Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-29
DOESN'T CARE A SNAP.
A $22, 900 Execution Fails to Frighten
w. E. Griffith, the Oil Man.
MANY LEGAL TANGLES TO FOLLOW.
Story of How He Made an Enormous For.
tune in Single Day.
THE PIONEER IN THE WILDWOOD FIELD

Robert Allen, Sr., yesterday issued an
600. The case will be contested in the
courts and will no doubt be watched with
rare interest by the oil producers of the
country.
| About year ago W. E. Griffith secured
| from Robert Allen, Sr., "a conditional option
on "A farms in Pennsylvania for $500 each.
! The option empowered Mr.. Griffith to reject
any or all of the farms He paid certain
| sum on the options and afterward rejected
all the farms. Financially, Mr.. Griffith is
one of the most substantial oil and gas pro-
ducers in the State. He is largely inter-
ested in silver mining in Idaho While
looking after his Eastern investments re-
Gently, suit to recover on the options was
brought against him by Allen. He re-
ceived no personal notice of the suit and in
default judgment was entered. Mr.. Grif-
fifth knew nothing of the suit having been
entered until he returned home yesterday.
Griffith Laughs at the Judgment
The execution which to the average citi-
zon would have been serious rather amused
Mr.. Griffith. He said last night that he
had no fears for the outcome of the case, as
he believed that the claim against him
would not have standing in any court in
the land.
w. E. Griffith is remarkable man,
whose wonderfully successful career demon
strates, the boundless possibilities Of
energy, enterprise and pluck. He is 20
day noted among the rich oil men of the
country Two years ago he was employed
n
M. and w. S. Guffey. His judgment was
accepted as sound and he was considered
authority on oil territory. He secured for
the Guffeys much of the property which
proved valuable to them. About 18
months ago Mr.. Griffith visited what is now
the famous Wildwood oil field. He secured
the first lease in that field 1t was not con-
sidered good property by the Guffeys, who
were about to allow tine lease lapse. Grif-
fifth had confidence in the territory. He
argued that development would prove
profitable, but to no avail The lease was
discarded. Griffith had but little money,
but what he had he was willing to risk on
his judgment. He associated with him
William Miller and the first well in the
field, the Whitesell No. l. was drilled in on
March "a, 1890. For six hours the well was
a remarkable gasser. The flow was so
strong that it was impossible to get the
tools to the bottom of the well. Three
days later the drill was again started and
in IL hours oil began flowing. The we'll
flowed 300 barrels day, and with one
exception produced more oil than any other
well in the field.
How He Piled Up a Fortune in Day.
The first and famous well was brought in
during the night. Before daylight of the
same morning Mr.. Griffith left Pittsburg
for the field and before noon he had secured
leases on about 800 acres adjoining his we'll.
The oil world went wild at the development,
and operators, large and small, scrambled
for property enough to erect rig. A few
months later Mr.. Griffith exhibited to the
writer check for So, ,OOO the amount paid
him for one-half interest in his Wildwood
holdings His original well produced him
nearly $3.50, 900, and he was offered $500, 900
for his remaining interest at Wildwood
He is still in peaceful possession of his in
terest in the field. which is constantly pro-
ducing him liberal income.
William Miller, who associated himself
with Griffith in the early Wildwood develop
ment, was also made we'll off by the venture.
He was born and raised in Penn township,
Westmoreland county. He was a civil
engineer and was, when a mere boy, elected
County Surveyor of Westmoreland. 1t
was Just after his retirement from that office
that he associated himself with Griffith.
He now lives in East End, Pit sburg, and
his interests extend through all the neigh
boring oil field.