Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-07-14
STORY OF THE COQUETTE
WE'LL.

/
One of the most famous of the oil
farms that were developed in the early
days of the petroleum excitement on
Oil Greek was the Hyde & Egbert
farm, near Petroleum Centre, Pa Dr.
Egbert, of Franklin, and his partner
had between them 1000, which they
paid for the farm This was consider
ed an immense price for it, as it hal
not yielded enough under cultivation
to pay taxes. In 1864 they struck oil
on it. They had several good wells,
but none that compared with the great
gushers that had spouted their 1000
and 5000 barrels day further down
| the creek.
Hyde Il Egbert's superintendent had
brother who lived in an Eastern
town. He was in love with young
lady of the place, who was noted in the
neighborhood as great coquette. Ons
night in the early fall of 1864 troupe
of Indians gave an exhibition in the
village. The young man and the young
lady in question attended it together
After he had escorted her home, he
seized an opportunity that offered and
asked her to become his wife. She re-
fused him. He went to bed disappoint-
ed and despondent. He had long en-
tertained the idea of seeking his for
tune in the oil regions, and before he
retired that night he had determined
on carrying out the idea without fur
Lnr 1o1a ha hod
dream. He thought he stood in wild,
mountainous place, alone and friend
less. Suddenly an Indian, hideous in
war paint, sprang from thicket and
rushed toward him with his tomahawk
raised The dreamer was unarmed.
He tried to save himself by fight but
he could not move He had resigned
himself to his fate, when another per-
son appeared on the scene. 1t was the
coquette who had rejected his suit. She
had a rifle. She quickly placed the
weapon in her Tilted lovers hands and
disappeared. The lover covered the
Indian with the rifle and fired. When
the smoke cleared away the Indian
was gone. Where he had stood there
gushed from the ground stream of oil
of great volume. 1t flowed down over
the land in miniature river.
The young man awoke from his
dream. 1t made great impression up
on him. He interpreted it as good
omen for him, not only in business
matters, but in his love affair. He de-
parted for Oil Greek, next day, and
went first to the farm where his broth
er was working. One day the superin-
tendent was showing his visiting broth
er over the Hyde & Egbert farm.
Suddenly the latter stopped and looked
about him with an exclamation of sur
prise.
"This is the very spot" said he,
chat | saw in my dream"
lie then related his dream to his
brother. The spot was not considered
n favorable one for striking oil, but the
dream of the young man 80 impressed
the superintendent that he determined
to sink well there The result was
awaited with intense interest by the
two brothers. The drill, at the depth
of 900 feet, struck literal river OF OIL
The rich deposit spouted out of the
earth at the rate of 1000 barrels day.
The well became famous Mt once. 1t
was given the name of the "Coquette,"
because of the coquettishness of the
young lady that resulted in its being
drilled. Thousands of persons fiocked
to the farm to see it, and q fee of ten
cents head was charged for sight at
it, pouring it's wealth into DIR. Egbert's
tanks. II flowed for fifteen months. DIR.
Egbert made an immense fortune from
it. and then sold a one-twelfth interest
in it for $275, 900. He gave $4,000 to
the young man whose dream led to the
discovery of the Coquette well With
thisssum to start with, the fortunate
dreamer in few months made hand
some fortune lie returned to his ma
tive village Still loving the young
lady who had refused his hand, and
learning that since his departure shc
had ceased entirely to 20 into society,
he proposed to her again. This time Le
was accepted, and he married the
former coquettc. Shortly afterward
the well ceased to yield oil voluntari-
ly, fell to small 'pumper," and then
became entirely exhausted. A few rot
ten timbers Of the derrick that stood
above the once famous well Is now oil
that marks the spot where the river Of
oil burst forth.