Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-07-24
Is IT A GUSHER !?
GREASE STRUCK IN UNKNOWN QUAINT
TIES NEAR M0UNDSVILLE.
The Hole, Which is Thought 10 Belong to the Guny
Interest Being Worked asa hystsry-Sa
Information Accessible.

There seems to be some ground 1or
the assertion that the Washington neid
has been tapped in a successful manner
from the West Virginia edge OF the sano'
and if present indications are to be fuinif-
ed, there will soou be crowding for leases
along the river front Of Marshall county,
and the valley of Grave Creek andth adJa-
cent streams will, ere o flies, be dotted
with rigs and the waters Of the Ohio dis
colored with oil. For some months past
Pittsburg parties, supposed to be working
in the interest of the Guffy's, have been 10
borously punching a hole in the earth
up Grave Greek, about half N mile from
the Moundsville camp ground, the a
site of the rig being on the eN-Sheriff Hicks
farm, near where Tarr's run cmpties into
the creek. The drillers proceeded with
their work quietly, and little attention has
been attracted to their operations. Ihurs-
day evening it became known to a few clt-
liens of the town that oil had been struck
at the well, but a few who journeyed out
to the hole were very promptly refused
apy information, and kept at a safe dis
lance from the well. The pilgrims ascer-
tanned. however, that work had been
suspended, the fire drawn from the boiler,
and the hole plugged up. 1t was suspected
that a big strike had been made, n TINS
was confirmed by the fact that a tele-
gram in cypher had been sent to the owners
of the well, in Pittsburg, which message
brought one of the gentlemen to hounds
Vile last night. Yesterday the derrick
was boarded up, and guards posted, VINO
were instructed TO allow no one near the
well. and to refuse all information. from
n gentleman who had seen samples OF the
oil, it is learned that the grease Is OF a
beautiful clear amber color, like the best
output of the Washington field, n HOW
of considerable proportion must have been
made, as the water of the creek was coated
with oil yesterday and its odor was per
ceptible over the upper part OF Mounds,
vile. 1t is understood the sand
was struck at the depth OF
I 2 feet. and that but
one bit was run, when the drillers were
compelled to shut down. The well is n
fair passer, residents in the vicinity saying
it's roar can be distinctly heard ut nlght.
This new we'll is about eight miles from
the lower end of Wheeling, rs the crow
flies, and should the strike mean the open
ing of a new field the result cannot but he
felt here, while for MOundsville 1t will be
a ycritable Godsend. 1t is hoped the mys-
terry is a big gusher and that others VIII
follow in its path.
1t has been generally understood that
the Wheeling Oil Company's No. l would
reach the Gordon sand to-day, but intor-
nation received last night de-
LAYS the drilling in until Monday. When
work was stopped last evening the drill
was at a depth of 2,244 feet, and to-day it
will be pushed nearly to the Gordon sand,
when work will be stopped and the boiler
moved back, in readiness for the expected
gush of oil on Monday. Shirts Is also III
| the stray sand, and will come III Monday
with the Wheeling we'll.
The scouts are watching every movement
at the TaylOrstown mystery, but up to last
evening no word had reached Washington
that the drill had been started. Wells were
located on Thursday by c. ID. Robbins for
the Niagara Oil Company, OH the Beabout,
Hodgens, ST., James McMannis, and
Noble farms, near Taylorstown and prcpa-
rations made for the erection OF derricks.
These farms are part Of the territory re-
Gently leased by the Vandergrif Co., and
they Immediately notified the Niagara Co.,
to cease operations, charging them with
trespassing. The question OF validity OF
territory is at stake between the two COM
panies. The V~andergriff Company located
a well Yesterday, on the Blaney farm.
Willetts No. / was shot with 60 quarts
of glycerine last evening and reacted nice
". She was measurcably improved by the
explosion, and is doing at the rate of GOO
barrels n day. The day before the shot it
did $50 barrels. The Belmont Oil Com
pany and Craig x Co. No. 3 on the Cam
eron farm has been located. 1t IL one
location north of Cameron No. !, along the
Smith line. The same company has loca-
ted No. 6 on the Smith farm, across from
Cameron No. =. Pat G%alligan's well got Il
pay streak yesterday and is doing about a
hundred barrels a day from it. The sand
has become harder and finer. The Conner
well, at C~anonsburg, began pumping yes
terday.
Excursion TO Parkersburg.
Arrangements have been made with the