National Republican., 1880-11-27
WISCELLA ANEOUS.
Az OCEIY or PErRoLEUM
The Vision That WAS spread Before
ClairvUyaurB Gaze.

The Vision That Was spread Before n
ClairvoyRnrs Gaze.
a Tiusvillo correspondent Of the New York
Sun gives the following account Of the sinking Of
the first we'll IN the oil regions Of Pennsylvania
"Ycs It was mysterious affair, indeed said q
resident this city, yesterday, referring to the
Pleasantvlo oil excitement and the celebrated oil
well that was said to have been located by the
spirits. Nobody ever dreamed there was oil In
Plcasantvlle up TO GS or, at least If he did
think so, the opinion was that ikyas only IN small
quantities, and II would noytS pay to develop
vile was nothing but n quiet country village, only
stirred whenever tCatnstcrs or speCulatOrs, or oil
men on their way TO Pithole stopped over there to
water and rest their teams, or dine at the hotel.
There lived around here's that time n man named
Abraham James lie had dubblcd In oil sonc-
what but never to any great extent, owing to his
poveftv lie entertained n thorough belief In
spirituallsn, aud used 10 devote most of his time
lH communng ! think they call It, with discm
bodied spirits. James was possessed OF strong
ClairyOynut powers, was a ready speaker, and a
shining light among his followers. lie was ccceu.
tic ln his way, aud up 10 the winter OF 1865 had
never bcheiiicd the world particularly.
But he m0de q ten.s,rikc andno mistake, either,
through the assistance Of the supernatural, or by
remarkable coincidence. have heard him relate
the story OF now he was induced TO bore the first
Oil.pruduuing well In PlcastntYille lie had been
attending seances IN the country for several days
ana, as he expressed IL the condilions were more
Than unusually favorable, aud the most gratifying
manifestations were drawn from the usually ret.
cent spiriS. One day he was riding along the road
wnen he experienced strange sensation, similar
to that which attacked him lust prior to going
into trance. At first he lred 10 resist the
influence, but IL was more powerful than
his WILL and he was obliged 10 yield
The spirit, or invisible power then grapplod
James ana compelled him to get out Of his buggy.
Then he was hurried along over the fields and
bitches, and when he came to n fence the spirit
raised him into the air and flew over with him At
length he was halted ut certain spot near the WI
lage OF pleasantville, aud allowed II few minutes
Ia Ia hrgt hon. IN r |
am relating II exactly as he told me the ground
opened, disclosing large il'sure, and, still i'm
PEELED by his spirit friend, Mr.. James and his un-
seen pilot entered the cavern which closed above
their heads. From there he was hurried on for
cJn'lderable distance, still descending into the
bowels of the earth Finally, James WIS brought
TO halt and told to look about him. lie did 30.
| and the sight astonished him somewhat Stretched
out before him and extending as far as the eye
could reach was an ocean of petroleum.
After allowing James to gaze upon this unusual
spectacle for while the mysterious vistnnt sud.
denly whsked him TO the surface of the earth
again and he became nscnsiblc. The rest has be
come n matter Of orcgion history. The hint was
amply sufficient. Mr. James, however was too
poor to develop anything except spiritual mani
in modified form, and they agreed to help him
put down u we'll Drilling was begun the same
month, and at depth Of $50 feet strucK fourth
sand rock, and l50bnrrel gusher the first paying
well in Pleasaniville district, was the result Other
spiritualiSts, who had nll along had faith IN Mr..
James prophecies and who were not in the least
astonishcd at this remarkable strike gathered in,
and in short time five other wells were put down
IN that locality, every one of which pnnncd ont
heavy. Among these was Isaiah l.. Ennis, noted
spritualist who had previously made q fortune In
petroleum on Oil creek IN the FIRST flush times
Pleasantyille then sprang from obscurity iuto
iame as the leading oil territory OF the
world. James accumulated wealth and left
the country. Whnt has become of him
now | know not. Ho wandered Off east some
where and 1t Is reported got rid of his suddenly
| acquired wealth and sank into obscurity. Whether
ornot the spirits, Il there are any ever had nnv-
thing to do with the matter, aud actually pointed
him out spot where oil could be obtained is All
open question: Ny own opinion is that James was
| @. geologist, and had observed such indications
about The soil In that localiyRs assured hm there
was oil there His story Of the spirtuuistic vision
might have been conCoctcd Und spread among his
followers TO give him prestige among them"