The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-11
THE STORY OF PITHoLE.
Some Of Its Striking Passages Recalled
By a Recent Visit.

By a Recent Visit.
From the Philadelphia Press.
No city in America, and few in the world.
have had so wonderful history as Pithole,
which lies in little valley some five hours
journey from Pittsburg and about as
distant from Buffalo. Early in December,
1864, the site Of this town was occupied by
two farms, aud its inhabitants could be
numbered on ones fingers.
At that time the oil regions were in the
most terrific throes of the initial petroleum
excitement. Fortunes were flying by on
the wings of the wind in the Titus7ille field,
and those who were quick enough reached
out and grasped them.
Wild-catters were prospecting in every
direction for new territory and early in the
last month of 1864 q we'll was begun here,
in what has since been the Mystic City
Work was continued until Jan. z, when oil
was struck. No pumps were needed. The
we'll No. 4, United States proved TO be a
gusher. Great streams of fluid gold burst
from the bowels Of the earth, and rose high
in the air, overrunning all the surrounding
land. Oil sold at So per barrel and this well
was making 1900 barrels per day.
Those were the days Of Goal Oil Johnny"
and other famous characters; days when all
we're on the alert for news from the field,
ready to move at an hours warning. So
when a horsenan dashed over the wild road
from Pittsburg to TitusviIle with the
word that No. United States had proved
a gusher,, excitement knew no bounds.
Hundreds started at once fer the new field,
on horses, in wagons. on foot, with baggage
and without.
In six weeks from the time the first we'll
was struck the population of Pithole
reached 5000. By midsummer this had
trebled. BY October the Magic City had
reached its most astounding stage of de-
velopment. At that time two theaters
were In full blast. one OF which (Murphy's)
cost $4,000.
In the town were dozen hotels, among
them the Chase house, the st. Cloud, the
Danforth, the st. Nicholas and the Morey,
some of which'had been built at a cost of
SAC, 900 each. A Roman Catholic and
Methodist church were completed, and a
Presbyterian church, built just for fun"
was under way. Two railroads were
finished and others were being surveyed
The postoffice handled more mail matter
than any oth9r In the state Of Pennsylvania
except those at Philadelphia and Pittsburg.
Residences, barrooms, dance houses,
brokers' offices, banks, drug stores, law
offices and other buildings covered what a
few months previous had been titled fields.
Rattling old Dick Longwell since then of
the Oil City DerFich) burst into town one
day ready to start daily newspaper, but
he couldn't get building for love nor
money. LonRwell, however, was news
paper man.
Daily Record" he roared, before daylight
tomorrow. if we have to work in a bal
LOOM
And he did, but his compositors stood
knee deep in mud while working at their
cases.
At this time, October. 1865, PithoIe was
seat Of trade, employing millions
Of dollars in money, city with the
third largest postofIlce in the state. g city
with water works, efficient fire and police
departments, magnificent hotels and thea
ters, teeming with q busy, industrious, en-
terprising general population, and with
artisans, merchants, spectators, agents
and professional men, a city with railroads,
express and telegraph offices, and the ordl-
nary accessories to populous municipalities
A party of Philadelphia capitalists found
an old farmer named Copeland, who owned
220 acres of land three-fourths of a mile
south Of Pithole. They offered him $780,
600 for the property, but he refused it, say
ing he wouldn't hev no home of tn old
house wuz sold.'
Another man, living two miles north of
the city, was offered $3.50, 900 for his farm
of 200 acres, but he swore it would not be
sold for less than 81 100000. Both Of these
farms were tested, and not enough oil was
found to pay for pumping the wells.
When the Press correspondent came to
Pithole, q short time since, he had to let
down bars of fence to get in. Not soul
lives there. A farmer in the valley four
years ago purchased the entire city, build
Jugs and oil, for $1,000. which was paid to
the collector of taxes. Your correspondent
drove to the renowned postoffice. Two
calves thrust their heads through an empty
window frame aud ga2ed at him. Three or
four sheep scampered out Of what was once
the 100000 Danforth house. Graded en-
bankments of the railroads remain, but the
rails and ties are gone.
A poplar tree twenty feet high is growing
in the cellar of the National hotel on First
street. The Metropolitan theater is gone
Grass, stones and underbrush, CO yer tho
sight Of Murphy's theater The Morey
hotel, the Patterson, the st. Cloud, the st.
Nicholas and the Hubbs house have van
ished The sites of Delmonico's cafe and of
the johnson house can be located only by
half-filled cellars. overgrown with weeds
and brambles.
DR.. Christie'5 residence on First street,
and the banking house of Prather 81 Wads-
worth, on Holmden street, remain in fair
state of preservation. Our correspondent
climbed through the broken glass door of
large drug store on First street and brought
away from the shelves several fancy walls as
souvenirs. In Main street, where millions
OF dollars once daily changed hands, are
stacked cornstalks. The avenues erstwhile
lined with residences are titled fields
To-day Pithole Is a scene Of desolation.
Upon the bill overlooking the ruins stands
the Presbyterian church. Its bell still
hangs, its pews remain, and on the pulpit
desk rests the clergyman's Bible. One of
the builders of this edifice was Scotchmsn,
who amassed great wealth and left Plttole
in its glory to go to his home across the
water. A few years since he died. leaving
a large sum to the church away out there in
Pennsylvania. But the society had long
before disbanded, and the money could not
be disposed as directed.
The decline of the Magic City COM
menced within year of It's wonderful rise.
OIL gave out in 1866, and terrible fire
swept the town. All the old.timers moved
away. AHA No; all but a score. These
quietly sleep among the bTiars and bushes
that run riot over the little graveyard
where they we're laid away when the now
dead city was boiling, seething caldron Of
business.