The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-08
END OF A DESPERATE.
A TERROR OF THE OIL COUNTRY

After MAny Serious Eaeountsrs, which would have
Caused the Death OF Ordinary Men, Is Killed
bra Dose OF Chloroiorm- -Essapadss OF ths
Aaa-Hild Ride with the Corpse.
BRADFORD, Pa, March 1.-THE terror Of
the oil regions Is dead. Hisname was George
Coyle. For years he had been one Of the
most noted desperadoes Of the oil country.
Everybody knew him or knew Of him. He
had been in many struggle and more than
once received injuries which would have
killed ordinary men. But Coyle was 4
giant Of strength and revolvers and other
deadly weapons had no terros for him.
He was always to be found in the frontier
towns, where lawlessness runs riot, with
no legal hand to stop it. In such places he
could do as ne pleased. He was afraid Of
no one, delighted in fierce struggles and
was the hero Of many hard.fought fight.
Every one supposed that his death would
be violent one. But this was not to be.
One week ago yesterday he submitted to
simple operation under doctors hands.
He was given Ghloroform and the chloro-
form killed him.
coYLR's LAST FIGHT.
Forest City, where Coyle met his death,
is the name Of new oil town. It in the
forks Of road, one branch Of which runs
to Reno and the other To the old Shannon
well. No officer OF the law bothers Forest
City. There is no local government It is
simply wild, oil country village. One Of
the best known characters Of Forest City
bears the name Of Bill Green. He lives in
tent and runs bar. On Saturday night
one week ago a rough entered the tent and
demanded liquor. He was refused. The
rough Immediately hunted up Coyle, and
the pair started for the tent with the inten-
ton OF tearing it out. But they didn't sue
coed. The proprietor whipped out q re-
volver and began to shoot The bullets
whizzed by harmlessly until finally leaden
pellet struck Coyle in the ankle. It was a
painful wound, but not at all dangerous.
This ended the shooting. Coyle Gmped
away and nothing more was heard Of tear
ing out the tent that night. There was not
physician in the place. Messages were
sent around to different oil towns, but none
seemed TO care to come 10 the relief OF the
desperate until at last DR.. Pryor, OF Gar
field, consented 10 attend the wounded
man. ..I.-r a..t-
| B. b A PREMoNIrIoN OF DEATH. aoy
The next day was Sunday. About l
o'clock in the afternoon Uoyle hobbled out
from his lodgings He entered Boyle's
eating house, assisted by roughly con-
structed crutch, and asked the proprietor
for some letter paper. Then he proceeded
to address letter to his mother. In II he
stated that he had been painfully wound.
ed, in manner which be thought would
cause his death. He said 10 his mother
that he was about to undergo an operation
which he thought would cost his life and
that probably before the letter reached her
he would be dead. lie was perfectly cool
and collected and showed no sgn whatever
OF fear. Before he had finished his letter
DR.. Pryor came in. The desperate turned
from his writing to meet his death. The
doctor looked at the wounded ankle
and wanted to probe for the ball.
Cant you give me chloroform?" asked
Coyle. .m .5Ll
The doctor said he could, but hardly
thought it was necessary. Coyle insisted.
He didn't want to bear the pain Of the
probe. "F
"Haye you ever been troubled, with
heart disease :" asked the doctor.
"No, said Coyle, and the doctor hesita-
ted no longer. He had only inhaled a
breath or more OF chloroform when he
showed signs OF dying. He gave gasp or
two and closed his eyes in death. Efforts
were made to restore him, but they were
Of no avail. The desperate was dead.
BEARING THE BODY TO THE GRAVE.
When the news OF Coyle's death had
spread the mans friends got together and
took up collection. They raised thirty
dollars to give him a respectable burial.
A rough box was made, the exterior COW
cred with black alpaca, and two men were
hired to take the body, after being laid in
this "casket," to lower Sheffield. The
parties employed to perform these last
sad rites were slightly intoxicated when
they left Forest City, and by sucking at q
bottle too frequently along the route they
became very drunk before they reached
their destination. II is said that in going
over rough part oil the road they upset
and spilled out the corpse once or twice.
They arrived at Sheffield Monday evening,
and were denied admission to any OF the
houses with their charge and they left the
corpse out doors in front OF Squire Braces
place all night. The next morning they
buried Coyle in the Lower Sheffield Ceme-
terry. A day or two later Henry Coyle, q
brother OF George, arrived at Sheffield from
his home in Canada! He started for Forest
City after the receipt OF telegram an
nouncing his brothers death. He is de-
scribed as very gentlemanly person.
Coyle's people live in Western Canada,
about twelve hours ride from Buffalo.
TIE DEsPRRADos CAREER.
The dead desperate has led lively
career. He was known. to oil men pre-
vious to the opening OF the Bradford field
always as "knocker," however. He took
part In some sanguinary quarels in the
lower oil country before he came up to the
northern field. On one occasion at dance
in Bordell he became involved in q free
fight with party. The quarrel became
general. During the melee Coyle's head
was cut open by stove I'D In his -antago-
nist's hand and he was left for dead on the
floor OF the deserted ball room. But he was
not to die then. Later he was set upon by
an organized band In Colevile. He was
dogged from one hiding place
to another and finally cornered.
He was most unmerciiully punished;
clubs, chairs and knives were used. The
pounding and cutting he suffered on that
occasion could not have been endured by