The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-20
NEW YORK LETTER.
Remarkable Happenings in the Bo-
nanza Days Of Oil Greek.
The Great Bennington Robbery - The
American Turf and the Men Who Win
and Lose-A Word About Rugged
Old John Swinton.
COPYRIGHT, 1927


"reminiscences which have almost as
much color in them as chapters from
the arabian Nights" Indeed, no
fable from the east could be much
stranger than some of the history of
the Pennsylvania oil region. Some of
the oil country men on the Consolidated
Stock and Petroleum exchange, when
in reminiscent mood, can tell of re-
markable happenings in the old bonan-
"a days of Oil Creek and Pithole. I
heard the other day the story of a man
who traded yoke of oxen for the
Smith farm, consisting of 81 acres, sold
the farm for 81, 600 and afterward saw
it produce from 100000 to $1,000, 600
worth of petroleum. Henry I. Beers,
an oil country banker, one of the
fortunate owners of the Smith farm,
was married the other day in Dawes,
Md An interesting chapter from
oildom is that relating to the Benning-
hoff robbery, (which occurred January
10, 1868. This was one of the largest
robberies-if not the largest-which
criminal annals have any record of. II
such robbery occurred in these days
of elaborate newspaper reporting, it
would be more than seven days Won
der. I think it would last for at least
twice seven days, which would include
two Sunday blanket sheets. The coun-
try was told of the Bennington rob-
berry, but, as remember it, the affair
was very inadequately described from
a newspaper standpoint. "Old Benning-
hof," as he was called, was robbed one
night Of 100000 in cash and govern
ment bonds. Three masked men en-
tered his house between seven and eight
o'clock in the evening, covered the
members of the household with
revolvers, bound them securely
with ropes, and then went through
the safes, of which there were three or
four. The family consisted of John
Bennington and his wife, a young
niece, Miss Eliza Heiss, and two hired
men named Geiger and Elbridge. Ben
ninghoff had two sons who were young
men at the time, but they were away
from home that night. Besides secur-
ing 10000, the thieves in their hurry
overlooked a drawer that contained
$4,000 and they also dropped on the
floor package containing 5000. When
they got ready to leave the premises,
the thieves unbound one of the hired
men, took him to the stable and COM
PEELED him to hitch one of Benning-
hoffs horses to sleigh. and saddle
and bride another horse for the odd
man. They were particular about
M hin, v,17ff ii
in the sleigh. This all attended to,
they marched him back to the house, re-
tied him and then started on their flight
with the big Doodle. There was good
sleighing at the time, but the robbers
did not ride far in the sleigh. It was
found next day about three miles from
the house, smashed to pieces and the
horses turned loose. The niece was
first to unite herself, but by this time
the robbers had good start Benning-
hoH was German farmer who had
made scant living prior to the discov-
cry OF petroleum. he lived in a prim-
tive farmhouse short distance from
Petroleum Center. He had lived on
the same farm for thirty-seven years.
Such produce as he had to sell he
hauled to Ttusvil1e on sled drawn by
a yoke Of oxen, his wife often riding to
town with him on top of the load.
After the discovery of oil on his farm
his income was as much as $4,000 a
month. Oil was worth from S. to SIS
barrel in those days, and eight
or ten big geysers on farm
was nice thing to have in the
family. Like other old farmers Ben
ninghof was afraid to trust his money
to the banks and bought safes in which
he stored it away as fast as accumulat-
ed. At that interesting period the oil
country was harvest field for crooks,
New York contributing some of her
best talent. The sight of these big
safes being hauled several miles from
the steamboat landing at Oil City to
the old Bennington residence excited
the curiosity Of thousands of persons
and the cupidity of some. The robbery
of the old mans safes was the logical
result. The next morning reward Of
$4,000 was offered for the arrest of the
thieves, which was increased in day
or two to $4,000 No. arrests having
yet been made, the old man became
desperate and increased the reward to
$4,000. The large reward attracted de.
tectives from the large cities, and the
chase for the thieves became interesting.
The old farmer was touched for large
amounts to carry on the search, but
SO long as his wells continued to pour
forth their golden streams he didn't
mind it. Some of the arrests which fol
lowed the robbery were almost as SEN
sational as the robbery itself D. Fl.
Cady. one of the most prominent citi-
zens of Titusville, was arrested by
stupid detective but soon released. Hen
ry Harley, the high roller and partner
of the late Jim Fisk, then of the Erie
road and an oil country pipe line, was
under the surveillance of the astute de-
tectives. Harley and Cady belonged to
a convivial band of brothers given to
late hours and fun, and it was suspect
ed that they might have put up the job
on the old German farmer as a species
OF oil country sport. Although there
were big crooks around from the cities
the detectives finally located the sup