The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-19
Remarkable Happenings in the
Valley in Early Days.
rue BIG BENNINGHoFF ROBBERY
uov John McKeown.an irish Immigrant,
Became q Ten-Millionaire, Begin.
ming as Day Laborer.

coIor in them as chapters from the Ara
HAN 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 Con-
.o,idated Stock and Petroleum Exchange,
rhen in reminiscent mood, can tell of re-
markabe happenings in the old bonanza
DAVIS of Oil Creek and Pithole. l heard
the other day the story of the man who
traded yoke of oxen for the Smith farm,
consisting of fifty-seven acres, sold the
farm for 81. 900 and afterward saw it pro-
duce from 81. 600 900 to 100000 worth of
,etroleum. Henry |. Beers, an oil coun-
try banker, one of the fortunate owners of
the Smith farm. was married the other
day in Dawes, Nd.
An interesting chapter from Oildom Is
that relating to the Bennington robbery,
which occurred January IS, 1868. This
was one of the largest robberies--if not the
largest-which criminal annals have any
record of If such a robbery occurred in
these days of elaborate newspaper report
ing il would be more than seven days.
wonder. think it would last for at least
twice seven days, which would include
two Sunday blanket sheets. The country
was told of the Bennington robbery, but,
As remember it, the affair was very in
adequately described from a newspaper
standpoint. 'Old Bennington" as he
vas called, was robbed one night of
$4,000 in cash and government
bonds. Three masked men entered
his house between and 8 O'Clock
In the evening covered the members of
the household with revolvers, bound them
!, Il ~
the safes, of which there were three or
four. The family consisted of John Ben
ninghoff and his wife, a young niece, Miss
Eliza Heiss, and two hired men named
Geiger and Elbridge. Bennington had
two sons, who were young men at the
time, but they were away from home that
night. Besides securing $3.50 900, the
thieves in their hurry overlooked drawer
that contained $4,000, and they also
dropped on the floor a 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
compelled him to hitch one of Benning-
hoirs horses to a sleigh and saddle and
bride another horse for the old man. They
were particular about having him put two
comfortable robes in the sleigh. This all
attended to, they marched him back to
the house, retied him and then started on
their fight with the big Doodle. There
was good sleighing at the time, but the
robbers did not ride far in the sleigh. 1t
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 rob-
bers had good start. Bennington was
German farmer who had made scant liv-
ing prior to the discovery of petroleum
He lived in a primitive farmhouse a 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 Tltusville 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 200 a
month. Oil was worth from IS to SIS a
barrel in those days. and eight or ten big
geysers on farm was nice thing to have
in the family. Like other old farmers
Bennington was afraid to trust his money
TO the banks, and bought safes in which
he stored 1t away as fast as accumulated.
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 sew
eral miles from the steamboat landing at
Oil City to the old Benninghoff residence
excited the curiosity of thousands of per-
sons and the cupdity of some. The rob-
berry of the old mans safes was the
ioglcal result. The next morning a reward
OF 10000 was offered for the arrest of the
thieves, which was increased in a day or
two TO $50 No arrests having yet been
made. the old man became desperate and
increased the reward to $50, 900. The large
reward attracted detectives from the large
cities, and the chase for the thieves became
interesting. The old oil farmer was
touched" for large amounts to carry on
me search, but so long as his wells con-
tinued TO pour forth their golden streams
ne didn't mind it. Some of the arrests
Which followed the robbery were almost as
sensational as the robbery itself. ID. III.
'ady, one OF the most prominent citizens
OF Iitusville, was arrested by a stupid de-
ectlye, but soon released. Henry Harley,
,ne high-roller and partner of the late Jim
FISK, then OF the Erie road and an oil
country pipe line. was under the surveil-
iaace OF the astute detectives. Harley and
lazy belonged 10 a conviylal band of
ofothers given to late hours and fun, and
II was suspected that they might have put
up The job on the old German farmer as q
tpecie OF oil country sport. Although
ueFe were big crooks around from the
cites. the detectives finally located the
supposed robbers in Saegertown, a little
country village near Meadviile Jim Saeger,
sho had formerly been quartermaster Of
'he Eghty-thlrd Pennsylvania infantry
and small merchant in Meadville. was
seieved 10 be the leader of the gang.
Louis Welhv, n brewer; George Miller,
shoemaker; Jacob K Shoppert, and George
0eiger. the latter Benninghoff's hired
nan were believed TO have been Of the
gang, and We're arrested. Geiger was ac-
quilted. Weiby was sent to prison for five
years, Miller for one year, and Shoppert
ieF one year and six months. Not dol
3af OF the money was recovered from these
Men, and IL was believed that Saeger had
received the lions share OF 1t. At any
tate he fled TO South America, where he
Was followed by Detective Robert Hague,
sa'eF the chief Of police OF Pttsburg:
eAeger Kept ont of reach of detectives until
some years later, when he returned and was
arrested IN Denver. AT that time he was
running big cattle ranch iii Texas. one o!
Aenninghof's sons went to Denver ana
made some kind of deal with Saeger. ana
ae was never brought TO trial. W hethet
ne restored part of the money Is not
Aao"n. The employment OF detectives
sad search for the robbers, when eN-
Rnded over a year or two, cost benhing-
seH fortune in addition to the reward OF
$1,000 which went 10 the officers who ar
rested the SaeCertOwn people. ne oeiiei
that he recovered but little OF his lost
S800.
The simple story of John Nc keown 3
NE IS not the least interesting 81 the Oh
region romanceS. Mckeown landed AZ
.astie Garden from Ireland on the gay
.iA Llnco!n was cssassinated- lie nah
sio IN has pocket and this was All OF ms ms
nfaS III a