin ;one of the land marks of the city de¬ lady cashier and two clerks. stroyed by the June flood and fire of The lightning seemed to have 1892, but which at this time was the lollowed some telegraph wires which principal hotel of the dity, and owned ran past the building, and had been |diverted by the attraction ol the strings by a man from Michigan named Pithers. of an open piano in the second story o The meeting was attended by almost jtlie store. The storm had frightened the every able bodied man in the city or child, and my wile had got down on hei vicinity, and stirring and patriotic ad¬ knees and taken his arms around hei dresses were made by Mr. Waldo, su¬ 'neck. In this position they were both perintendent of the Michigan -refinery; shocked, the clothes being burnt an Editor W. R. Johns, Councilman Baggs, almost torn off both of them, hut th Burgess Wm. Hasson and A. B. Mc¬ skin was not broken, so that in a few; hours they recovered consciousness, Calmont, afterwards General McCal¬ The fluid followed a nail hole down int mont. On August 11, 1862, four days the store, where it shocked the cashiei after this meeting, the Petroleum severely and the two clerks, afterwards Guardis, 101 men strong, was organ¬ ^losing its potency in a heater in ized with the following named officers: cellar Captain, A. B. McCalmont; first lieu¬ , Nineteen years have passed by since tenant, Wm. Hasson; second lieutenant, then, and yet whenever a thunder storm C. E. Heuston. Of the 101 men the fol¬ is imminent and the air charged with lowing surviving members are resi¬ dents of this city or -immediate vicinity; i?on. win. Hasson, C. E. Heuston, DavlcB James D. Craig, Conrad Heasley, JnoJ The. Infectious Rush and Whirl G. MoLane and J. W. Kerr. Before leaving, tihe company were That Made the Men of the World given a .reception in Lee’s grove, now one of the finest resident portions of Stare—Many Thousands of Dollars the city, and the soldier boys were given Changed Hands in a Few Minutes. a splendid dinner by the ladies of the! city and each one received a bible fromj Mrs, Dr, Egbert. A ferry took the! boys across to the south side, as three (Written for tile Plain Dealer.) bridges were an unknown and un- On one of Pittsburg’s busy streets thought of quantity then. Railroad recently encountered a gentleman who connections were also absent and the guards made the trip from this city was a prominent figure in au era of to Mew Brighton overland in lumber money making anil money losing that has wagons, stopping at Franklin to receive had no parallel since the tulip mania. J pin cushions and sewing outfits from refer to the oil craze in 18G3. The the ladies there. From New Brighton j strongest and most vivid impressions to Pittsburg the trip was made by rail- j made upon my memory are those formed road, and from there the hoys were in the period 1 passed iu the midst of sent to Harrisburg, where they were! ; the oil derricks. My recollections of the reorganized and formed Company “I” of | inflated prices and extravagances insepa the 142d regiment, Pennsylvania volun¬ teers. A. B. MoCalmont was appointed ruble from life iu the territories and the lieutenant colonel, and Wm. Hasson \ startling dramatic, disagreeable and hor was advanced to captain, and G. R. rible experiences of army life, with the Snowden appointed first lieutenant. He exception of one great battle field, are is now General G. R Snowden. The faint when compared with my impres¬ company were in 23 engagements, in¬ sions of those daily experiences on Oil cluding first and second Fredericks¬ i Cl’Gsk To understand the situation it is nec¬ burg a-nd Chancellorsvilie; Gettysburg, essary to recall the conditions then ex¬ Where the regiment lost 72 per cent., of isting, including a new and inflated cur¬ all men engaged, the third greatest ipss rency, the flush war times and the ex¬ in any single engagement in history, travagances following from enormous and where Captain Hasson took into profits which army contracts yielded. battle 40 men and took out six at the AVheu I hung m.v hat up in a house made end of the fight; Siege of Petersburg, : of undressed pine boards, opposite I e- Five Forks and Appomatox. Out of I troleum Center, “spring pole drilling the 101 members but 23 were mustered and “pound freshets” were still in vogue, out in 1865. it was before anybody dreamed of piping oil or of hauling it in tank cars. The, The next biennial reunion of -the ! oleaginous riches of Venango county survivors of the 142d regiment, P. V., : were then floated down the Allegheny will be held at Connedlsvilile, Fayette river iu light calked tlatboats, in bulk. county, Pa., Thursday, September 2L; I from Oil City. The oil was hauled from at 10 a. m.r in Armory Hall. . ^ the wells in good oak barrels that at ! first cost $2.50, then $2.25 and later $2 I per barrel delivered at the well. These I prices are given because, as will be j shown presently, they proved a tremend ous factor in the oil business ot the bus The Cherry run district was just be ginning to blush, (fen. Burnsides, had not involved himself in the Reno railway fiasco. Franklin was the southern out- VS post of the field of operations, Oil City (was the center of the trade and Titus- I ville on the northern plank challenge - .the wonder ot the most enterprising an ,1 audacious American,speculators with _ Ibusiness bounce and snap. Trade on it 5main thoroughfare was as brisk, kee: land voluminous, and 1 wqs going to s . 4 niniosc as varied, as if it had been slice out of New York. The alertness and energy which rtis tinguished Oil creek in 18t>4, ’65_ and lib from all other haunts of trade, mad¬ men familiar with the world's greates | marts si are. The rush aucl whirl ot ex- §i|citement there was infectious. No man could look on forty-eight hours without being drawn into the malestrom of specu lation. , , . Men on horseback halted each other and opened and concluded transactions in five and ten minutes, involving many thousands of dollars. Clean, crisp green -—■Malta-— ““ ‘-its.1 [turned the purchasers 10 cents 'on tho jbacks passed from band to hand across dollar if every.acre had yieldgl 1,000 the saddlebow in wads containing hun¬ barrels per day for a year. 'Vitlx ml dreds of thousands of dollars in the dropping in price in 1865 and I860, aiid jshape of options, partial payments or dry holes outnumbering productive, wel.s, forfeits. The effervescence of specula¬ the money sunk in leases, and in lands tion never ceased raging day and night. : 1 purchased outright, speedily assumed Oil was selling at. prices that baffled proportions much greater than the vast all calculations. It mounted from 10 profits made by the fortunate few cents per barrel to 50—to $1, $2, $3 and When Drake was drilling his well near $4. There was no telling where it would Brewer & Watson’s lower mill, on the stop. The year 1862 saw the price ad-, Titusville flat, in 1S59, among those who bailee from 5 to 10 cents per barrel to evinced unusual interest in the result was $2.25. In the summer of 1803 it sold at' a voung man who was completing his $.'!, and was. steadily advancing when I studies at the We-tern Reserve Medical col¬ cast my lines 'bn -the Egbert and Hyde - lege, in Cleveland, O. This was M. _C. farm opposite Petfaleum Center. Egbert, who was reading medicine with The malS^jtreet in Oil City was con¬ his brother in the village of Cherry Tree, verted bvstfOflBta.n'i'- hauling into a flume 1 about seven miles north of Oil Cily. One of soft railway depot was the day tile Egbert brother* were crossing Oil center of abajs&i of mud. Along the hill creek on-what was then known as “Wash*’ sides cascades of mud were flowing from McClintock’s' ford (afterwards Petroleum freshly erected derricks. Mud abounded 1 Center). The eider pointed out a spot where of every thickne-^t .and color, 'from the the hues of the rainbow were reflected ou clavey earth tha’ft cling® 'closen than a the surface of the waten The young brother to the slimy mud lying in pools medical student had heard’ of Seneca oil. so thin that faint .creases alone showed Plis curiosity was aroused, and now a j where the wagon Wheels turned. desire he had frequently expressed was in The turf was undistuM)«Ffrnd the grass a fair way to be gratified._ His brother emerald on the slope of the Holmdenl _ rode away laughing as he dismounted and farm that six months later was* speedily • prepared to gather some of the oil. Pick¬ transferred into a city boasting of its5 , ing up a stick near at hand, he thrust it hotels, theaters and churches. IT.hole, into the sand forming the bottom of the) at once the greatest wonder and most ; creek. The shallow water.was soon over-! stupendous folly of the mighty volume spread with oil. The student, had pro-! of speculation that surged into, over-: vkled himself w'ith a six-ounce bottle.) flowed and exhausted the resources of Spreading bis handkerchief on the water, Pithole creek, was yet in the womb off until it absorbed the oil. he squeezed the- the future. Heterogeneous masses of latter into the bottle. This was repeated humanity were wedded into the railway until the bottle was filled A little, later coaches that carried travelers from the bottle of oil was submitted to Prof. Franklin to Oil City. They were packed; j Cassell, a professor of chemistry in Cleve¬ three in a seat, squatting on the seat ■ £ land. The professor’s summing up is rails and crowding the aisles in those- ? worth repeating: "Providing you can pro¬ days when the “Gripsack Brigades” (the duce it in sufficient quantities that oil convenient title comprehending all new¬ would prove a, very valuable article of comers ou Oil creek), led by dazzling j commerce.” These words made a deep dreams of wealth, swept like a tide over impression upon the student. When he Venango county. was not conning his books he was think¬ It required some time to become ac¬ ing of the possibilities of the article, after¬ customed to the jargon of the oil regions. m wards known as petroleum. When busi¬ Eights, twelfths and sixteenth royalties; ness called hitn to Titusville he noted the quarter, eighth, sixteenth, thirty-second : progress Drake made, and frequently he and sixty-fourth interests in wells; op-’ visited Drake’s well to gratify his curiosity. tions and bonuses; all, however, were!- : Immediately after Drake “struck oil,” terms pregnant with meaning. Sand, in August, 1859, at a depth of sixty-nine pumps, bull wheels, hits, rimmers, jam and one-half feet, M. C. Egbert and his and sucker rods; soap veins, nigger** brother, A. G. Egbert, bought thirty-eight heads, stuck tools—these and other terms acres from Alexander Davidson. This, the made up a jargon employed with a lib¬ first oil territory purchased for the express erality that was very discouraging toj purpose of drilling for oil, was immediate¬ newcomers. . ly opposite the “Wash” McClintock farm. The prospectus writer’s art was con¬ To cross the ford necessitated crossing the centrated upon oil. A forest could Davidson and MeCiintoek farms. The scarcely supply pegs sufficient to stake Egbert brothers gave Davidson $1,000 for out the leases made by companies in land that would not have broutn them Philadelphia. In Pittsburg the oil com¬ more than $500 at the outside for agri¬ panies outnumbered her lamp posts. cultural purposes. '.This, kuown subsequent¬ Shares in wells were divided and sub¬ ly througuout oiidom as the Egbert divided until housemaids and cooks, bar¬ and Hyde farm, proved the most profitable bers and porters boasted of thirty-second, oil territory in the United States. sixty-fourth and one hundred and twenty- After Drake’s well began to yield, land eighth interests in wells that never ac¬ below Titusville on both sides of Oil creek complished more than to disturb the; was leased rapidly, and (some was pur¬ woodpeckers for a brief season. Eighth chased outright. Owing 'to delays and a and quarter interests made men snug series of obstacles not necessary to relate, fortunes. Interests in wells considered farms ■ in the immediate vicinity of the separate and apart from the remainder Egbert and Hyde farm, and midway be¬ of a lease were sold as readily as in¬ tween it and Oil City, were developed terests in leases containing five, ten or before it became famous. The Story farm fifty acres. A ten-acre lease in a fav¬ on the opposite side of the creek, adjoining orable location was good for almost any the McClintock farm (the basis of the amount, in the latter part of 1863, and •Columbia Oil Co., by all odds the best 't! throughout 1864 and 1865. Tens and managed and most (successful oil company . hundreds of thousands of dollars were ever organized^ yielded joil before the paid for leases that could not have re- owners of the Egbert anil Hyde farm wore I ft is within the mark to say that the able to execute their plans. oil produced on the Egb'erT and Hyde J he delay, however, was the most for- farm brought to the producers upwards tiumte thing that could have happened of $6,000,000 in one year. the owners. The Egbert Bros, in (he At the time the Coquette well was meantime had disposed of an interest in struck a gentleman named Yost was (lie farm of thirty-eight acres to Mr. the heaviest dealer in petroleum. Mr. (diaries Hyde, now living at Plainfield, Yost occupied about the same position N. J. The foundation of Mr. Hyde's to the trade then that the Standard Oil immense fortune (he is now rated as the Co. does now. Mr. Yost was notified of owner of between .$10,000,000 and $11,- the strike. He desired to obtain the first 000,000) was made out of the returns 10,000 barrels produced. His interest in from his fortunate investment, in the Eg¬ the product was scarcely second to that bert farm. In the meantime the price of of the producers. His purchases were oil advanced. IVhen the owners of the on a scale that easily gave him the con¬ Egbert and Hyde farm perfected tlieir trol of the market except in rare cases. plans, prices were booming and continued The increase of 600 barrels to the daily to boom on a scale that enriched alj im¬ product required. a little time to adjust mediately interested in the farm. prices. By purchasing 10,000 barrels he At the close of 1S64 there were thirty- would have two weeks' time in which to four wells drilled on the farm, all pro- , protect himself. In those days there was more or less water mixed with the during and nearly aU flowing wells, yield¬ flow of a new well. The admixture of ing from 115 to 1,200 barrels per day. The I water with the Coquette oil was easily yield steadily increased in 1865 until ul¬ discerned, as it gave the oil a roily ap¬ timately sixty-six wells yielded oil. The ; pearance. Oil was selling then at from daily run in the closing part of 1804, and : $11 to $12. In consideration of the fact throughout 1865. averaged upwards oft that the oil was not entirely clear, the 2.200 barrels. Petroleum sold at higher \ parties to the contract fixed upon $10 prices in 1804 and 1865 than it has ever • as a fair price. Thus the owners of the sold before or since for illuminating pur¬ well were paid more than, twenty times poses. The most carefully collected data the cost of the well within a few hours shows that the yield of 1863 averaged after the great yield was made known. only $3,15 per barrel. As a matter of ) The Coquette was struck late in the fall fact the prices rose steadily from $2.25 jj of 1864, after the price reached the maxi¬ until the average of the last mouth in ' mum. The product of the Jersey well, that year made $3.95 per barrel, but struck in the early part of the spring of there were instances where oil sold 1864, sold as high as $14 per barrel, and T> above $4 in the latter part of 1863. The i made the highest average of any of the government (reports show that the price i enormously profitable wells on. the Egbert in January, 1864. averaged $8. Here and Hyde farm. again,' however, I find the reports are ! The Maple Shade well, which produced! only approximates. The price through¬ about 1,200 barrels a day for a consid-J out that year ascended steadily, advanc- \ erable period, was the foundation of the iug at the rate of $1 per barrel per month Maple Shade Oil Co., which headed the until May. In June it appreciated $2, , oil stock list. The chief points of the selling at $9.50, and the yield of July is history of this company seems as wonder¬ „ estimated at $12.12 per barrel. In Au¬ ful today as the record of sudden riches gust it fell off $2 and sold down to $7.75 ■ acquired through gold and silver mines and in October the same, but averaged on the Pacific slope. $10 for November and $11 for December. When the truth was ascertained con¬ .A s a matter of fact, prices throughout cerning the yield of the largest well on 1864 and the greater portion of 1865 va¬ the Egbert and Hyde farm a company was ried as much as $2 and $3 in a week, • organized in Philadelphia with a capital ■ selling at $8 or $9 one morning and com¬ of $500,000 ; 50,000 shares were placed manding $10. $11 or $13 the next. The! on the market; the par value was $10 a product of the Coquette well, for in¬ share. On the day the shares were dis¬ stance, sold at a higher price than ap-j posed of a line of applicants was formed w pears in the government reports. The at the office similar to those that be- H entire yield of that well was estimated' siege the box otiice of an opera house or ■ to have sold at prices which averaged theater when extraordinary attractions K the owners a little more than $8 per bar- j j enthuse the public. Those within hear-,1 rel, and large quantities of Coquette oil iug of the office were seen holding their I sold at $12, $13 and $14 per barrel. hands up, flourishing rolls of bank rotes | These figures are cited to support the i while they shouted their names and de- statement that the cream of the oil j sired to be remembered in the sales. The trade fell to the owners of the thirty- stock that was sold at $10 pet share sold eight acres forming an almost oblong fiat within ien days at $20 per share, and ' opposite Petroleum Center, one of thei . commanded $44 per share subsequently. briskest and most promising of all the The mutations of Maple Shade oil stock oil towns from 1863 until 1870. The would furnish a curious commentary Maple Shade, long quoted on tire Phila¬ upon the oil business. It is needless to delphia Oil exchange, a well that yielded : say that while numbers realized onor-1 1,201) barrels daily when oil averaged $8 mously others lost vast sums in an era l per barrel; the Jersey, that yielded 400,. of speculation characterized from first to and the Keystone No. 1 and 2, pro-! last by a total disregard of intrinsic val¬ during about 300 barrels, and finally the ues. or the merits of the shares aud com¬ Coquette, which was struck at a time modities' trafficked in. when oil averaged more . than $8 per The prospectus writer’s demands were barrel for upwards of sixteen months, never more eagerly complied with or an¬ and which yielded nearly 600 barrels ticipated, nor were his accomplishments per day—these were names to conjure ever more successful than they were with in a period when a ten-barrel well here, where he added fuel to the excite¬ was deemed more valuable and yielded ment that allured capital from the New greater returns than a 200-barrel well England states, from the northwest and yields today. ___ y . f

-■ no deception was practiced. The share¬ the Pacific slope to Venango comity, Pa., holder was placed in possession of oil lads, in the ’60s. The opportunities of confi¬ land if he lost he had no cause for coin- dence operators were widened to an ex¬ I plaint since he fully realized the chances! tent only equaled at rare intervals in the |The difficulty was to determine (lie honest history of speculation. The modus op- from the dishonest schemes presented. erandi was simple, and it was surprising Another form of swindling, practiced to how greedily the public swallowed the a considerable ex ten I, has never been de¬ bait prepared by the conscienceless scribed. Interests in new wells almost in¬ scoundrels who thrived by arts that are variably located in line with producing1 less tolerable to honest men than the ! wells or near them, as the case might be assaults of highwaymen. represented, were sold to an extent dial The mode of procedure commonly re¬ would have gathered a good sized town sorted to was an invitation to invest in meeting if the owners -of all die “six¬ the shares of a company owning from teenths” and “thirty-seconds” had assem¬ 40 to 200 acres. Sometimes the land was bled at one time near the well. It was leased five or ten years. "But whether roughly surmised that tire number of; it was owned outright or leased, atten¬ “thirty-seconds” in a well that I will call tion was directed to the fact that the; the “Young America,” in one county clone company already had one or more wells ran into hundreds. As the price increased that were producing oil in quantities that in degree, with the subdivision, the amount precluded the possibility of loss to the j realized in this scandalous manner must purchaser of shares. Sometimes the in¬ [have been very large. Needless to say that ducement that disarmed doubt and: the reports from “Young America” after landed the “sucker” was the very thing a certain date grew gloomier and gloomier, that should have excited suspicion. The | {until the tools were either hopelessly company would place particular stress j [“stuck” or by connivance with drillers a upon the fact that an interest in a large false record disclosed an uuproduetivfc well in a favorable locality had been pur¬ sand. chased. The returns from this invest-j j [from statements made on Oil creek I ment alone were represented to be of! was led to believe that Pithole' territory was such magnitude as to insure certain | ideveloped by an oil company formed in (lie profits. Usually the return from this [manner described. The resemblance Pit- source alone would foot up an interest j bole creek bears to Oil creek is universally on the oullay that captivated great ar.dj remarked. It is Oil creek in miniature. small capitalists from the millionaire to: An interest in a well located oa the Egbert liis footman. Thus small interests m. and Hyde farm, or one of the producing good wells on the most productive farms farms near it, was purchased, and then the on Oil creek were purchased. Then the, Holmden l‘arm (now planted in grain again, purchasers would lease or buy 100 acres j I am informed) was secured by the United XfnfPC Oil On At I? a c r av. in a locality wholly unknown, paying a States Oil Co. of Boston. nominal sum for the lease or land, which At that time oil was floated in bulk could then, with the interest in the pro¬ down the Allegheny. The nearest rail- ‘ ducing well, be foisted upon the public way station was at Sheaffer, about three as a rare opportunity to enrich all who miles and a half above Petroleum Cen¬ purchased shares. These schemes were ter, or eleven miles above Oil City. Oil opGr&tpd in two ways -tlio origiual pui was hauled from the -wells down ‘to Oil chasers sometimes were “in on the, City or up to Sheaffer when it was not ground floor.” i. e.. in other words, they transported in flats. Oil creek could not were in just long enough to get out be relied upon. When oil accumulated’ again “unloading” all the risks upon in the wooden tanks in extraordinary the second group of purchasers. _ amounts producers were compelled to There was one noteworthy instance assume extraordinary risks by resorting where the first purchasers witnessed their to “pond freshets.” Artificial means dupes recouping themselves with more than, were employed to dam the water in pools, a hundredfold the sum they invested. which, when released, provided sufficient The originators of the comnanv purchaser! water to float the craft loaded with bar¬ an interest in a well on the 'Eafiert and rels or oil in bulk. The losses incurred Hyde farm, paying about $20,000 for it. from this method made producers prefer! They then bought outright a farm several hauling. The cost of hauling a barrel of miles from Oil creek—land that they oil from the tanks to Oil City varied. At| deemed wholly worthless. They expert the time Pithole was developed, or, to* ericed little difficulty in disposing ot the be exact, when the first well was struck) entire stock in an eastern city, realizing, and a party went over from the Egbert1”1' it was surmised, from $60,000 to $80,000 and Hyde farm to look at the United ale on the sale. The second well on the terri¬ States well, the universal estimate placed"-' tory that was thought to be “as dry as a upon the value of the strike was very powder horn” developed a pocket of oil. small. .The well was a great gusher, but that enriched the shareholders to the last¬ the road from Pithole was simply iu- ing chagrin of the schemers. describable. Everybody agreed that it Usually shareholders purchasing stock' would cost from $2.50 to $3 per barrel! were ignorant of the truth. They were led (as hauling was paid for then) to tt’ans-Sjf to believe that the oil was produced upon port the oil to Sheaffer, nearly four ., laud that was freshly developed. Had miles distant. It was easier to haul oiljj jthey suspected that the bait was elusive, from the Egbert and Hyde farm or Story ‘ |that the half or eighth interest in a 20 farm opposite to Oil City, seven miles.. . or 100 barrel well1 was liable to be tapped, distant, than to get it out of Pithole., ' or lost inside of an hour, and that miles Months elapsed before Pithole was-., intervened between the well yielding and boomed into a notoriety that is still re- ; the “wild cat” land purchased, their money ferred to as the crisis of the oil craze of , would have remained in their pockets. the ’60s. The moment means were de- ‘ cj There were hundreds of instances where vised to transport it to Sheaffer cheaply i>' [companies were organized on precisely sim¬ the price of Pithole territory advanced ilar lines by honest men, and proved highly a hundredfold. What was regarded as remunerative to all interested, but in those M. J very" 'scaly "at; the time l quette's How," seriously sought the doe it was purchased. a, year or two later and speedily made his business known, electrified all oildora W' its enormous; desired to purchase an interest in lhe. 'yield. The delay in.deVe]d$fig- it is easily well. The doctor named his outside figure. I understood, for with-.barrels costing lioro His offer was promptly accepted. There was no haggling over prices, but there *2 to S2.50v«aefi, .and hauling four or were obstacles in the way. When the five miles at from $2 to $2.50, there was young man agreed to pay him $200,ikx.) for little inducement to investors when oil one-twelfth in the .Coquette alone t7ie doc¬ sold from $5 to $8 per barrel. tor inquired: But to return to Oil creek Two note¬ worthy transactions in which Dr. M. O. “How do you propose to pay me?” “In cash or its equivalent, on the nail, Egbert figured were so remarkable that I will give you a draft on New York.” I; am templed to relate them. Y\ hen The doctor reflected. There might be a the Jersey well was struck on the Egi slip iu doing business in that way. Tbo belt and Hyde farm in the spring ol chances were that the draft would be hon¬ 1804 tank builders commanded a pre¬ ored. but fbe owner did not care to risk mium. The tanks were made of wood) the chance that would throw back the in¬ their capacity varied, the largest hold' terest on bis hands with the report that ing from 600 to 1,200 barrels. LO\ l’-*a* he had failed to sell at that price. The hert had erected a handsome house on doctor preferred cash. The purchaser the farm, where his presence was essen¬ ' eagerly assured him that he could go tial. There was danger that the Jersey down to Oil Oily and ask the bankers if tanks would overflow. The loss of tha his draft was not good. 'Hie doctor ad¬ oil was bad enough, but that was tin hered to his resolve and refused to accept least concern. Although nearly all .tha a. draft. As a last resort the purchaser wells were flowing, there were a tew asked him to accompany him to Oil City, where the bankers would give him the primping, and (here was danger that money. At this juncture an acquaintance those and the tires of the wells drilling reminded the doctor of the risk he would would communicate fire all over the incur in. case he conveyed such a large farm. The morning succeeding that on sum from Oil City to his home on the which the doctor discovered I hat the farm. The doctor persisted iu hie re¬ Jersey tanks were rapidly filling, he arose solve. The three then drove down to Oil earjier than usual and walked down to City in a cutter and there another diffi¬ the well. A gentleman on horseback culty was encountered. The draft was was looking at the oil in the tanks. all that it should bo, but the bank could When the doctor approached the not cash it and retain sufficient money to stranger inquired where the owners could accommodate its patrons, as $200,01)0 in be found. The doctor informed him that 1 currency and coin was more than it could he was one of the proprietors, lhe next conveniently spare. The deal was at a question, was businesslike. deadlock, when one of the hank officers “What do von want for your oil/ discovered a way out of the dilemma. Ha There was no telegraph, no railroad. reminded the doctor that they were au- "■ Prices as I have already explained, were I thorized to sell 7 :”>0 government 1 Kinds. then vibrating from $2 to $2 per Barrel "The bonds are just the same as money! in forty-eight hours. Producers relied to me,” said the doctor, upon the newspapers and verbal reports. i “Give me the $100,000 you say you cant Jiff he doctor concluded he would he on the J spare in hank notes and the remainder in safe side. The highest price paid a lew bonds. By the way, there will be some- da vs before was $12. !thing coming to me on the bonds—just “Fourteen dollars.” the doctor replied., ■ add the difference.” “1 will take 1,000 barrels.” The transaction was completed; the doc¬ ‘‘As you are an entire stranger, stwd too tor received a package containing $400,- -doctor, after a brief pause, "it will ^be jOOO in bank notes and a larger package necessary to pay something on account. I containing bonds, which he coolly tossed M- The stranger bow pel and the doctor led into his ( utter, much to the discomfort of his traveling companion, and an hour la¬ ; the way to his office. There the purchaser ter the notes and bonds were inside the produce a poc-ketbook of the dimensions (large fireproof safe the doctor had in hie I usually employed to hold bank notes, and I dwelling in addition to the strong safe in if handed the doctor, from a thick pile, eight I his office. I now hank notes of the denominations ot Here was a transaction in which tha / $1.1 MX). The notes might be good or had. price paid for a one-twelfth interest in the j They were crisp and hard. Before receipt- Coquette well, without an inch of ground J ing for eight-fourteenths of the sale he around it. was based upon an estimate of 5 made a stipulation. $2,4110,000 for lhe well. Jk “When will you take the oil away? Afterwards Dr. Egbert sold one-ejghtlf The seller was thinking of the fast filling of the “working interest” in the Coquette tanks. “Unless you agree to remove it for $150,000 cash. Still later he was of' soon ——” fered $500,000 for his remaining interest “Today, immediately,” the buyer an¬ in the farm. Although he was inclined to swered. The receipt was passed over, lhe accept this last offer, he permitted his strange buyer rode away, the oil was friends to overrule his judgment, thus hauled off as fast as it could be barreled losing, to employ his own language and was promptly paid for, and that was “$400,000 by acting upon the advice of the last the doctor e\er saw of lhe well my friends.” David Lowry. dressed man who was flush with $1,000 bills. The other transaction is more remarka¬ ble. The Coquette well was for a time the Mecca of all oil worshipers. The spectacle presented by a well that poured out riches at lhe rate of $8,000 a day fascinated the multitude: Jt was deeemed worthy a visit in all kinds of weather. One day a young gentleman, aider contemplating the Co¬ From, ■Mi

ANCIENT HISTORY.

yfhe Site of the City Was a Hunters' Par¬ 'Interesting Talk on the Early Settle¬ adise. ment. \/ Charles Lake, one of the oldest resl- \ Mrs. Jacob Truby, 79 years old, the old- | dents of the county, as well as one of the •: est resident of Emlenton, was interviewed ! most prosperous farmers of Cranberry | recently by the News. She was born in ,_£-\ to-wnshipr- tells some interesting reminis¬ Genesee county, N. Y.; was married in’ cences of this section during the early 1S32, and came to Venango county the days. It was. 65 years ago that he came j same year, . locating on the Gates farm J to this section of the country. From near the Big Bend M. E. church. In 18313 i Hemlock Run at President, to Deep Hol¬ she removed to a log house on the bank low, below the present southern limits of y of the river on the site of what is now the city, was covered with woods, and Emlenton. Her husband kept tavern and I was a great place for hunting deer, bear, run the ferry at that place for four years panthers and wild turkies. The only land then engaged in the mercantile busi- j tilled ground at that time was the Ciapp jness. Since this time the river bank ha^t i farm, and a farm at McClintockville. The j washed away for a distance of 200 feet (Japp furnace at President caused several jand the old log house and ground or( families to locate in this section, and which it stood have long since disap-s Mr. Lake was one of the young men em¬ peared. From Emlenton to Foxburg thuf-t S ployed in the furnace who took out pat¬ land was owned by Messrs. Fox and Me- U ents for the land in this neighborhood, Caslin. aL- which could be had for 20 cents an acre Mr. Truby afterwards went out of th 'from the government. In addition to a. store business and built a warehouse o large tract of land in this vicinity he the river bank, and it was here that th | took out patents for 350 acres of land on first steamboat that ran on the Alleghen Pi thole Creek, on the hill above where river in this section unloaded its cargo Pithole city was afterwrards located. This This boat was the New Castle, and Mrs. land he gave to William Bruner for dig^ Truby had a lively and interesting recol :tng a water well on the farm land-on lection of the excitement that was caused Sage Run, near what is now the Fisher by the advent of this boat at Emlenton in fruit farm. Bruner dug the well in less 1 839. Previous to this year goods were than a day and walled it the next. He ! brought up the river in flat boats, poled Isold the Pithole farm afterwards for a !by a crew of 10 or 12 men, or drawn bv nominal sum, but when the oil excite¬ horses. In 1843 the weather resembled ment at that place was at its height this that of the present year. The first week |same farm bought from the government in June peas were in blossom, corn was for 20 cents an acre and sold for two- two feet high, currants large enough to days’ work, was sold for .$200,000, and was stew, and wheat almost ready to harvest. known as the Elrick farm. Another On June 6th a heavy frost come and the transaction of Mr. Lake's was the sale next morning everything was killed. of 400 acres, situated where the old camp Wheat was plowed down and the ground meeting grounds were located, and ex¬ was sown in buckwheat. The distress tending almost to Sage Run. For this throughout the county was harrowing. ground he received a cow and an old Mrs. Truby is the mother of 10 children, clock. In addition to working in the fur¬ nine of them born in Emlenton. j' nace and farming, the young men and old too, for that matter, found time to hunt a little, and for 20 years in the l pioneer days there was but little meat eaten that was not killed wild in the: woods. Mr. Lake started a deer near Alcorn island, above where Siverlyville Is located, and chased it over the reser- ■ 64

voir hill into Sage Run, where he suc¬ ceeded in breaking one of its hind legs- j Before he could reload his musket thei deer charged him, and to save himseiri the hunter was forced'to grasp it by the horns. They Wrestled until both were! almost dead from exhaustion, When’by a lucky twist the 'hunter forced' dfie~ of the j horns of the deer into the soft bank and i held jt there until he cut the deer’s Froniy^l throat with his hunting knife. On an¬ other occasion he killed a deer on the reservoir hill in less than an hour from the time that he started on his hunt. He also chased a flock of wild turkeys into a buckwheat stack the same morning, Date , 7/6../df^ but his gun missed fire and the birds got away. He lias killed deer hoar o,,.' p.r r.f r j keys on tale of former!; T’residef "iar with -o- has seei Second Day’s Fro jeedinas of the Great Celebra¬ tion at the County Seat.

MOTHER LARGE CROWD IN ATTENDANCE.

-o- Rain Fell In tie Afternoon to Mar the Harmony of the Occasion.

-o- MAGNIFICENT ORATORICAL EFFORT OF CHIEF LOGAN.

Military Display and Sham Battle—The Grounds In Excellent Condition—A Great Turn Out From the Surrounding Country—The Crowd Exceeds In Numbers That of Wednesday—Eloquent Addresses By Hon. George S. Criswell and Hon. Charles W. Mackey—Short Speeches By Other Prominent Citizens—Closing Exercises of Franklin’s Celebration of Her First Hundred Years. -o-- ions at hand were quite fully The one hundredth anniversary of i Franklin’s birthday ended in a blaze of The Morning Parade. glory. That staid old city contained, dur¬ The rain had a tendency to cause many ing-the past two days, thousands of people who had intended to participate in the who 'had never set foot there before and morning parade advertised to take place tens of thousands who claim that and the at 11 o’clock, to absent themselves, thus somewhat depleting the ranks of the va¬ adjoining localities as their home. There rious companies that participated. But were g-reat crowds, far larger ones than notwithstanding this severe handicap, the had ever been there before. display was a most creditable one. The failure to- appear of those persons that had The .glorious result of the gigantic under¬ been calculated on to take part, besides taking is a clear proof as to- what can be adding to the disappointment of the public accomplished where all join hearts and also delayed the start, and it was fully 40 minutes after the time advertised that hands and pull tog-ether toward one great the columns started up Liberty from the end. It took days and weeks, aye, months, corner of Tenth street. of patient toil and planning and thousands When at last the start was made, the of dollars to arrange and complete the crowd along the walks, in the streets, and occupying every porch, window, tree and preliminaries for this centennial exhibi¬ housetop along the route, had grown to tion, and the ladies and gentlemen who huge proportions and it required the com¬ worked so hard to attain the end so suc¬ bined efforts of a dozen policemen to keep cessfully reached last evening, have every a path open through which the columns of infantry, battery, cavalry and marine eould- reason to be extremely (happy and the pass. public at large to be thankful. The cele¬ All along the line the applause' was al¬ bration was a perfect success in every most incessant, each feature as it passed important particular and if these yet un¬ by creating a most favorable impression. It was indeed an imposing spectacle and born do as well when it comes their turn, one that was gazed at with pleasure by all. a century from now, they will indeed be a 1 The parade was made up as follows: happy progeny. Heading the procession came Major General 1 John A. Wiley, of the Second brigade, and One of the most remarkable and inter- j staff, the latter consisting of Messrs. E. A. esting features of the occasion under dis- i Wilson, Ed. Mattern, Charles Hollister and cussion, to those of an observing turn of Dr. A. G. Foster, chosen for the occasion. mind, was the wide extent of territory Colonel J. H. Cain, chief marshal, fol¬ lowed. They were all well mounted,, gaily represented. It really seemed as if there uniformed and the steeds looked like veri¬ had been a general outpouring from every table war horses. city, village, hamlet and farm within a Following came Assistant Adjutant Gen¬ radius of 500 miles. The grounds, the ho¬ eral Charles Miller, Sergeant Major Mar¬ shal Phipps, J. D. Chadwick, Hon. C. E. tels, tlhe streets were constantly the Taylor, Colonel Rickards, J. R. Elliott, J. scenes of reunions, hand-shakes and em¬ j Andrews, Eph. Black, S. D. Irwin, S, D.

bracings between those who had not seen Foster, Charles Hollister and J. S. WiseT each other for years. Every face was a all well mounted. happy and joyous one, and care, worry Franklin cornet band, 20 pieces.. Second battalion, Sixteenth regiment; and anxiety seemed, at least for the time Major L. L. Ray. Company K, of Titus¬ being to have been entirely banished ville, Captain M. R. Rouse commanding; 40 and thrown to the winds. Even last even¬ men. ing on the streets, in the lobbies of the Company E, Cooperstown, Captain Kams commanding; 38 men. hotels and at the several railway stations, Company D, Oil City, Lieutenant T. C. where the crowds of men, women and Turner commanding; 32 men. children were packed together liktTIar- Company F, Franklin, Captain James Crawford in command; 48 men, accompan¬ dines, awaiting the -arrival and departure ied by Adjutant Scheide, of the Second of the outgoing trains that -were to convey battalion. them to their homes, (and which were, Ley’s Seneca band, 22 pieces. as is usually the case on these occasions The army and navy, Colonel L. L. Fas- from one to three hours late), there was sett a.nd Albert H. Jackson, mounted, in hut little complaining and fault finding command. each one, even to the babies in arms, seem¬ Cooperstown post, No. 299, 25 men. ing to put forth every effort to be jovial Mays post, Franklin, No. 220, 45 men. and patient. Franklin colored drum corps. The crowd yesterday was estimated to R. B. Hays post, No. 167, of Oil City, ? have been from one-third to one-half men. |larger than on Wednesday when 17,000 Pennsylvania cavalry, 60- men, Colonel A. tickets were taken at the gate, and this J. Greenfield in command. despite the rain that fell almost incessant¬ Battery B, Second brigade; two Parrot ly from early dawn up to noon. The de¬ guns drawn by eight horses. termination of the people to turn out and The navy had a splendid representation do full justice to the occasion was thus | in the form of a large and correct sturuture Jiy demonstrated. Had it not been for in fac-simile of the iron clad Monitor. This ie bad weather there is no doubt that -the : was mounted on a large float. Ugly look¬ -.tendance would have been far greater ing guns protruded their muzzles from the 'd the question is, what would the city ’e done with it. for certainly the ac i turrete and in all respects was the de- sign warlike. The boat was in command of I of years ago, t naa tne nonor of deliver¬ George M. Robinson; Prank McSweeney, ing an address at the laying of the corner boatswain's mate, and Messrs. Davidson, I stone of our Municipal buiWing in which Smith, Allen ahd Brown, marines. I endeavored to present to my hearers an The old Indian canoe from Tionesta man¬ accurate historical account of this place ned by a dozen Indians. from the days of John Frazier down to Salamanca Indian band. that time. I shall therefore not attempt I Orator Logan ahd wife and other Indians to go into minute historical detail, but and squaws, a number of the latter carry¬ will rather take such a retrospect as will ing their papooses on their backs. Hon. bring me gradually up to the present and H. P. James in command. more particularly to a point where I can Logan’s Indian band, 22 pieces. discuss, in a few minutes, the possibilities Lacrosse players and more Indians. of the future. Dempseyitown drum corps. From a historical, a traditional and a The balance of the procession was com¬ romantic standpoint, Franklin has mticn posed of the city officials and councilmen in her early associations and surround¬ of Franklin, Oil City, Warren, Erie and ings to excite the admiration and foster other places in carriages. the pride of those whose ancestors were -Q- citizens here long years ago, as well as of THE CLOSING EXERCISES. those who have, in more recent years, shown such an appreciation of the beau¬ A Brilliant Programme of Addresses, tiful, the picturesque and the substan¬ Athletics and Amusement. tial as to select this city as a permanent abiding place. While Dame Nature was not so kind in Long before the Jesuit and Franciscan the way of furnishing delightful weather missionaries penetrated the primeval for¬ as was the case the day before, the en¬ ests of this, then great western country thusiasm of the people was not in the and I dare say long before the Indian, , least diminished. The crowd, if anything, whose descendants we have with us to¬ was larger than on the day before, and day, and who are graciously assisting us there was the same hospitality and kind¬ in making these ceremonies memorable, ness displayed upon every hand. After the made this a part of his hunting ground, parade there was a rush for the fair this valley and the very site of this city grounds, where the athletic and sports’ was occupied by a race of beings whose programme was carried out and where the advent, stay and departure or obliteration addresses were delivered. The rain had are enshrouded in such deep mystery as made the ground soft in spots, but the to make their existence problematical, if crowd was so great thaf this mud was soon net absolutely doubtful. However, be j beaten down and a firm foothold afforded that as it may, we have fairly reliable ■ It was an improvement over the clouds of proof that the basin or valley in which dust of the day before, while the sun was this city is built, was occupied long be¬ obscured enough by clouds to make it pos¬ fore Celeron and his associates made sible to walk about the grounds and wit¬ their celebrated expedition down the Riv- ness the sports without the discomforts of ierre aux Boeuf in 1749 and long before the Intense heat of Wednesday. This af¬ John Frazier erected a habitation here. forded the visitors also an opportunity to It may be reasonably stated that many listen to the speakers of the day with . years, perhaps centuries, before we have comfort and they were not slow in taking any reliable evidence that the white man advantage of the chance. Hon Charles W occupied this locality, it was inhabited Mackey was the first speaker of the day' by a race of beings who have left land¬ He was warmly greeted by his friends and marks and other indications which, if before he had spoken a dozen words his another key something like that found by audience began to swell in numbers and Champoleon could be discovered, might before the conclusion the grand stand and unlock volumes of reliable information track in front of the speaker’s stand were of a pre-historic period of which we know crowded. but comparatively little, and which pre¬ sents for our contemplation but few facts upon which we can reason with much cer¬ HON. CHARLES W. MACKEY. tainty or satisfaction. The Men Who Have Made the City of The ancient oil pits of the Oil Creek val¬ ley, the vague and yet somewhat reliable Franklin Famous. evidence of the presence of the mound builders, and many other extraordinary Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen- artiflcial creations that have been dis¬ It was suggested to me that I should covered on different occasions, prove quite speak to-day on Franklin, its past, its satisfactorily that this region was inhab¬ present and its future. Such a theme af¬ ited by a race of superior intelligence to fords a very wide and interesting field the Indian, long before the coming of the , for thought and consideration, but having- French. listened with mu oh interest and satis” It has been, I think, demonstrated quite faction to the able and excellent address,1 conclusively that the first white man we -delivered by Judge Heydrick yesterday have been able to locate here with that In which he gave minutely, and I am sure1 degree of certainty that affords satisfac¬ with great accuracy, the history of this tion, was John Frazier. This was in 1745 place from the earliest authentic records and from that time onward we have suffi¬ clown to its incorporation as a borough cient data to enable us to trace with com¬ it seems to me that it would be super-1 ' parative distinctness, comprehensiveness nuous to attempt to add much, if any-! and reliability the important events that thing, to what has been already so ably have subsequently transpired. and so forcibly said by him on that im¬ The Indian, the French, the English and portant subject._ Besides this, a number the American all seem to have recognized the geographical and topographical im- portance, strategically speaking, of the land upon which Franklin is located, for William Irwin and Andrew Ellicott. Af¬ offensive and defensive warfare and each ter the erection of what was known as of these people occupied the site of the the Old Garrison’ in 1796, the govern¬ town originally for warlike purposes. How ment kept troops stationed here until 1799 long the Indian had been here prior to the when they were withdrawn, and from that coming of the French, no one can tell; date up to 1819, the Old Garrison was used but the French made a formal entry in for jail purposes. About this time a new 1749, and later on erected a fort to enable jail was completed and after that the old ‘•hem to maintain and defend their right of military post gradually went to destruc¬ | possession. tion, although many years elapsed before It was during this occupancy by the I all evidence of its existence was finally French in the fall of 1753 that a very im¬ ! washed away by the waters of French portant event occurred which gave to creek. j Franklin a distinction which no other From the year 1800, when there were town west of the Allegheny and north of but a few families here, each decade has the Ohio river ever enjoyed. The British shown improvement toward a higher state authorities becoming apprehensive that the of civilization. From a little hamlet the jt rench might establish permanently in town gradually expanded until April 14 1848 this western country an empire too strong when a borough was erected and we then t)o be easily overthrown, sent George assumed all rights, privileges and pre- Washington hither, who was then only 21 i ogatives of a muncipality. Later on years of age, for the purpose of ascertain- March 24, 1868, we achieved the distinc¬ . mg what the French were doing in the tion of becoming the smallest incorpo¬ ' I way of erecting fortifications for defending rated city within the Commonwealth their positions, how many soldiers they From that day onward until the present had and such other information as would time the improvements, although they ; enable the authorities of Virginia to arrive have been slow, have been steady and sub¬ * at a proper conclusion as to what should be stantial. Churches, school-houses pub¬ done for the protection of British interests. lic and private buildings have been er¬ | After receiving a carefully prepared letter ected which would do honor to a much j of instructions and a passport or safe con¬ more pretentious place. All the modern duct, young Washington started on his improvements and conveniences, such as I journey and in a short time arrived at gas, water, electric light, a street rail¬ I Img'Stown, on the Ohio river, near Beaver. road, paved streets, a beautiful park and Here he made up his party and shortly every convenience that tends to make a I thereafter arrived at the headquarters of town substantial and attractive has been J Joncaire, who occupied the cabin of John introduced for our comfort and pleasure- Frazier, which, as nearly as I can ascer- and to-day it may be truthfully said that tain, was located about 300 feet west of the there is not a more delightful, or beauti¬ • a brook that empties into ful city of its size in the State or in the j che Allegheny river, near the house now nation. And while Franklin has deserv¬ .occupied by our respected and venerable edly achieved the honor of being one of • J fellow citizen, William Campbell. j the most delightful and attractive places During Washington’s stay here, it is quite m the. c?untry, it has also deservedly won J saf® *;0 ?ay that be made a careful survey the distinction of giving to the State and 1 of this locality and that when he left he to the nation more men of renown than was thoroughly conversant with the strate- ai^-l.°ther place °f equal population. | f?.ca* imP°rtan^e of this location from the While we are all proud of the sturdy Big Rock to the western end of the val- upright and God-fearing men and women > ley; and I have no doubt that the report who came here and lived in isolation for he made to the Virginia authorities had years and stood every privation to which ; much to do with hastening the permanent pioneer life is subjected in order that I abandonment of all this region of the coun- hey might establish a home for them- j try by the French. selves and their posterity, we are also T1"01*1 a historical standpoint, however I proud of the record of those who by their think we ought to be thankful that the ability and force of character in public - French occupied this ground. If they had and m private life, have shed a luster on not, the probabilities are that Washington the pages of our history which can never who, in after years, led the armies of the be obliterated as long as civilization lasts. infant republic in the struggle for inde¬ And now sweet memory comes pendence, and who by his unselfish devo- TW MVery ?al1 of duty succeeded in l"ghtehdaSllsme S6ntly thr°Ugh her twi- establishing a Nation which to-day com¬ Wn^A°et\B tuneful lyre has ever sung, mands the respect of all the peoples of the Or dehcatest pencil e’er portrayed earth and is a leader of all the nations in Ihe encnanted shadowy land where i . . ®reat onward and upward march of memory dwells V civilization, never would have set his foot Looking back through the rapidly reced- upon the land that was destined to become ing years, I see before me Major General the Nursery of Great Men. Alexander Hayes, who was born and rear¬ Fort Michault was destroyed in 1759 and ed in this city, was gent to West Point shortly afterwards the English took pos- giaduated with honor, won great re- |session and in 1760, erected Fort Venango nown during the Mexican war as an which m 1763 was captured by the Indians’ °/ -he resuiar army and after¬ Horn this time onward, the country was wards, during the war of , the Rebellion given up to the Indians, until 1787, when eanned an imperishable fame on many a a company of United States soldiers was i *°YSht fleld °t battle, and finally sent here to erect a third fort, which ??aIfd hls devotion to duty with his life they did, and it was named Franklin in He left a name tha't will live forever on .h““or',1 believe, of Benjamin Franklin, the pages of his country’s history. and afterwards the same name was given I see Major General Jesse L. Reno, who, to the town located here in 1795 by Gen while not born here, came as an infant ^StI^are? in ?ur midst, _ was sent to Jfest Point, graduated with distinguished to take up one by one the names' of those honor, made a most"brilliant’record dur-~ who, either as native or adopted citizens, mg the Mexican war and was ascending have shed renown upon the history of the ladder of fame with astonishing strides this city, the State and the nation. The to the very top round when he met death- list is very long and includes such names 1 on the field of honor at South Mountain. as Colonel Alexander McDowell, one of His name has not only shed luster upon the ablest and most conspicuous of our : the history and associations of this town, pioneers, Judge Alexander McCalmont,,[ but will glow and burn with meffeoric Judge John Galbraith, General Samuel splendor forever on the pages of his coun¬ Hayes, Chief Justice James Thompson try’s history. He was a most remarkable and Justice John Trunkey, of the supreme man and possessed in an eminent degree court of Pennsylvania, George Powers, all the qualifications of a great soldier, George McClellan, Captain William Ev¬ and early in the war it was predicted that ans, one of the first officers to offer up his if his life was spared he would reach the life in defense of his country during the very summit and perfection of military War of the Rebellion, Colonel James S. I glory. Meyers, who was the Nestor of the Venan- i I see the genial, courtly and chivalrous go Bar; Rev. Dr. S. J. Eaton, who came Alfred B. McCalmont, who, when a mere to this city in his young manhood and boy, you might say, achieved the extra¬ spent the greater portion of his life in ordinary distinction of becoming assist¬ our midst, was a man not only of ex¬ ant attorney general of the United States, traordinary ability, but one who, perhaps, and later in life entered the army as lieu¬ knew more than any other individual who tenant colonel of the One Hundred and fever lived here of the early history and Forty-second Pennsylvania regiment, actions of the pioneers of this city, as. well j and in a short time was promoted to the as the antecedents of those who made up colonelcy and then to a general of bri¬ a large portion of our population from gade for gallant and meritorious con¬ 1848 down to the -time of his death. duct on the field of battle. Although he He was a scholar of distinction had but little, if any, military training in and was honored and respected by a comparatively short time of service he every man who enjoyed his acquaintance, j won such distinction and impressed his Judge Lamberton, who came here a young; martial spirit so strongly upon his su¬ man without friends or acquaintances and' perior officers that his promotion was by the exercise of that wonderful sagacity rapid, because his services were glorious. and energy of which he was possessed, I see the cool, thoughtful and deter¬ secured a position that entitled him to rank ■ mined George C. McClellan, who was among our first citizens. I would like tc born here, educated at West Point and go on indefinitely, almost, and speak ol won a distinction that is a part of the the ability and the sterling qualities ol ■ glory of the country on numerous Mexican sCch men as Judge Richard Irwin, Hon fields of battle, as well as upon many of John W. Howe, Dr. N. D. Snowden, Dr. B ■ the hard fbunght fields of war of the Re- Gillett., Colonel James Kinnear, Willian ' bellion. He was a class-mate and friend Raymond, Aaron W. Raymond, Ayers J of Grant, and such were the intimate and Brashear, Arthur Robinson, Jacob Mays cordial relations established between Samuel Plumer, Sr., Samuel Bailey, Georg* j them at Molino del Rey and Palo Alto, Brigham, Colonel James Bleakley, who waj ’ that their friendship remained firm one of most segacious and able business \ throughout life and was never interrupted men, Myron Park, Adams Plumer, Georg* jj even by the heat and passion of bitter Connelly, Levi Dodd, Captain James G | political campaigns in which they par¬ Herron, Edward Plale, David Irwine, ou: ticipated on opposing sides. first lawyer; Andrew Bowman, Marcui * I see the dig n,'lied,, calm, thoughtful and Hulings, John Ridgway, Jacob Dubbs, Ed . impressive Arnold Plumer, whose very: ward Pierce, Colonel Samuel Dale, win presence indicated to all around him that commanded a regiment in the war of 1812 1 he was much more than an ordinary man. Colonel James P. Hoover, Colonel Samue 1 Occupying, as he did, many positions of F. Dale, Rev. Hezekia.h May, Rev. Dr J f- honor and trust, he discharged every Dickson, Jonathan Sage, Charles W J duty devolving upon him with fidelity and Mackey, the Smileys, the Bushnells, th< conspicuous ability. Had it not been for Ridgways, the Martins, the Elliots, th< his innate disposition to avoid notoriety Evans and scores of others, who in various or to assume that aggressiveness ways demonstrated that they were men o: 0 which is indispensibly necessary to many excellent qualities, and did much tc -. the attainment of commanding positions, establish the social, the educational anc I I believe he would have ranked among the business status of this town on a basis | the foremost statesmen of this country. | that commends itself, not only to theii f While he always seemed anxious that his j posterity, but to all thoughtful citizens. friends should be elevated to the highest j But while the past presents much for ■ '-— places, he was apparently unconscious, of the fact that there was no station in the gift of the State that he could notj have filled with honor and credit. Some [ years ago the late Simon Cameron said to me and other citizens of Franklin in a conversation at Harrisburg that in all his acquaintance he did not know of a single man who was so well equipped in every i essential for a great leader as Arnold Plumer, and that had he been more ag¬ gressive and ambitioifs in practical poli-, tics he might have been president of the United States. But in the short time allotted to me, it is impossible to particularize minutely. It would afford me the greatest pleasure India silk ■

75( years old, a moslat pin. and a watch-J chain of beuds made by the firm tribe of I Indians here, a white silk crepe embrold- P ered shawl. and a .Maud Muller hat, also I u parasol. »- of old. toward Jerusalem, and looking over THE OFFICIALS. think of Franklin, rople. of the boys distilled. and of . You nmy wreck, you I y of u n hnv If you will, I Important j If there Is Bui iho scenl of (he feet nd g 'round It still." i thclr/tlme Is i •lebral'.on It Is on account of tho Now I do not Intend o annoy you with great foresight used In electing tho of-1 tou for the ntlen- llcorn of the association and the cliolco lion y aid n (Applause.) of (lie ofllcers to whom was given the eon- jcker irol of the smaller committees.* Thai the i In > enthusiasm of theresldcntsund of the gen-! ROFESSOR I" eome ana spend n duy with ttic old -rul public had reached a height thnt was ,nicker-fishers of my childhood. Oh. that phenomena) and i Distinguished was a grand occupation. If you remem¬ were concerned. ..v.lv. „lw„ ber. you just baited your hook, you set who fathered the Idea of holding the con-1 Jllstorlar your rod, and then snt down and walled lennlal celebration. yet enthusiasm wlth-1 for the sucker to bite. And there was one ..strong guiding hand of men of ex-1 lev. A. A. Lambing, of Wllklnsburg, man In that day thnt could wait longer for sklent of the Hlatorial Society of Weal- a sucker than he who Is talking to you ■rought (he great affair to a i Pennsylvania, was next Introduced, now. (Laughter.) conclusion without a hitch oi Now. ladies and gentlemen, let us, at tho without _ ely a l addressed the audience as follows: close of these festivities, reroerulier tills, eh™G' .the Initial arrangements. Chairman. Ladles and' that those old pioneers. I hose old ances¬ The history of the formation of the ming here to assist nt your centen- tors of ours, were the ones that made It rnnlnl association are familiar to all, telcbrailon, 1 did not expect to He possible for us to lie here iq/dny. 1 remem¬ he matter was agitated by the men who on to moke a speech. I liuve slud- ber of hearing about that old grandfather have a fashion of going down In their t Is true, and rend up considerable of mine, how lie and Cornplantcr, sitting poekcls or Into tlielr bank accounts when urn Pei they talk up anything for the good Jt i early linn s, but 1 have always felt im - ole I FrankKn- One of these men was Mayor •rtf « disadvantage when I was called to W- H Forbes- and on July 6th tho matter wan presented through him to the coui fca^bnetroVT- ells. From then till now Mayor Forb . i has been to the Trent. 'ZIXS duty financially as a o (Laughter ■ ■t>J We have been Iradl >ur Indian brothers and we have one man could do. _ way# bel l the real estate and they have ed his watchfulness or ellcrft ways bad the beads. But we hope the < ■land of himself and clrci ..stance! will come when they will become civilized tending tho hospitalities of the city l. (remedial and It will be honsv-ttnd-horse wher distinguished guests, acting ns chairman ie Impossll come to trade. of tho meetings, Introducing the speakers hlng. Everybody i of the day. and occasionally taking a I thank you. ladles and gentlemen, thank turn himself as a speaker, that was his He knows all lhai I you for listening to me. and if I fall s (Im( aore not worth part us mayor and president of the aaso. m'f ,-ou here again. I hope to meet you elation ns seen by the public. Those on point to which thatDeVtcr land—over In Mercer county. been called, and the Inside saw that no detnll of the great President Patterson and Treasurer Hong, task was escaping his attention. Cour¬ that U the fact thnt we have learned a of the Council of the 8lx Nations, were great deal Trom the red man, ond the red teous nnd affable to all. he was the direct. then Introduced to Hie crowd, and this Inp power and executive of all the smaller man ha# learned much front us. Part of ended the exercises of the speakers- stand committees. this was loarued from necessity, and part for the afternoon. from the fact that when one people come On July 15 n public meeting was held In the court house, when It was decided to something of tho customs of the people THE MILITARY DISPLAY hold the celebration in September. Ad. •Ith whom they come In contact. In the dresses were made by A. R. Osmer, Hon.. irly times then, we study the history of Henry F. James. Hon. W. C. Rheem. Hon. Charles W. Mackey. Judge George S. Cris¬ well. Rev. J. H. Miller and J. H. Osmer nsportatlon of good On motion of tho latter tho chairman wn a pint o pin y of H The star attraction of the afternoon was authorized to appoint n general commute . of hunting, In warfare, • the military dlsjhay and sham battle be¬ of five with power to suggest on executlv committee, to report a form of permanent f the cultivation of land In the ht tween the soldiers and Indians. Five full ilng. and In the building of cabins, organization, embodying articles of learned lessons that Impressed them- companies, about 76 Indlnn warriors and elation, etc. t-lves so deeply upon him nad served htn two field pieces took part In this panorama. These speakers were at the front then '!>y. and cspnf.lally in all t o well, that they wore not forgotitsi The militia was represented by tho first and havo been In tho lead ever since, ye> 111 tlie least Calculated to further th there were others Just as enthusiastic whe interests of Fraifklln. We refer to Majc mill progress has brought us eo far thu battalion commanded by Major L. L. Ray. ve to drop many or those mode# bf were unable through elreumstanccB to at Charles W. Millet and Mon. Joseph Sidle, with Adjutant M. Schelde nnd Sergeant tend that meeting. There Is scarcely r owners of the Prospect HIM stock tairi ii l>. rosperlty, cultivation, Major A. P. Richey and Captain Windsor ■fore. But we tpust remember «hat resident of the town of Franklin who doe; who gave freely and unro-urv, abfc U> -p^w<* a debt to him as well as he owes os aides. The companies were: not deserve especial mention for the active use of the mammoth grounds and spnelou Company D. OH City, 41 mtn, Captain D. part ho took In tho matter since the pro- buildings to tho Centennial nssoelatlo K. James. Joct was first talked of. Iti selecting the nmJ refused to accept the least remunert AVe have learned from him. And Company E. Cooperslown. 60 men. com¬ c nr. trying to pay him by the clvlllxi- officers tho members of the nssoelatlo Hon. When li !» considered that this 1 'On that we nro teaching him and that lc manded by Captain McElhanoy. ehose deKberately and wisely the only property in the n-lghhorhoo i learning so well. Company F. Franklin, SS mo ; Captain dcnced by the following list: *":lt was available, without putting th Born and raised in the valley of the Al¬ Crawford. Ofllcers of the Franklin Centennial CM? Tnanagi-- •- - • ••gher Company K, Titusville. 42 me i. Captain bratioa Association.atlnn. construction c hud a lov Rouse In command. tholr offer will Previous to the sham battle, a battalion President—Mayor W. H. Eorlles. duly nppreclat drill was hold on tho big open field op- Vice Presidents—A^-p; \y •- '• poslto the grand stand and speakers' plat¬ THE IOUESTCOUNTY EXHIBIT. ifitoftcas oiermltted r make that form. The ground was a trifle uneven, Secretnrics-w: S. Whitaker. H. M. Ir the boys made a splendid showing, ex¬ 'In. E. W. Smiley. ecuting the commands with a celerity Executive Committee—George Maloney .. .>_ whal las already boei about a half hour. Tho battalion . E. Jeunet, secretary. celled by any feature of the cclc-brntlon. 1 said Director General—John A. Wiley. tpnd recorded papers road. It •bon marched to the ravine and ammuni¬ F. E. Whitman had a collection of possible for e •y anything new, und tion Iksued preparatory to tho sham bat- Chief Marshal—J. H. Coin, Director of Grounds—George R. Job olllelal pupers, deeds, grants, land pat¬ historical . There was a solitary shot ..red from ents. etc.. M in all. bearing dates ranging sketches. b„... the hill.. at tt 'th of the ground and What belter proof was necessary thu. think ihe best thing I can do la to tlianJc followed by a fusillade—the soldier picket the affair wotlldLbe a success than that the from li$3 to 1798, and relating to propc-rty you for your kind uttontlon tor the f bad sighted the^Indlan enemy In the woods. most c-nergetlc business men of the city In this neighborhood. He also had a moments 1 have stood before you, nnd Owing to the nature of the ground, thli men who had made ah^muiunllfied small statuette of St. Stephen, made In thank the commlttco for Inviting me In their own business arTnlfsinnl w 1466. a table-cloth woven in 1787. a pewter portion of the programme could be seer ■nst In 1740. a linen handkerchief bo present and thc-n to give place to son by the entire crowd of visitors, and all Vitally InterestetWn furthertngffcfibr.st in. body else that will no doubt entertain tcrests of their town, were plaeedJt(*J In else was forgotten while It was going addition to these highly Interesting curi¬ than I am able Booths nnd halls were deserted for .... head ns tho executive committee, and wv to he aided by women, who hod direct, osities he exhibited samples of tho handl- time being and the progress of the fight ho aborigines of South America, HON. ALEX. M DOWELL. was watched w(th breathless Interest. The successful reforms where men had failed' consisting of carvings and Inlaid soldiers were driven down the hill nnd ir the country had been scoured for drinking cups nnd ornaments, and over the fence, malting several stands, but man to take charge and control tho mot- ' lichen utensils over 100 years old. retreated to bring the Indians within the meuts or the parades or of the large bodj In the Forest county exhibit wore also range of the cannons at the block house. of visitors, could one better have bee shown a stool engraving, a copy of Mr. Forties said that he wished to Intro¬ Other companies were sent to flunk the found than the distinguished soldier an. portrnll In oil of Zehiborger. the Mora- savages, und after much firing of guns nnd General John A. Wiley, direct# duce a gentleman whose grandfather was mlsslonary, who was nt one time whooping from tho savages—and from the common de located among the Indians at a point one who helped lay out tho city of Frank¬ babies who failed to appreciate the be °r ,ho Second brigade, N. G. P.. |,ls firm about where the village of Tlonesta Is lin. He then presented Hon. Alex. Mc¬ and romance of the performance, th. ,'f“nd discipline pre-eminently fitted hln for the positionnasi Hon which-n.v, i.i. ho\,„i— f , aithfully located nt the presont time. The original Dowell, of Slmron. Thnt gentleman de¬ dlans were finally captured and mar painting la In th< hnn-J ti,. m,„ ,i , i ,,, before the commandant, who was r. livered one of those quaintly humorous “rr,,0r"y Eariy ana mto th, historical association, nt Bethlehem. In sen ted by General John A. Wiley. "addle, he worked solely for tho Interest o nddltlon to tho engraving there was ex¬ adrexsos for which he Is noted. He said: The Indian chief made an Impassioned hibited a receipt written In 1766 for th- Ladles and Gentlemen—A speech In Justification of his conduct In at¬ seven shilling and sixpence for o sine 1 wha tacking the whites and accompanied It by r:;,r •» «»■ •■>s“i,; services In running express and paid by i •nutlful city of Franklin a t that wore both graceful nnd ex¬ Continental council. first founded, so pressive. Major Ray was thanked for the In all his duties ho was ahlv end , I ihe county of Forest. gallant conduct of lilmeclf and the soldiers A, J. Slgglns, of West Hickory. exhlhlt- In the field In the defense of the homes of 1 a collection of weapons, utrr settlers and his country's honor and iols that represented . (Laughter). But they a ndlans were told to go homo and a This colceltlon' com .- houds of flint a kind word or ohcerlmr «miln m n,_ ■1e for -rlr.nl

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