Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-19
SOME OIL R0MANCES.
REMARKABLE HAPPENINGS IN THE
BONANZA DAYS or OIL CREEK.
Tho Great Beuninghofr Robbnry-Ifow
$500. 900 Was Carried ORA Fortune
spenIi In Pursuit OF the Robbers.

Correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispa'ch.I
NKw YORK June 1s.-The recent terrible
disaster which befell Oil-Creek Valley calls
attention TO that interesting region and re-
wives "reminiscences which have almost "a
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 remarkable happenings IN the oid
BONANZA DAYS Of Oil Creek and Pithole.
heard tho other day the story of the man
who traded yoke of oxen for the smith
farm, consisting of fiftv-seven acres. sold
the farm for : 900. and atterward sawit pro.
duce from ~. 900 900 TO 100000 worth OF
petroleum. Henry !. Beers. an oil-country
banker, one of the fortunate owners OF the
Smith farm. was married the other daY III
Dawes. Md. An interesting chapter from
Oildom il that relating to the Bennington
robbery. which occurred January Is. ls55.
This was one of the largest robberies-lf not
the largest-whlch criminal annals nave
any record of. If such a robbery occurred
IN these days of elaborate newspaper re-
porting II would be more than seven
days wonder. think It would last Tor at
least twice seven days, which would
include two Sunday blanket sheets.
The country was told of the Ben
ninghOH robbery. but, "a | remen-
Der 1t. the affair was very made
quately described from newspaper stand
point. odd Benninghoh," as he was
called, was robbed one night of $3.50 900
IN cash and government bonds. Three
masked men entered his house between Z
and s 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, 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.
WHAT THEY LETT.
Besides securing S2G009O, the thieves IN
their hurry overlooked n drawer that con-
tanned $4,000 and they also dropped on
the hOor package containing -6.OJU.
When they got ready TO leave the premises
the thieves unbound one OF the hired men,
took him 10 the stable, and compelled him
10 hitch one of BenninyhOh's horses 10
sleigh. and saddle and bride another horse
for the odd man. They were particular
about having him put two coniortaule
robes in the sleigh. This all attended
u. they marched him back TO the house,
retied 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. IL was iound
next day about three miles from the house
smashed 20 pieces ana the horses turned
loose. The niece was first 10 unit" herself.
but by this time the robbers had a good
start Bennington was German farmer
who had made a scant living PRIOR TO the
discovery of petroleum. lie lived IN q
primitive farmhouse short distance from
Petroleum Centre. iIc had lived on the
same farm for thirty-seven years. such
produce as he had 20 sell he hauled to Titus
VILE on u sled drawn 10y yoke OF oxen, his.
wife often riding 10 town with him N top OF
the load. After the discovery Of oil on his
farm his income was A. much rs Sj0.UOO q
month. Oll was worth from - TO $50 a
barrel in those DAYS. and eight or ten big
geysers on farm wa a nee thing 20 nave
in the family. Like other OLD farmers,
| Bonniughof was afraid 10 trust his money
| 10 the banks and bought satcs IN which he
| stored II away as fast as accumulated. AZ
that interesting period the oil-country was
! a harvest field tor crooks. New Ork con-
! tribuiing some of her best tolent. he
sight OF these big safes being hauled
| several miles from the steamhoar-landlng
az Oll CITY 10 the old Bennington resi-
deuca excited the curiosity OF thousands
Of persons and the cupIdity OF some.
\ LOGICAL RESULT.
Tho robbery of the old mans safes was
! the logical result. The next morning re-
ward of $4,000 was offered for the arrest
of the thieves. which was increased IN
| day or two 10 100000. No arrests navins
vet been made. the old man became ccspc
| rate and increased the reward TO $4,000
| The large reward attracted detectives from
the large cities. and the chase for th'
| thieves became interesting. The old OF
! farmer was touched" for large amount
To carry on the search, but 20 long as III
| wells continued 70 pour forth their gold
en- streams he didn't mind II. Some o
the arrests which followed the rObberl
were almost as Sensational as the rob
berry itself. ID. II. Cady, one OF the mos
| prominent citizens OF Iltusvllle. was M
| rested by STUPID detective, but soon re
leased. Henry Harley, the high-roller a9'
mariner OF the late jim Fisk. then OF th
| Eric road and an oIl-country pipe line, wa
under the surveillance of the astute de
tectiyes. Harley and Cady belonged t.
| convivlal band Of brothers given To lat
hours and fun. and 1t wa, suspected tina
tnev might have put up the Job on the ole
German farmer as q species ~ oll-cOuntr
sport. Although there were blg crook
around from the cities the detective
finally located the supposed robber
i'm Saegertown. little country village nea
Weadville. jim Saeger. VINO had formerl.
been ouartermaster OF the Elgnty-thir,
PENNSYLVANIA Infantry and small
merchant in Meedville. was believed to To-
the leader of the gang. LOUIS Welby,
brewer; George Miller. shoemaker: JACOB
4. Sho2pert and George Geigor, the latte
Renninghoff's hired man, wcr believed {,
have been of TIE gang ana were arrested
Geiger was acquitted. "eloy was sen
TO prison for five years. Miller 20
one year. and ShOppeTt for one yea
and SIX months. Not dollar. @
the money was recovered from thes
men and 1t was believed tina
Saeger had received the hons shar
of II. At any rate. he fled 10 Soutl
America. where he was followed 10y Detec
tive Robert Hague. later the chief OF polio
of Pittsbnrg. Saeger kept out OF reach OF
| detectives until some years later, when u
returned and was arrested in Denver. 4
that time ne was conducting big cattl
ranch IN Texas. One Of Bennington
sons went 10 Denver and made some KIN
of deal with Saeger and lie was neye
hrnught TO trial. Whether he restored
part of the money is not known. The EN-
nloyment of detectives and the search 10
the robbers. which extended over year
two. cost Benninghof fortune IN add
ton 20 the reward OF $4,000 which wen
20 the officers whoarrestei the SaegertOw
people The belief Is that he recoyere
} but little Of his lost 100000.
STORY OF JOHN M'KEowS.
The simple story of John Mckeown's If
is not the least interesting OF the oil-re
zion romances. McKeown landed at Ca
lie Garden from Ireland on the day tha
Lincoln was assassinated. He had so !
his pocket. and this was all OF his world