Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-07-30
OIL WELL ADVENTURES.
Some Curious Information About
the Life of an on scout.
watching the Mysteries "A Man who
Made $4,000 by watching n Great
Gusher--rwsnty-four Hours Under
Derrick Floor : A Capture.

Joe Chappeau, one OF the most expert
scouts in the oil regions, gives some curious
information about the life OF an oil scout.
TIE incidents he relates give an idea OF the
dangerous work OF prospecting for oil.
Two men In our business" F" he said, "havs
had experience that would make an inter.
c-ting chapter in any book OF adventure.
The one Is Hughes, the other Beaumont.
Hughes was Che first man to make scouting
for oil his business. He had been working
about oil wells for several years, when one
day, in the winter Of 1881, he received a
message from firm OF oil operators at
Bradford telling him OF delicate piece of
work they wanted done. He was offered
liberal salary, and n bonus II the venture
succeeded. Until he had agreed to accept
Che offer no instructions were given him.
Then he was directed TO spy out the well
numbered CSC.
"To reach the well where his labors were
20 begin Hughes had 10 travelirom Warren
some fourteen miles through a great hem.
lock forest. The weather was bitter cold,
and the snow lay driited across the poorly
beaten track several feet in depth No.
646 Was In the midst OF a Wilderness IL
was p wildcat venture that Was pushed out
beyond the bounds of civilization. Only a
logging road connected II with Warren.
Besides the driliers' house there were not
half-do1en houses between the well and the
town, fourteen miles away. The tai, 1em-
lock trees with a close underbrush grew an
about tho derricks.
Hughes secured boarding at the nearest
farmhouse, and his scouting began. At
first the drilers paid little attention TO
him. He would drop in on them usually
once day, talk awhile, loiter around, and
A. h.. Hill i >
To the oil rocks, though Hughes began to
be looked upon as an intruder. Finally he
was ordered off the premises entirely, and
warned not TO approach the well at his
own peril. The trees and thick underbrush.
however afforded him hiding places from
which he could observe all that was doing
Alter he had been watching the well for al
most two months, by certain indications
known to the oil export he became satisfied
that the drill was about tapping the sand
The vigilance about the well had redoubled.
His hiding places in the underbrush had
been discovered. the undcrbrush cleared
away and the derrick boarded up. Then
Captain Grace, one OF the owners OF the
mystery, brought up half-doEen men from
the lumber camps to serve M guards.
Each Was armed with breech-loading rifle.
and ordered 20 use il in protecting the well.
The lumberinen were a Wild crew, who de-
lighted in their new vocation. When
Hughes would be hovering about the mys.
tcry ON "A dark night, the least crnckle of A
twig would call forth shot from one Of the
guards. Then the whole number would
open a perfect iusilade into the black forest
that surrounded the well like an inky wall.
The bullets would 20 whistling paat the
venturcsOme scout In n way that was any
thing but comfortable.
One night Hughes was called away from
scout duty and left a friend who had come
up to visit him TO keep lookout on the
mystery. His friend had hardly penetrated
the ravine In which GAG stood before the
guards began promiscuous firing In his
direction. They had not seen him, but had
determined his proximity in some other
way. lie dropped behind log In time 10
escape bullet that buried itself in a tree
not two inches from where his head had
been. lie did not lose any time in scran-
bling out OF range, and the well was left un.
watched for the rest OF the night. When
Hughes returned the next day and heard OF
his friends narrow escape, he started i'm.
mediately over to see Captain Grace. He
and Grace had a warm discussion over the !
careless way the guards were shooting into
the forest, and Grace finally said that he !
would stop the promiscuous firing.
atel' IVAN
An right, replied the Captain. That
kind oil firing will be stopped, but / warn |
you not to tempt them by trcspassinq |
while they have guns in their hands
Hughes felt much easier; he could work |
With more comfort then. He took a close |
survey oi the wen that night, and resolved |
on new course OF action. The derrick /
reared its skeleton frame ork right through |
the branches Of couple OF tall hemlocEs. I
From the left side of the ravine another |
hemlock tree had been partly torn from its
roots and rested against one OF the larger /
treee touching the derrick. The next night /
was dark and stormy. Making his way 10 \
the bent tree, he climbed 70 the larger one.
aud then easily dropped from that TO the
derrick. To descend the framework Of the
latter without making any noise was the
work oi q minute. As soon as he could /
hear the voices Of the drillers he stoDped
and listened. For more than two hours he
sat there close to the derrick with quick
ear for all that was said and done. After
awhile his cramped position became un.
bearable and he assembled the derrick.
passed TO the ground and went home.
They were tapping the sand, he gathered
from what he heard, and he felt like hug
ging himself for Joy at the place he had
iound from which everything done could
be observed. For three nights he went 10
the derrlck by way Of the tree A few min.
utea climb, couple OF hours eingng 10
the derrick, and all the dOines al the well
Tor the night were known. When he came
the iourth night he was almost on the der
rick before he observed that a guard sat ON
the top platform dangling his feet In space.
Whirtiing softly 20 himself, and grasping
gun In one hand. Hughes knew that his
observation place had been discovered.
and slipped back into the gloom 10 think
outnnother plan. After circling about the
derrick couple Of times 10 find out where
che men were placed. Hughes discovered
that, beyond an oecasional vinit of the fire.
men, the cngnehouse was comparatively
Without losing a moments
time he alpped out OF the woods. and
dodged and erept 10 the outlying shed Of
the derrick. Then he crawled along the
tlmbers until he lay close against the der.
rick floor, lie could hear unusual prepare.
tlpna going on, and WAS eager to get nearer.
Besides he waa liable 10 be discovered by
one q the men who kept iiuttering about
irem the derrick room past him 10 the
other parts ol the machinery. An the
while the drillera mere making unusual
noise with The tools Ia the derrick room.
Creeping 10 tho side opposite them, Hughes
|onnd boord loose and cot into the der.
rick room. The floor boards were laid
down very loosely. To pull two Of them
Hp, equcore himself through under the floor.
and pail the boards alter him was the work
q moment He could hear the drillcrs
|rHg7p about over his head, busy making
80 re pipe connections. Alter awhile,
ruIu he sound 81 othor volcns above. he
IntW tie mon had been replaced hy another
'anf' and that daylight ras breaking Hsl .
nnnEri h'a position 70 dryer spot, and
made himself comfortable Tor a long siore.
(n N Ale day he une aroused from nap 1
10 he'd dropped "a into by an unusual
nmMotIoo overhead Above the tram.
|nnE b. fQkN distinguish ne oolnt 81 !