Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-07-26
SAVED AS BY FIRE,
BY MAJOR HAMILTON.

The oil excitement of 1882, building
rev fortunes but destroying twice th,
number, and wrecklng many fair nam,
ana lame, was the cause as well of som,
strange and desperate ..crimes in th,
northeastern district of Pennsylvania
one OF winch occurred as follows: u
J. was atStiie time spoken of tho man
aser OF three wells in She vicinity of -
a Weli known oil district, besides having
personal ana private interest in !,
%iidcat" well, distant seme sever
miles, among the ridges of the hills
3rohi winch my partner and myself were
hoping great things. OF course on,
Wen was watched, but as we had NOT ye
struck" we did not seek to ayoif
One Friday night, however, matter,
changed. Tom Dillworth, my partner
sent me word that we were in Oil thot
the well was flowing, aud desired m,
immediate presence, both to aid him {,
caring Tor the oil, and also to drive away
the outside men who sought to learn The
strength, OF our find.
AS you may know, almost all tb.
yielding wells, whether flowing o,
pumpee, are controlled by great cor.
poraIlons, and any new independent, OF
so-called "wildcat I" well, is at once
bought by these corporations il thew car
ascertain its yield, and for this purpose
spies are continually on the watch arornf
such new ventures, much, however
against the willof the owners, who would
prefer to sell "unseen, as schoolboys
trade knives. Naturally. no love is lost
between these men.
quickly arranging my matters at the
other wells, t'o'lnted my horse and
ga!loped into tnJ fountains.
at dark was with Dillworth
Sixty barrels, maior' he cried TO me,
as l. gazed at the bubbling, muddy oil.
Sixty barrels if she's a pint. ani--pet
out o here!"
lie turned quickly, and sprang toward
his gun, standing in the corner.
as he dld SO shadow fitted past the
window, and disappeared with the gath
ering shadows of the near woods.
"A cursed spy" muttered Tom.
They're as thick as hair on u dog. |
shalt hurt some of 'em yeti"
Never mind. them, Tom" said /
What if they do learn about our welli
We need not sell if we do not choose to.
Let us avoid a row with the rascals. fol
they might tap the tanl1."a
Aye, that they would--in mo.
ment,' replied my partner, s'it they
dared. But guard it too well. Auy man
found on these premises after dark who
doesnob belong here runs the chance of
charge of number four in his hide,
Curse EN-, this is my land, aud they
musl stay away" -
During the evening we arranged mat.
ters with relation to the new we'll to our
entite satisfaction, and as my time was
not my Own, proposed to ride down the
valley again early tue next morning, but
ioai insisted on my remaining till aftel
dinuer. agS -
Just before noon 1 took stroll into
the woods about our well without any
definite purpose, and was returning,
when ! suddenly espied a man upon his
hands and knees, slowly crawling toward
gu. pump house.
de was partly concealed by the brush
ana second growth, but knew him as
a spy at once, and determining to give
him at least scare that should teach
him to keep away, [ crept hastily toward
hlm, made quick spring, and threw
mNSelt Dottlly upon him.
Although I had taken the fellow un.
awares, found myself at sudden dis.
advantage. The man was much strong.
or than I, and as threw myself upon
him | slipped and partly fell, and an in.
stant later was upon my back ON the
ground, close grip at my throat, and
an ugly face peering into mine.
Who are you, you fool? Do you
seek slit inyour throat, that you throw
yourself at my knife? Speak low," he
continued, touching my bare neck with
the point of a yillainous- looking knife
he held in his hand. "Who are you ?'
Without a moments thought L re.
piled:
Z" l am one of the owners of this well.
Letme up and clear off from my land. y
A fierce light ilamed in his eyes.
Curse you I won't let you up un.
til have given you such pounding
you'll remember it as long as you live
Your pard has shot at me twice; now
I'll send him message in your face. II
you yell" he continued, speaking low
er, "I'll drivemy knife to your heart"
60 ! was not frightened at the threatened
hogeing, for could run my chance ol
that; but this man was desperate, and
armed, aud if he became too angry, he
doubtless wonld not hesitate to kill me.
l sought to cool him of a little.
Hold bitp' said I. "Don't beat
me for another mans wrongs. Let me
go, and I'll say no more about your
trespassins; or, if you want to fight
let me up and throw away your knife
and I'll fight YOU"
No, you'll not fight me, nor / won,
let You up, hissed the brute, sinking
his fingers IN my throat and tucking his
knife back into his bosom, "I'll simply
give you good beating and let yon
CO."
He had raised his heavy hand to carry
out his programme when something
flashed past my eyes, heard Astounding
blow, ana the next moment Tom was by
my s,de, whiie the spy lay near at hand,
He had you there, major" laughed
my partner. "Just saw YOU in time tc
save your phiz l threw the hammer
mad, and made lneky hit / wouldn'
have cared much" he added exam,nino
the fellow, lit had killed him"
Two OF the men about the we'll were
ordered to drag the spy, who Mt iengt.
regaIned consciousness, ont 70 the hi9b
way, quarter Of mile off. and afte,
dinner and concluding smoke m,
horse was brought up for my ride home