Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-09-17
MILLIONS IN 1T.
Great Oil Excitement at Parksrs-
burg.
THE "WILD CAT" PROVES A BONANZA.
Hundreds of Land Leases Already Taken---
Startling Story Ofthe Great
Oil Discovery.
INTERESTING LAND SUITS BEGUN.
Spteial % Me RsqiSlsr.

intelligence from the Stillwell oil field con-
firms the report that the test well is sue
cess beyond doubt and the excitement is
intense and growing. The good news has
been flashed abroad and is already attract
ing well known and prominent oil operators
from all sections Land in the vicinity has
advanced, and every available foot OF
ground is readily taken at good prices.
Hundreds of leases have been taken, and it
will not be long until hundred derricks
will be erected. and drilling inaugurated.
From present indications Parkeraburg will
again witness
A Reminder of the Palmy Days
Of a quarter Of century ago, when the old
town made such rapid strides on to prosper
ity. Senator Camden, who is interested in
the enterprise, will have added to his vast
wealth, and the genial Charley Tavenner
James Wetherell, c. B. Smith, Ali. Viii
liams and about twenty other of our worthy
and enterprising citizens will rank amongst
tie weslthiest Of West Virginias sons.
They deserve it all, as to them belong the
credit of making practical demonstration
OF the well known theory Of deep and mex
haustible oil outside of what is known as
the "oil belt of West Virginia" The wild
Cat" as it has been dubbed, proves that
this theory is correct This most important
feature Of the demonstration is that it opens
up altogether q new oil territory Of vast pro-
portions in our State, and all along the
/ ewly discovered oil belt we learn of de-
eIminalion to develop this heretofore hid
den mine of incalculable wealth, and even
he doubling Thomsses' are predicting an
unparalleled boom for our young and grow
ing State. Parkersburg, owing to location,
will be the first to feel the effects Of this
grand reaction, and our business men will
gladly welcome the dawn Of brighter
day.
Cur ueighbor:ng county Of Peasants, as
well as many of Wood county's citizens, are
now watching with much interess the out
come Of land suit in Peasants, which
premises some
Interesting and Startling
features. During the great oil excitement
of over twenty years ago, man named
Bayles Bailey, OF New ! lork, leased for
loI g term of years a tract of S32 acres OF
lard in the northern part OF the )unty and
before leasing he appointed Mr.. +. K. Riggs
his agent. Riggs, it seems was instructed
by his principal to pay the taxes, which ne
was expected to make out Of the land IN the
way of selling timber, slaves, etc. The
agent attended to the business, and rs he
alleges made his reports 10 Bailey until
about a year ogo when Mr.. Bailey died.
The business moved along as usual, and in
the meantime Riggs, it seems, as he had BE-
fore under the instructions of Bailey, pro
cet ded to sell timber, ties, slaves, e.c, and
had one or two sawmills erected tor
the purpose of manufacturing lumber for
the markets About month ago a gen.
tleman appeared upon the scene oStenslbly
Quest oSoil land, bat who eventually
turns out to be one of the Bailey heirs,
(incog) named W n Walton. Mr.. Walton
took a view Of the land and minded with
the men who were engaged in getting out
lumber &C., aud the first intelligence as TO
who the "oil hunter was, dawned upon
the twenty or thirty men who were thus en-
gagged, whtn Walton, virtually taking
the law in his own hands armed four men
With Lott Wrights" bull dog revolverS
aud posted them on the land with orders to
keep tVerybody off she lands. This created
conS'erl alton among the natives and the
widest excitement prevailed for short
time
o.. Of the men, Erastus Kidder, engaged
n tskr off lumber, lad erected g small
bouse. nto which il is alleged the guards
entered forcibly, and for which they were
Arrested
on complaint Of Kidder and taken before q
Justice Of Union district. ES-Sherif Bier,
who was one Of the number, was discharged
on some iARormality and Lock and Davis,
the remaining two we're fined IS and costs.
David Baruhart, who has erected ca the
land a steam saw-mill aad stave factory, to,
getber with the following parties, have been
erioined from selling, removing, or in any
way Interfering with the property IN cues.
tion until the case is heard in the United
States C0Srt here, judge Jackson hezing
set il for hearing October 10th: c. P. Bar.
ker. Z. r. Riggs. ". h Res, |. Il. D
Barnhar2, c. G. Bsrnhart, L. BArnhart, r
Kidder, Ed. Smith, VIM. Fetty 4 y
Powell. ]. G Kemp r. Weekly, Arsinger
Bros, c. ". Stewart Il. Wright, }. r
Smith E. Kidder, Jas. Smith, Lloyd vii
hanson, A. J. Higgins, Jas. jenkins, r.
BarnAart, c. Painter, John Brown. II P.
Lock, one of the so called guards who WAS
arrested for breaking into Kidder house
was made special ofScer 10 serve the process
in this case Walton has, in addition to the
chancery suit, entered
Two Civil Suits
for 1000 each IS follows: Jointly against
Z. r. Riggs D. Barnhart and c. B. Bar
ker, and Jointly against twenty or thirty
other parties among whom the sbove are
noted. for alleged damages to land in ques
tion and for the timber ties slaves, &c,
which have been removed during Riggs
agency. Mr. Riggs claims that the owner
or lessee of the land owes him q large
amount for his services in attending to the
property. The case attracts much interest
here. The eminent counsel engaged in the
cause lends an additional interesting fea-
ture 70 the proceedings. Hon. Jno. \
Hutchison and d. d. johnson are for
plaintiff and J. G. McLuer, Prosecuting
Attorney, Wood county, and Ex-Governor
J. B Jackson sre for the people.
Tidipgs Of Mr.. Huffman and dsug ghters,
of Writ county, who have not been heard
from since the recent storm on the lakes,
where they were supposed to be at that
time, are snxiously awaited BY their friends
here and in Writ county.
The Maryland Democratic Convention.
BuTINoRE. September l6-The Demo