Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-03-27
THE PETROLEUM PET.
BY MELVILLE PHILIPS.

y BY MELVILLE PHILIPS
Said he: Il had witnessed the rise
and fall of Pithole, mere episode in the
marvellous history of the Pennsylvania oil
regions. but far more strange and inter
esting than anything you could see in
the mining country out west. Neither
California in $50 nor Colorado of 10
could compare with our petroleum dis
tricts down to the Cherry Grove disaster
of 1880, not only in the wild fever of
speculation that ragged, but also in the
curious phases of life that were develop
led. The 'wild-catter' and 'moonshirer'
are the most unique figures in American
4ociety.
i Perhaps, if yoG know nothing of the
process of striking OIL" you cannot APP
.preciate my story. once rode on horse
back along a blazed road and descended
a hill on which there was single der
rick. Three weeks later 1 revisited the
spot, and put up at a capital hotel. The
hill was planted over with derricks,
standing like huge dunce-caps; hundreds
of rough weatherboard houses were
grouped together regardless of order on
either side OF the creek; from pipes of
various diameters, sunk everywhere in
the earth to tap the natural gas, there
poured forth night and day steady
streams Of flame, which swayed with the
wind and roared like rushing water, and
the air was heavy with the odor of petro-
Ieum. A month or two went by, and
Pithole was at the high tide of its pros
perity. There were as many theaters as
saloons, and plenty of both; churches
galore round red tanks dotted the hill,
and two lofty hotels were reared upon
the banks of the creek Jim Fisk honor
led the town with prolonged visit, and
in the bright July mornings would de-
scend from the hotel to the cool, brack-
ish stream, with the ladies of his suite,
and wanton with the waters. Then
presently came the decline. The COM
bined oil yield decreased; most of the
wells sunk proved clusters" day and
night the earth trembled with the thun-
der of nitro glycerine, exploded in the
vain attempt to start the flow of oil
safresh; some practical joker burned the
finest hotel to the ground; the churches
closed; then the theaters- last the
saloons sand all was up with Pithole. A
year after 1 walked along the creek and
came to the old site of the settlement 1t
made me shudder to look at the few
blackened derricks and tumble-down
shanties-all that were left. Here, where
men grown suddenly rich had well nigh
died of JOY, or again, where millionaires'
made paupers in day, had really bro
ken their hearts, L sat upon lonely
-'bull-wheer' and filed my pipe. Now
for the story promised to tell you.
Garfield was mushroom" town.
The famous "Mystery" well, "649,"
which had opened the Cherry Grove
fields and made millions of money for
its owners, begot it. All kinds of people
fiocked to the town-clergymen, China
men and lawyers; and the genial pro-
prietor of the jamestown house charged
so for the privilege of sleeping over
night on an ironing board in his cellar.
4 remember it was the first day in August
when, standing toward dusk on the hotel
porch, which was crowded with oil
SCOUTS and spectators, was surprised
to see young lady dismount from a
carriage and trip lightly up the steps.
1t was most uncommon spectacle in
THAT place, and instantly the discordant
din of voices subsidized and everybody
fell calamity back to leave passage for
the new arrival. A porter followed her
with small leather trunk. She flashed
her eyes all around in graceful acknow-
Judgement, and the glance seemed so
Oomprehensive that am sure every man
at himself personally thanked. You
could never forget her face if you saw
~ The profile resembled Mary Ander-
Enen's, but there was sinful look in the
brilliant eye and freckles on her healthy
skin. We all stopped talking oil for a
full ten minutes and gossiped, as men
viii do, about this pretty girl. Who
vas she? Presently the proprietor came
ont He mounted chair and address
ed us.
sGentlemen,"r said he, 1--WE have lady
among us. She desires to stay some
fime at Garfield, but 1 have no room to
give her. There are some gentlemen
here who are paying handsomely for
sGnple rooms all to themselves. viii
any one of these yield his room to Miss
i Peach and double up with friendT"
4 hall dozen spoke up promptly, but
Sands. a handsome young broker from
Warren. called out louder than the rest:
b uLet Miss Peach take my room, Cap
rim
81 thank you very much, sir" said a