The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-04-01
THROWING DICE FOR sea, 900


A Historic Transaction in the Flush Times
- at Petroleum Center.
A difference of but two in the mp
turned dice dots, but each dot repre-
sented sS2, 900, and the winner was
made that much richer by his single
throw. The details of this occurrence,
recalled in contemplation of the fast
departing traces of other and better
days in the town where it occurred, may
be of interest
From the time Of its first importance
as an oil town Petroleum Center was
known as famous place for gambling.
There was, however, no particular
place in which the gambling was car
ried on. An engine house, saloon, office
or private <oom-any place served the
purpose, and ricllety table. a greasy
writing desk or board laid across the
head of an old barrel answered as well
as the equipments of a gambling pal
| ace.
In 1s6S-69 the vicinity of Petroleum
Center was the richest in the oil regions,
and one of the richest in the world. Tho
lands all about the town were making
their owners rich, Among these pieces
OF property was the Woods farm. lying
up the hill to the west of the place. Its
big productions at that time were sell
ing at from So to S. barrel.
Samuel A. Woods was the owner OF
this rich deposit of OIL and his royalty
from it yielded him princely income.
He was then about IS years of age, and
was as full OF fun as he was of business.
He dressed well, wearing daily dia-
monds worth from 5000 to s.. 900, lived
high and was foremost in all the enter
prises in oil developments. In 1858 he
built the largest and first complete iron
tank, 10000 barrels then along Oil
Creek, and into it his farm poured its
liquid wealth.
Woods had noted fondness for throw
ing dice and was usually lucky. He
was ready as any time to throw for
stakes ranging from $50 to 500, $500 or
81, 600. 1t was seldom that he would
throw for less than the first-named
sum. One night in the winter of 1S6S69
he was spending the evening with
party of friends in the Rochester House,
at Petroleum Centre. Among the party
was Col Brady another rich producer,
a man who had earned his title upon
the battlefields of the rebellion. In the
course of the evening Woods said to
him:
Colonel I'll toss the dice with you
for $50"
"All right" was the coloners prompt
reply.
The first throw Brady won, continu-
ing to do so until he had won $3.50 of
Woods money. This trihe just whetted
their appctites and the chance contest
then began in earnest The amount of
the stakes was increased from time to
time, and Woods losses rapidly crept
into the thousands Luck was against
him, but as he was perfectly sober and
the friends present knew that he would
regard as little less than an insult any
suggestion that it was time to quit,
feeling abundantly able to pay any
amount he lost, all they had to do was
to watch the two men with increasing
interest.
To pass on from the process to the
result, when one of the morning hours
was ushered in Woods had lost S32, 900
and Brady held his check for that sum.
At this juncture Woods said to the
colonel: "Now, l am willing to double
the amount and let each of US take but
one throw, and the highest takes the
stakes. You already have my check for
the S32 600; if lose will write you
another for the full amount here to-
night, and it will be cashed at the bank
tomorrow"
"All right" again replied Col. Brady;
~ accept"
The interest of the bystanders was
now worked TO the highest notch.
Woods had the first throw. Eleven
spots turned up as his count Col.
Brady then threw and but nine black
dots turned up to be counted Woods.
therefore. saved good-sized fortune On
the throw, for had he lost that s64, 900
would have been paid with as mach
promptness as though it had been part
OF legitimate business transaction.
Woods then proposed that they start in
anew, with $40 as the amount of the
stakes. The colonel readily responded.
and soon all the cash he had with him
about 81. O00-was transferred to the
pockets of Woods.
"Here, Colonel" said Woods, "is $40
l can't see man go away dead broke"
And so the greatest game of dice on
record in the oil regions came to close
Petroleum Center has gradually fall
len into decay, until but few scatter
ing buildings are all that is left of what
was once a flourishing oil town of fully
five thousand inhabitants
Samuel A. Woods, too, is gone from
this life, with host of others who were
his associates in the production OF OIL
and who, with him, made many a night
merry a quarter of century ago
Philadelphia limos.
Measured by Your Own Yardstick.
Our mode of deciding upon others
will be the mode others viii employ in
deciding upon us. A harsh man, with
cast iron criticisms, will some day meet
cast iron. You fay others, and others
will fay you. Let one of these mcrci-
laea ct oh H.