Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-19
FOUR SMART OIL MEN.
Bpt were Too Slow for One old-Fash-
Toned Brooklyn Gentleman.
' From the Ns3s York S,1l

from ne A6h 4oFE sum-
A well-known resident Of Brooklyn
owns tract of wild land in Mexican
county, Pa. He never did anything with
it but pay the taxes on it with regularity
and promptness. He had tried to sell the
tract several times, but no one seemed
anxious to purchase. People told him
that when hemlOck bark got scarce out
there his land might be worth SD an
acre.
The owner OF the land had almost for
gotten that it was in existence when a
few mornings ago, bright and early, a
busting and smoOth-talking gentleman
who said his name was George Z. Howe of
Bradford, Pa, called at the Brooklyn gem
| tleman's house. Theo,B Bradford man eX-
cused himself for calling before break
fast, but he said he had TO leave town at
9 O'Clock, and was compelled TO call
early.
"You are the owner of tract of land
neal Kane, Pa. [ believe, slr,". said the
smOOth-talking Bradford man.
The Brooklyn citizen said he believed he
was.
"Well, Sir" said the man from Brad
| ford, II am about buildings tannery in
that vicinity, and. would like to buy or get
control Of your tract for the bark that is
on it,"
The owner OF the land told the visitor
| that he would be pleased TO talk further
with him, and made an appointment TO
meet him. The visitor departed. He had
been gone but few minutes wnen anoth-
er visitor arrived. This time card bear
ing the name of Michael O'Murphy,
| Bradford, Pa, was handed to the Brook
! lyn citizen. Mr. O'Murphy wanted to
purchase the tract of land near Kane. He
said it was his intention to have the land
cleared and to erect a seminary on the
tract. Appointment to talk further about
the matter at the Brooklyn gentleman's
Office was agreeable to him, and he de-
parted.
Before the owner of the land left his
house to come to mis- business in New
York two other gentlemen called on him,
separately. The first was w. Z. Kennedy,
of Bradford. He said he was about to
| build an extensive steam sawmlll near
the tract, and he wanted to buy the land
| for its timber. The Brooklyn gentleman
began to grow uneasy, but ne agreed to
meet Mr.. Kennedy in New York and give
him an answer that day. The gentlemen
separated, aud shortly afterward Mr. r.
K. ArmOr, Of Bradford, appeared and
solicited an interview with the owner Of
the tract of land near Kane. He wanted
TO buy it, for he, too, was about building
a tannery near the tract. The Brooklyn
citizen said he would meet Mr.. Armor at
! his office in New York, and Mr.. Armor
went away.
II didn't know there was any bark or
any timber on my tract" said the owner
of the land when be was alone. Il must
| go out there and take look at it,"
He kept bis appointments with the diff
/ ferent Bradford men, and told each one
that he must take a day or two to cOnsid-
er the matter of selling the land. The
/ next day he jumped on an Erie railway
tram and went out to Mexican county.
When he gOtdOwn to his tract of wild land
| be found regular forest Of Oil-well der
ricks on every side OF it. Somebody had
! put down well in the vicinity a few
4 weeks before, and had struck the best
paying streak of oil that had been found
| in a long time. The land all around the
| Brooklyn mans tract had been perforated
with wells wherever one could be put
down. and they were all good ones. He
1 inquired who Messrs. Howe, O'Murphy,
Kennedy and Armor were, and was told
that they were a quartet OF the sharpest
oil operators in the whole region. Neither
of them had known that the others were
trying TO get possession of the Brooklyn
mans tract.
The property is now being disposed of
at SLOGAN acre and a royalty in oil that
may be found. All four of the smart oil
men got left.