Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-06

The oil excitement Of 1889. building q
few fortunes bat destroying Twice tne
number. and wfocking many isii name
and fame, Was the cause As vel OF sotne
sfrnnos and desperate cfi6pes III the
nortLeastern district Of Pennsylvania,
one Of which occurred as follows:
was. Al the time spoken Of, the man.
aper of three wells in the vicinity OF =.
\ veIl known oil district, besides having
n personal and private interest II q
"viIdcat- well, distant some seven
miles. among the ridges Of the hills,
e,ou which NV partner and myself were
houino great things. OF course, Our
well was watched; bat as We had not
VET "struck,n We did not seek TO avoid
spiss.
Ous Friday night, however, matters
changed. Tom DiIiworth, my partner,
ssnt me word that We were il OIL, that
the we'll was flowing, and desired my
immediate presence. both 20 nd BIN OF
the task of caring for the oil and also
20 drive away those Of the outside men
Who sought TO learn the strength OF
our duid.
Az you NAV know. almost all the yield
ING wells, whether flowing or pumped,
are controlled by great corporations, and
apy new independent or so-calied Wild
eai'' veil is Ct once boagdt by these cor
porstjons IL they can ascertain It's yield,
and for this purpose spies are continu-
aiIy ON tbs watch around such new ven
lures: much, however, against the Will
of the owners, who would prefer 10 sell
"unseeu," as schooIboys trade knives.
Very naturally. no love is lost between
these men.
Quickly arranging my matters at the
other wells, mounted my horse and
galleped into the mountsins.
At dark I was with Diiworth.
"Sixty barrels, Major he cried TO me,
q ve eazed at the bubbling muddy OIL.
"Sixty barrels il she's pint, and-Get
out o. here
He turned quickly and sprang towar
his gun, standing in the corner.
As he did 20 a shadow fitted past
the window and disappeared within
the gathering shadows of the woods
near by.
"a cursed spy mutsered Tom, in
dignantIy. "ihey're rs thick as the
hair ON dog. shall hurt some Of
EN- yet"
Never mind them, Tsm." said i.
"What IL they do learn about our weilf
We need not sell If We do not choose to
Let % avoii row with the rascals, for
they might tap the tank"
AYE. that they would, in a moment"
replied my partner, 81 if they dared. But
guard il too we'll. Any man found on
these premises after dark who docs not
belong here runs the chance of a charge
Of number fours In bis hide. Curse
EN-; this ID my land, and th y must stay
away"
During the evening we arranged mat
tors With relation 70 the new well 70 our
entire satisfaction; and a. my time vas
not my own, proposed TO ride down the
valley again early the next morning, but
Tom insisted on my remaining until af-
ts1 dinner.
Just before noon 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
COR pump house.
He vas partly concealed by the brush
aud second growth, but l knew him as
spy at once, and, determined to give
him at least a scare that should &c sch
him 10 keep away. orept hastily toward
him, made a quick spring, and threw
myself bodily upon him.
Although / had taken the fellow una
wares. found myself at sudden dis.
advantage. The man was much stronger
than ], and % threw myself upon him
dipped and partly fell. and an instant
la4ef was upon my back on the ground,
o close grip at my throat. and an ugly
face peering into mine.
who are you, you fooll Do you
rex q slit In your throat, that you throw
yourself ut my knife? Speak low" he
continued, touching my bare neck with
the point Of viiiainous- looking knife
which he held In his hand. "who are
your
Without q moments thought l re-
Piled:
am one Of the owners Of this
veil. Let me up, and clear OF from
A fercs light famed into his eyes.
"Curpe you! won't let you mp until
I've given you such pounding you'll
remember u ~ long ~ You live! Your
pArd has shot at me twice; now Ill send
him . message In your face. II you
yell" no continued, speaking lover,
I'll drive my knife 70 y our heart"
Iwas mot frightened az the threatened
haRRine, for could run my chance of
that; but this man was q Desperate,
and armed, and II he became too an.
cry, he doubtless would not hesitate
70 hill me. | sought TO cool him off a
littie.
Hold . bit,- said l. "Don's beat me
Tor anot ser mans wrongs. Let me go,
and Ill say no more about your tress-
passine; or, II You want 10 hght, let me
up and throw away your knife. and I'll
.No. you'll not fight me. nor woa',
Ia you up" hianed the brute, sinking his
dugers In my throat and tucking bis
knife back into his bosom. "I'li sim.
ply give you GOOD beating and lei
He had raised his heavy hand TO carry
out tAiD programme when something
daahed past my eyes. heard a sound
ING blow, and the next moment Tom
Dllworth was by my side, while the
ny lay near ~ hand, stunned and
bleeding.
He had you there. Major" laughed
my partner. "Just saw ron in time 10
sAye your phiz- threw the hammer /
had IN my hand, and made q lucky hit,
! wouldnt have cared much." he add
%. examining the fellow, "if it had
killed him."
Two Of tile men about the well were
ordered TO drag the spy. who at length
rugAined consciousness, out to the high
way, quarter Of mile Cd; and after
dinner and . concluding smoke my
horsc vas brought up for my ride home
ward. Tom suggested that he ride with
NJ part way.
Do. said l. "and we'll run over to
Oilville and &c about that new drill.
You oan ga back here by dark. and we'll
b together 70 the turn and talk matters
mp WELL"
This We did, riding together TO the
little town, then back to the turn or
crossroads, whore We must separate II
vas about dusk when We reached that
spoe, and. - ve eat talking, sudden
about arose from the readable on either
hand, half dozen figures appeared in
the cleaning rushing toward as. tvo or
three pistola rang out, and hum and
vhis Of bullsts sang In our sarS, min
gied With coarse oaths and cries of
"Douu With 'em! down with 'ems,.
"Thn opiAars criod Tom. sEaIlcxs