The Columbus journal., 1883-08-22
Coal.Oil JOhnnyss Luck.

A letter from Harrisburg, Pa, says:
William McNulty, better known as
Johnny Steele, or "Coal-Oil Johnny"
who made a large fortune during the
oil fever, and squandered it almost rs
fast as he made it, turned up in this city
on the Fourth. He said that he had
come to the capital to celebrate, and
that he was at present working In Nc
Cormick's mills, in New Cumberland.
He pulled out bundle of papers from
his pocket, and handing one of them to
an auditor said it was a claim to the
Continental Hotel, in Philadelphia, for
which he paid S48O,OOO in his wealthy
days. He asserted that the hotel would
again come into his possession. The
paper reads right enough. and bears the
ear-marks of age about it. He further
said that he was prospecting in New
Cumberland, sinking shafts for copper
and iron. He showed some ores which
he said came from the shafts in which
he was experimenting. He expressed
his confidence that he would become as
wealthy as Vanderbilt yet.
Being asked where his family was,
he said that they were in Waymert, and
added that he recently sent them $685.
600. He had been up in Williamsport.
he said, about six months ago, and hap
pened 10 be at the Crawford House.
Somebody was talking about package
containing S25, 200, "left there by fel-
low named Coal Oil Johnny, about
'65 or &c." to remain there until called
for. He went to the bank and sue
ceeded, after some difficulty in estab-
-, ilantitx. in nhf0InInur tho
money. "Coal-Oil Johnny" is still
quite attractive in appearance. His face
is pleasant and genial. and well Drowned
by the sun and weather. His eyes are
blue, and he wears side -whiskers in the
English fashion. His clothes are old
fashioned and much too heavy for the
weather. Bundles of papers hung
loosely out of his pocket. He is now
about thirty-nine years of age and pos
sesses considerable intelligence, being
able to write his name legibly, feat he
could not perform in the days of his
prosperity. He is hunting for evidence
to get back some of the money which
was illegally taken away from him.
When the oil fever broke out In
Northern Pennsylvania, about twenty
two years ago, McNulty owned twenty
acres of land in VenangO County, which
he had cleared for himself. Strangers
came one day and began to prospect
around the neighborhOOd. What was
ordinary in appearance to him was
very extraordinary to them. The pc
culiar look of the water was a familiar
thing to him. He had seen the sight
often and did not mind it. To the
strangers it was hidden treasure. The
more they looked over the farm the
more they wanted it. This led to ne
gotiations and McNulty woke up ono
morning to find himself the possessOr
of SO, 100000. His farm of twenty
acres composed the heart of the newly
discovered oil-field, and from that time
forth he became known as "Coal-Oil
JOHNNY" This turned his head. His
reckless extravagances are matter of
history. He scattered money around
wherever he went. He purchased the
Continental Hotel, Philadelphia, fur
nished q cOlOred bands with gorgeous
suits and soldid silver instruments.
bought elegant turn-outs at fabulous
price, used them for single ride and
then gave them away. He travelled
from city to city, and wherever he went
was followed by cloud of sharpers. who
fieeced him of his wealth. Enormous
as his fortune was. it could not stand
these drains made upon it, and when
it had disappeared "Coal-Oil Johnny"
went to work to retrieve his fortunes in
a manly way. The story Of the past
fifteen years, from the time when he
took situation with John Sherry'S
New York Theater at six dollars per
week salary to the present time, is a
story of genuine American pluck and
perseverance; and his friends, and he
has many proved and tried foul-weather
friends. will be glad to know that he is
once more on the road to prosperity.