Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-03-12

MlisfeIIauepns Attifles.
From the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Leader.
FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

Il
AFooL AND HIS MONEY.
John W. Steel, Familiarity known a
"Johnny" Steel, and somewhat distin
guished as an s'oil prince" having for Il
considerable length of time enjoyed tn
princely income of $4,000 per day, file
in the United States District Court las
week, voluntary petition in bankruptcy
Many of our readers will remember his no
mantle exploits in the. East, published som
time ago, during which he is reported t.
have squandered several hundred thousan,
dollars. After having "sowed his wild oats,
and losing his oil farm, he found himsel
in rather Strengthened circumstances, AM
was recently compelled to earn living b.
driving an oil team. His Indebtedness
as set forth in his petition, amounts to owe
100000.
Steel is Pennsylvania by birth, and i
now in the neighborhood of twenty-five
years of age. He has had but little educa
ton, has no business qualifications o
shrewdness, and seems especially cut ou
by Dame Nature, to attest the truth of tn
proverb that "a fool and his money ar
soon parted" Of his early youth w
know very little; manhood and richie
sprang upon him about the same time
His interest in the famous M'Clintocl
farm and oil wells, in Venango county
bequeathed him by his father, for mum
ber of years yielded him an income of $50O(
per day. This, princely income was tn
means of awakening in Johnny an ambi
ton to seek other fields and sources of a
musement than those offered in the wild
of Venango. ..-..H ..
We heard of him first by his lavish vast
of wealth in Philadelphia. Here he mad
the acquaintance of Messrs. Skiff & Gay
lord, of minstrel fame, and one his frs
rash purchases was an entire new outfit fo
the minstrels, composed of velvet coats ant
vests and plain trowsers many of our read
ers will remember the troupe in this uni
form.) To those eccentric costumes he ad
ded diamond breastpins of the first water
and new suit of clothes for each membe
for the street. Several members of earn
cross & Dixey's minstrels, Of Philadelphia
were also favored in the same manner.
Another of ''Johnny's" eccentric acts il
Philadelphia is related as follows:
Walking along Chestnut street one da,
with friend, he espied beautiful span o
horses attached to splendid carriage jus
turning down from Second. To see was t.
envy; so hailing the driver, Sam -, who
as it happened was also the owner, "John
ny" coolly asked him if he would sell tn
establishment. Sam looked creduously a
the customer, wondering if he was drunl
or crazy, when Johnny again put forward
the question: "what will you take for tn
whole rig?' Sam with wink, and Will
knocking the ashes from his cigar, doubt
less thinking to frighten his unknown ques
toner, replied, "Well guess about $7,0O'
will take the lot. Johnny" answered b,
laying seven one thousand dollar bills OF
the seat of the vehicle, and taking hold o
the reins he said "Hop out" and "hol
out" Sam did, while "Johnny" drove of
leaving Sam standing in amazement on tn
corner. The day was spent in riding abou
the city and spehdng money Ia7ishIy. To
ward evening he had employed man, t
drive, and finally, while winding up tn
day, he reached the Girard House, alightinl
on the pavement, he asked the driver as t.
his circumstances, and learning that b
knew the "grip of poverty" "Johnny
made him present of the carriage an
horses, telling the driver, not to offe
thanks but to 'drive off quick"
While in Philadelphia one of the eccen
tricities of his morning walks on Market o
Walnut streets, was to watch for ma
with shabby hat. He would then folio,
him until he got in front of hat store, an
then, with full swoop he would land tn
offending hat into the middle of the street
at the same time apologizing to the wearer
and asking him into the store where b
would buy him the best to be had.
"Johnny" never carried any baggag
with him while travelling, purchasing every
thing as he required it. Having resolve
one day to stop at the Continental Hotel
instead of his usual retreat-the Girard-
he was driven there in company with
friend, Mr.. VIM. By, a noted mer
chant of our own city. sauntering up t
the Office he made known his desire t
"stop awhile" The clerk asked him as t
the whereabouts of his baggage; "Johnny
replied that he had none. "Then" sal
the clerk "you must pay in advance; tina
is our rule" "Johnny" cast glance a
him and wondered that he was not known
So winking at his friend E., he asked tn
clerk if the proprietor was in; receiving
reply in the affirmative the landlord 500
made his appearance when conversatio
of the following tenor ensued:
J. S.-You are the proprietor, I believe
sir-the responsible man? ?"
"Mr. K-"Yes, sir"
J. Sd wanted to make a short sta
with you, but that gentleman, (pointing t
the clerk says must pay in advance.
Mr.. K-"Well, sir p
J. S.-"How much do you consider you
whole house worth for day?"'
Mr.. 'K-"About $4,000"
J S-I'll take it "a hours, anyhow, an
see how it goes"
Johny then counted out the money, an
turning, to his friend, says: "Now, Bill
Jump in and play clerk Rumor say
this was BIS first and only experience
bookkeeping"
There are many anecdotes related abor
him, but the above will suffice to show th
ranaro1 oborao otar of tho man When MOI