Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-20
COAL OIL JOHNNY.

COAL OIL JOHNNY.
The True Story Of his Sudden Wealth ana
Return to Poverty.
Scarcely a month passes without the
appearance of some newspaper paragraph
Informing the world of the whereabouts
and wealth of Johnny Steele, oras he is
better known, "Cosl Oil Johnny"
Only few days ago, said an Oil City cor
respondent, I noticed in a New York
paper an account of his having sudden
" acquired another fortune, and other
reports as false as this one have acquired
wide circulation.
johnny Steele was born near Rouse
Vile, one of the mushroom towns OF the
oil region. His parentage is obscure,
but he was adopted by q widow lady,
a Mrs. McC Clintock, and treated by her
as if he were her son. The Widow Nc
Clintock, as she was called by her neigh
bors. was the owner of barren farm on
Oil creek, upon which, before the
oil excitement broke out, it was difficult
for the family to make living. Johnny
was made to work as soon as he became
of sufficient size, and was employed IN
driving team and doing odd jobs.
When the oil excitement occurred the
Widow McClintock's farm suddenly be-
came worth small fortune. The cd
lady was close, however, AMI although
Johnny was her only heir, she did not
keep him in idleness nor allow him to
spend much money. He became 9
teamster, hauling oil on the creek, and
working for fve dollars day. just as
the McOlintock farm was at its highest
valuation the widow died, and Johnny
came into possession of the property.
It was not million, nor two million, as
has been erroneously reported. The
whole amount did not exceed $500, 600,
but to person who had been living by
day labor that sum seemed to be mex.
haustible.
Johnny at once begun career OF dis
sipation, which lasted nine months. Ia
that time he spent his whole fortune
with the exception OF small sum which
he settled on his wife, after which he
became laborer once more. We need
not wonder at this, since he had never
been taught the value Of money, and
having lived on q couple OF hundred
dollars q year, he thought his wealth
had no end. He did not spend all his
money himself, however. His friends
helped him largely, and it is estimated
that she loaned to his companions one
hundred thousand dollars without tax
ing any paper to show for it, and none
of the money was ever recovered.
Many of his freaks during this period
are amusing. One day, while in Phila-
delphia, he ordered a carriage for Q
ride, A basket of wine and several boon
companions were taken along. The
whole afternoon was spent in carousing,
and at early twilight the carriage was
driven through Chestnut street. the legs
of the occupants sticking through the
windows, where they had been pinced 70
the detriment OF the glass. At another
time while on 0 similar spree, Johnny
and his companions cut the carriage
cushions to pieces, broke the door
panels, smashed the lamps and WIN
dows, and made wreck Of the entire
affair. When the party arrived at the
hotel the livery man was angry. John.
nv, with q tone OF Importance, asked
him what he valued the whole rig at.
The livery man said "Two Thousand
dollars" Steele paid it, and turning to
the driver, gave the horses to him.
Another freak, for which he paid
$4,000, was running the Girard House,
Philadelphia, for one day. He fancied
the hotel clerk did not treat him when
he entered with that respect which was
due him, and he dem anded to see the
proprietor or manager. When that per-
sonage appeared Johnny announced his
name, and wanted to, know the landlord 8
price for the use of his hotel one day.
The answer was $4,000, which Johnny
paid, and that day he threw the hotel
open to everybody.
Many of his sprees Johnny does not
remember, for, as he says, it was nine
months drunk. During this time his
wife sued for and obtained divorce.
At the end Johnny's money gave out,
and be found himself 9 poor man again.
He returned to Oil creek, and worked
at day labor for some time. Then ne
was assistant baggage master for the
railroad at Housewife, and afterward be-
coming reunited to his wife, he settled
down on q farm in Venaugo county.
From there he recently removed to the
West. where he has obtained small
farm, and, as he says, is enjoying Life
r,o.o tbon in his daya of wealth.