The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-25
IN HIS PAssENGEK7s mUfF.-
The Driver Saw tho Clean of the Steel
and 1t Put Him on His Guard.

The Driver Saw tho CLEAN OF the Steel
and 1t Put Him on His Guard.
A party of well known oil men, who
have followed the producing business
from its infancy and have worked in it's
different branches, from dipping oil to
running several sets of tools as contrac-
tors, were at the Union depot waiting
for the train. on their way to the Nc
Donald field, Sunday, when the talk
drifted to old times and narrow escapes
they had seen and personal reminis-
cences. One of the party, who had
quietly listened to the talk, pulled nerv-
ously at his toby and remarked:
''Talk about scares, boys, did I ever
tell you of the scare had in the seventies,
when l was running the tools in the
Millerstown field? You know the time
that young fellow who came up from
Butler and started pop factory in Mil
lerstown, and after making collections
In Butler of over $500 was waylaid on
the road, shot through the head and his
body found in the woods, where it had
been dragged by the murderer with the
pockets of the clothing rii1ed and no clue
to the thief. 1t was a short time after
that-in the winter. There had been
heavy snow and the sleighing was splen-
did, and had 4-year-old colt that cost
me $3.50 when it was year old, and that
did not take dust from anything that
travelled the middle oil field. The man
was drilling for was sick, and sent me
word to come to Butler and he would
pay me for work done on his four wells
that month. drove over bright and
early and got check for 81 100. l met
several friends, and, being in no special
hurry, drove around town until nearly
time for the bank to close. AS got the
cash turned and saw man cycling the
money so greedily that an involuntary
shiver of fear passed over me-. I forgot
the incident and monkeyed around in
the town until nearly 10 o'clock that
night, when started for home.
"Half way home was the piece of dark
woods in which the body of the young
popmaker had been found. AS looked
at the side of the road shivered with
apprehension in spite of the Dutch cour.
age had absorbed that evening, as !
saw some one trudging along in the road
ahead of me, but / felt relieved when /
saw it was woman. The woman stop
ped and in hoarse voice explained that
her daughter, who lived up the road, had
been taken suddenly sick and she was
on her way to visit her, and asked for a
lift. Glad to have company, helped
her into the sleigh, and offered to take
her mutf, but she kept it in her other
hand Jolting over rough piece of
road she pulled one hand out of the
muff and my heart grew cold with fear.
caught the glitter of steel as the moon
shone through an open place in the
woods.
"With presence of mind that I won
der at to this day I cut the horse saw
agely with the whip and dropped it by
the side of the road. Explaining to the
woman that the horse could not be held
by any one but myself, / begged her to
get out and pick up my whip. She care
fully deposited her muff in the bottom
of the sleigh and sprang out. AS soon
as she struck the ground shouted to
the colt, who, unused to the whip and
spirited, went like a shot from a gun.
AS he started heard an unmistakable
masculine oath behind me, and, expect
ing bullet in the back every minute, /
crouched over in the sleigh. The ride
was the longest ever had before and
since until the jangles of the bells
brought my wife to the door. 7 put the
horse up, and as took out the blankets
picked up the muff and carried it into
the house. Inside was revolver of large
caliber, with all six of it's chambers fully
loaded. ! staid awake all that night,
and in the morning paid off my men,.
Oil City Derrick.