Smyrna times., 1880-08-04
A Romance of Oildom.
THE STORY OF JOHNNY STEELE-FROM POVERTY
TO AFFLUENCE, THENCE TO PERJURY.

- ~ POAO AONOIlllJ DuOllSuGNlt W Tic GIleCI
that Johnny Steele, the ex-oil prince, had
been arrested for bunko dealing, recalls
the story of his life, one of the most 70.
mantle careers in the annals of oildom.
Steeles early life was as uneventful as
his middle age was reckless and exciting.
His parents dying in his childhood he was
adopted by a widowed lady named Nc
Clintock, upon whose farm, not far from
where Oil City now stands, he grew up to
be sturdy, rugged farmer, passing his
summers and his winters in the monoton-
Gus tolls OF agriculture. 10 him the world
was closed volume, and the stories of its
great cities, its fair women, its vast fortunes,
its shining lights of wealth and pleasure
were as fascinating as tales of fairyland.
\ ear after year of dull, wcarisome routine
OF farm life had passed away with un-
broken monotony, and John Steele was
nearing his twcnty-irst birthday. Sud.
denly the great oil excitement spring up
in the vicinity of his home. Well after
we'll was struck, and each poured forth its
limpid terrent Of liquid wealth. The hid.
ded treasures of the great oil basin bathed
the country roundabout in flood of fabu-
lous riches. Sterile, barren lands became
as mints, and the INDECENT farmer became
the independent millionaire within the
changing of the moon.
Some good spirit seemed to have waved
an unseen wand of fair promise over the
country the hills and valleys teemed with
new life, and poured forth rivers of oil
from rock and rill. Finally oil was dis.
covered upon the lands of Steele's foster.
mother, and her fortunes and his changed
as if by magic. From the time of the first
discoveries up to 1868, Mrs. McClintock had
received more than $4,000 in royalties,
and the golden tide poured in upon her
with constantly increasinc volume. Her
income grew with rapidity which be.
wildered the soberest heads, and in a few
months had reached point not far short
| OF $4,000 per day. In the early winter of
1864 Mrs. McClintock fell victim to the
| very element which had made her wealthy.
In other words, she kindled fire with
kerosene and was burned to death by the
| explosion which followed. Upon her death
Steele succeeded to her immense income,
| and found himself prince among men.
His changed condition revolutionized his
| whole life. He stood before the world, for
| little while bewildered by the vastness of
his own fortune. From the drudgery of
the farm to the palace and the ease of the
| millionaire, was but step, but in taking
| that one stride he inhaled the miasm Of
| money madness. He entered a new realm,
far down whose glitting aisles the sirens of
vice, extravaganza and dissipation of every
species, sang the song which bewilders,
then maddens, then ruins men. Full of
the boyish confidence which is part of a
character developed in the quit nvocation
OF agriculture, he fell an easy prey to
| sharpers and impostors. As his fortune in.
creased his prudence decreased The fru.
gal habits of his youth were succeeded by
an extravaganza which, more than any
other trait of character, has made Johnny
Steele famous. lie seemed to think there
was absolutely no limit to his wealth, and
therefore he placed no restrictions upon
his expenditures. The young wife whom
he had welded just as the sunburst of
| attiuence was casting its golden halo over
bis humble life, was abandoned and neglec.
ted for the evil associations of bad men.
| He swept across the armament of com.
merce like an erFatic meteor, and within a
year from the day the river cf fortune set
its current toward him, Johnny Steeles ex-
traVagance had become the by.word Of an
amazement stricken nation. The stories
of his reckless extravaganza are numerous
enough to fill volume. He organized
large minstrel troupe, gave each member a
diamond pin, and travelled about the
| country giving exhibitions, the bills an
nouncing Admission free, children half
price," Upon one occasion, tradition has
it, he entered a china store in Philadelphia,
and noticing large pyramid of fine ware
| in the centre of the room, sent his heavy
cane crashing through it "just to see," as
he explained as be cheerfully settled the
bill, chow much a man could smash at
fhpOtu ~ Tf ha ~ =, L "a
was not unlike him to buy the turnout and
present it to the driver upon alighting
For him q ten dollar greenback was an
everyday cigar.lighter. At another time,
it is said that upon applying for suite of
| rooms in New York hotel and being in
formed by the clerk that the apartments
were all occupied, he purchased the house
and took rooms to his own notions. Trick.
sters made him their dupe, and, consciously
or otherwise, he allowed himself TO be rob.
bed at every turn. Sharpers Of every de-
scrptlon hung about and preyed upon
him like SO many leeches. Generous to q
degree bordering upon profligacy, he gave
lavlshly to every applicant, and was with
out exception, the most imposed.upon man
l9 the world But at last the great reac.
tion came, and it beoame known that
Johnny Steele was pennjless,
The magnificent fortune had wasted
away like mist in the morning sunshine.
Reckless extravaganza and the rogues who
fed upon it had done their work, and the
vast wealth Of Coal Oil Johnny had been
scattered to tho four winds. Three brief
years had witnessed lie gssoHwth; Tie pef.
feet maturity and the utter annihiIation Of
one OF the most splendid fortunes ever
possessed by single individual. II sprane
up like fash, daszlsd the wondering peo.
pie by its magniicence, and vanished as
: quickly as 1t rose. For a time Steele
travele,'I as an employe Of the minstrel
company bis mont"v had gone TO establish,
then he drifted hither a...di a~d thither about
the oil regions, viewing the scenes a.aA OF
his humble farm life and his reign as an
oil prince, detected, downcast, but never
dishonorable, always proud, manly and
generous. The broad west invited him to
her fertile filds, and he sought new home