Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-03-26
Slang of the PennsyIvania Oil Regions.


Since the California gold excitement, or the
period that marked the close Of the war for the
preservation of the Union, it may be doubted if
there is any portion of the county that pre;ends
10 such startling originality in its geographical
nome clature, rs that known as the petroleum
region of Pennsylvania. With population
comprising representatives. from every State in
the Union, it is not to be wondered at that the
already lannon's vernacHlar of the original
" BuckWheat" should be improved by such ad
dtions as the veteran " Pacific Sloper" could
suggest by former experience, assisted by the
later euphonsms of the demoraliZed Yankee,
fresh from scenes of strife, and who only dropped
the weapons lifted in his defense of the country
10 weld the cudgel against Pinneo and Web
ster's Unabridged" California and the South
ern States each have their vocabulary of slang
and uncouth phrases, peculiar to the respective
sections and The reader is doubtless familiar
with the original and exquisite American names
Of Scratch Gravel, Puchtown, Lick Skillet
Bucksnort, Nip aud Tuck, Hog Eye, Slum Gull
lion, Poverty Slant, Shake Rag, Rake Pocket,
Steal Easy, Dead-Horse Gulch, and Righteous
Ridge, Of Ell Dorado fame.
The " Forty miners who still live will recog-
nize many Of these localities as the scene of
hlssful or bitter pioneer experience in the excite
meut Of that year and where does there exist
veteran soldier or "bummer," whether a
muds las the infantry Of the Potomic Army
were afectionately termed), or regular 4" crit
terback " " git-up-and-gtter fresh from cav
airy campaigns in Sberman's front. Who does
not remember Buzzard's Roost, Snickerville,
Snake Gap, Rattlesnuketown, and Bulls Gap
names that will live in history, because of the
mighty events and scenes of bloodsbed that
marked their existence in the war just cosed2
In geography, the oil operator is not behind
his predecessors in the construction of names
and phrases, and the number of awbreaking,
Webster-defyng forms of speech is fully equal TO
any that has previously existed, while many of
the same exhibit a knowledge of " the eternal
fitness of things - that is surprising.
Pthoe City, neegant rs the name is was
honestly obtained and will long mark the his
tory of the greatest excitement and speculation
o4 the age. Oil City, Oleopolis, and Petroleum
Centre, are names in keeping with the business
and daily pursuits of their inhabitants, while
Shamburg bellies its nome, in pecuniary sense
at least.
Tarr Farm was not so named from its being
the source of the North Carolina product, but
bears its owners name, and individual who was
quite willing TO exchange his sterile acres for an
equivalent in greenbacks, representing the ma
tional lubricator afterward produced.
Among later choice additions to village
nomenclature come Red Hot, Allemag agoozleum
City, and Dry Up, each the cognomen OF a bust
Jerusalem -Four Corners " is hut short
distance from Red Hot" while Bull, Cow and
Calf Runs follow each other in playful bovine
eccenlricty
From Tideoute to Scrubgrass " is equivalent
TO the term from Dan to Beersheba, OF sacred
history the former making the boundaries of
the producing districts the Allegheny river.
Babylon" like its namesake ot-old, was
indeed city of the fallen like it, also, it met
with speedy destruction from the inhabitants
thereof
Enterprise thrives beneath its name, and the
industry of its Inhabitants while Pleasantville
has rot proven 1eetng pleasure to original
holders Of land and property.
In the christening of wells and petroleum
organizations the oil operator is not deficient.
Among the former-the Pool, the Twins, Gusher,
Buster, Coqueue, Pocket Liner, and Flow Easy,
are well known in the annals of oily history
while the Niagara, Ocean, Fountain and Deluge
Petroleum companies bear equally important
part in the history of the oil-producng districts.
The original inhabiianl clngs fondly to the
phrases of his forefathers, and the " "Buckwheat" "
no sooner sees symptoms of grease spot b." on
his farm, than he enters the ring, aud if he can
raise the "maps," the load of " Aukn fit
ting indicates a removal of household effects
and furniture to - America, or other part of the
country outside of oldom.
The Pennsylvania does not saw wood, but
ture becomes a "spade" by transition to this
section. lie " disremembers some things, and
- forgot to think of" others. .
Where have you been at?" indicates desire
TO know the previous whereabouts of the ndi-
yidual questioned, and 10 " returu back home "
means to take fresh start for the paternal man
sion.
Business is never lvely-it is becoming"
and the extremes of the well-ngger's luck
expressed in the terms, " Not worth a smell, >"
and 8" big thing"
The operator does not drill well-he "puts
it down or " kicks it down and if in the
test" there is @ grease " enough 4" to put out
bed-bug eye" he prosecutes his developments
with renewed vigor. The moment well pro-
duces oil in paying quantities its sex is estab-
lisbed and " she - becomes the pet of the owner,
but without the oil " it " dwindles to a neuter
and nonpaying gender as a dry hole"
The workman II well does not work by the
hour, or relef-but "goes tower " q or
stands his trick with the regularity of a
picket guard His engine house isa " shebang,"
aud his boarding house known only as the
mutton-miI or bash-factory while the
" gin-miil j" denotes The spot where he takes his
" ben2ine, " " bsts ID poison "takes his bowel
rejuvenator," I" mbibes his nitro-glycerine, or
indulges in "Oil creek obliviator," all synony-
mons with taking drink.
Like his Wall Greet brother, the gambler in
" crude " " sells short" " " corners" becomes a
bull or bear, as occasion requires, and in ready
made abbreyiations rivals the gold-room operator.
The "greaser" produces the oil, and the
" shark " speculates in the same.
Government bonds are known as " Bennng-
hefs maps, " throughout the rigion. Pugna-
eious individuals do not fight, but " snatch each
other bald-headed," !" or spills his adversary's
nose all over his face or curries him down
with six-shooter.' The individual who is cor
rect in his views is 1" mighty right"
The man who has made fortune is never rich,
but be has " dead loads of stamps, or "s swads "
Of it, and he does not carry his pocket-book but
- socks it away in his stockDg-leg."
The speculalor does not make bargain with
mother, he " strikes him " for some stated
ImOunt, or "blsters him.
This catalogue might be prolonged indefinitely
fany of the most original have escaped notice