The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-06-26
How the OIL Came.


A correspondent of the Clinton
Democrat, writing from Hyner, gives
the following description of how the
oil was forced through the pipe 10
Williamsport. He says:
DISTANCE FROM HYNER.
As the pipe line is within seven
miles Of Hyner, 1t being the nearest
point to the railroad along the whole
line. a short description of the oils
first advent may not prove uninterest-
ing, especially, when we reflect upon
the ingenuity of man in lifting oil
over two thousand feet from below the
surface Of the earth, and conveying 1t
scores of miles over mountains ofgreat
height and almost perpendicular.
Many were the conjectures among us
rustics as to whether the oil would
flow up steep mountain, even for the
sake of getting to Willisinsport. Most
of us OWNED it would not, but our
predictions proved erroneous. Mr..
Nifer, who lives ON the pike, tells us
how the oil came in this wise. II was
coming along up the pike when met
man says he,
THE OIL Is CoM1NG!"
1t seems when they first started the
oil they dispatched men to follow
right along to see that all went well.
The man Mr.. Nifer met was one of
them. He had got ahead Of the oil.
"Well, says Mr.. Nifer, II had dog
and go had he. Well, we lay down
close by the pipe, but the dogs lay
some distance off. We all remained
there some thirty minutes, when the
dogs jumped up as though they were
frightened. thought it was deer. I
then heard the pipe begin to sound,
and the man said the oil was coming.
sprang to my feet and heard the oil
rushing by. I knew then it was a
reality" Mr.. John Ward, one of the
watchnen, also gave us an account.
The line crosses Hayner's run, or its
headwaters, at place called McClure's 8
Springs. Here there is quite hol-
low or depression in the ground.
From this place to the residence ofMr.
Holding, some six miles beyond,
there is gradual rise; this the oil had
to climb after passing the hollow at
the springs. Mr.. Ward says: II was
told to watch we'll this hollow, as the
oil had ascended Kettle Creek noun
tain and was coming. l repaired to the
hollow and lay some hours there,
when I heard sound like heavy
wind and presently heard
THE OIL GURGLING PAST.
waited some time. There was no
leakage and all seemed perfect. 1
thought the pipe line was success,
for sure, and SO left my position and
passed along to see if it were all right
ahead. I had gone some two miles
when 1 received dispatch to watch
we'll the hollow and not to leave it for
some time, so I hastened back.
Imagin my astonishment when saw
the place had LEFT such short time
before 50 tame, now kissing at ten
thousand points. Jets Of oil were
flying twenty feet high and hundreds
of barrels flowing down Hyner's run
never to see market. thought the
pipe was gone up, sure. At first was
afraid to approach it, but soon grew
valiant, and with calking chisel 1 set
to work to stop the leak. made poor
headway. 1t was q dark night, and
l dared have no light. l had taken
off my coat, the whizzing oil carried
away my hat, and I very soon became
thoroughly drenched with oil. Ny
pockets and my hair and eyes were
full, and if l was not then
AN OIL MAN,
1 would like to know what constitutes
one. at length grew sick and sup.
posed would have to give up and all
would be lost, when all at once the
whizzing stopped, and, instead of an
out pressure, could hear an in draw
ing-a sucction of air. Inow realized
the fact that the oil had all this time
been Ginning the upgrade to Mr.
Holdings, but was now OH the decent
for Pine Bottom run. This caused a
suction, and relieved the hollow at the
springs. l again waited some hours,
when received dispatch to hasten
to Hayneville, that the pipe was burst
ing 1 procured a horse and went
with all speed. When / arrived the
people there were greatly excited.
The pipe was throbbing and whizzing
at every pore. McClures springs were
nowhere! The oil was spouting from
the pipe for miles. made no attempt
to calk. knew from my experience
at McClure's Springs that the oil had
reached and was climbing the
HIGH MOUNTAIN BELOW PINE CREEK
but the pressure was SO great that
feared every moment the pipe would
burst. Here was force against which
human power was of no avail, hence
we only stood and looked on, when
suddenly, as quick as thought, al
commotion ceased, except a sucking
in of air, and 1 heard the air pass
rapidly along the pipe and knew il
hoI I,n BOT, ~