The San Francisco call., 1896-05-10
IN LESS SERIOUS MOOD.
BY CHARLES D. SOUTH.

Sycamore Springs, in San Luis Obispo county,
decade ago, was known as the 'Oil Wells"
The existence of mountains of bituminous rock
in the vicinity and the fact that nearby streams
gave slight surface indications of oil inclined
many to the belief that rlver of oil was flow
ing directly underneath. To tapit might mean
the realization of millions. An expert from
Pennsylvania pronounced the character OF the
soil there quite similar to that OF the oil re-
gions of the Keystone State. AT San Luis
Obispo company of capitalists was formed to
push forward the oil project and in short
time well had been sunk and pumping had
begun. The work at the oil wells was in charge
of an engineer by the name OF Spaulding. He
had been digging and pumping away
vigorously for some time, apparently in
spired by an abiding confidence in
the certainty of success we'll
money consideration, when one evening he
sent up shout of joy and dispa tched mes
senger into the city with the glad tidings that
he had "struck oil.'' The capitalists and some
friends drove out on the following morning to
make an inspection. Spaulding gave them a
iubilant greeting and straigntwsy led them
to the well. Taking up handful of freshly
thrown-up sand at the mouth of the well he
held it within an inch OF the nose OF the fore
most of the party.
"Smell of thatl" cried Spaulding.
coil, sure as you BREATHE" exclaimed the
person addressed. In another moment every
body on the ground was excitedly repeating
the same thing: "Oill no doubt about itI'
The news spread rapidly and everybody in the
coil belt" began TO dig. The company bought
up as many as possible OF these otherwise
prospective opponents in the oil industry and
the members of the combine were naturally
proud of their long heads and of their shrewd,
farsighted steps toward the contamination of
a monopoly
Big plans were under consideration. Several
moneyed men from abroad desired to secure
shares in the enterprise. Another excursion
was organized ami arrived unexpectedly at
the oil wells. 1t came at most inopportune
time, SO far as the engineer was concerned, for
Spaulding was lying in bed with an attack of
rheumatism.
"What?" he yelled in an almost affrighted
way when an assistant rushed up with the in
formation that a crowd was at the wells
"Great Casarl Tell 'em the sand at the well
isn't fresh. OlPs evaporateo. PI be down
soon and work the pump"
Meantime the visitors had surrounded the
well and were nosng and shifting around in
the futile endeavor to discover traces of oil in
the sand. Disappointment shone on all faces.
whats the matter with your oil indica-
tons?" queried somebody as Spaulding limped
up to the we'll.
"You see," replied spaulding, readily,
there was sort of cave-in yesterday and the
sand you've been trying's from near the sur
face. I've ordered a sandwich lunch for the
crowd down at the boarding-house, and while
you folks are there I'll just set this pump to
working again.
Returning from lunch the party found that
fresh sand had been thrown up, and that this
sand was strongly impregnated with oil. Those
who looked straight into SpauldIng's eyes
found MIN looking straight back with all the
candor of innocence.
There was no enthusiasm among the excur-
sionists on the home journey, and Spaulding
threw up his job that very night.
sThat's the meanest thing ever did," he de-
clared s'After I'd started the joke with can
of kerosene oil didn't know when to let up!"
But Spaulding had struck flow of white
sulphur water. and some of the gold that was
sunk with the object of bringing up oil from
the rich dream-river below was lured back
again by the "White Sulphur Baths" which
were built on the site of The well that showed
indications of "refned OIL"
"There's any quantity OF oil in San Luis
Obispo County," said one of the pioneers of
that region to me; ''5ut the work of that wag
of an engineer, Spaulding, has scared every
body out of the notion of boring for it,"
What world of deceit this is! And how
often may we not be unjust to the suffering
poor by confounding the prayer of need with
the well-rehearsed imitation of that appeal by
the professional faker. l was turning from
the street into the stairway OF business house
when cripple, ragged and leaning on
crutches, acc osted me. Hating for moment
under the lamp at the entrance looked him
over. 1t was rather late in the evening and
rather cold as well. In appearance the fellow
was quite an object of pity and the:e were
tears in his voice as he nervously, rapidly un-
reeled his tale.
"a strenger-without friends-I am nearly
frozen, and l hate to beg, but a manl do
almost anything when he's shiverlng and half
starved. l want to sleep tonight and
I've got but Is cents. Give me dime for
Gods sake and then I'm told / can get half
decent treatment for tonight. Show me any
job can do for you and Pll thank you. No, /
don't know the taste of liquor. I've passed
through hard times. Imagine yourself all
alone and crippled like me, kicked and cuffed
about and out in the night imploring charity.
l suppose it'll all have to wind up in the bay.
I'd be better dead anyhow"
The cripple wiped tear from his cheek
with dirty sleeve. 1 dropped him dime,
and as pursued my way upstairs l half re-
gretted that hadn't given quarter.
"Well," thought I, "if the man is really in