New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-02


FORE THE OIL FEVER BECAME EPI-
DEMIc HE WAS KNOWN AS THE
WATER WIZARD.
Terre Haute nnd) telegram to The ST. Louis
Post Dispatch
Down at Jefferson lives a man who has been
famous because Of his unerrng prediction
as to the location Of oil streams in the bowels
Of the earth. His name is Jacob Long. He
does the trick with forked stick
Twenty years ago. when yet in his prime.
Long was sought after far and near He was
known as water witch, and whenever a saw
mill or place Of residence was selected it was
then that Long called upon to II nature
had made provision for water. BY means OF
a forked stick, one prong Of which he hold in
each hand. and the single prong pointing up
ward Long would begin his search for the
vein Of water AS he passed over the vein the
forked stick would turn In his hands and point
downward.
SO unerringly did Long perform his work that
no one thought Of putting down well in his
vicinity unless the water witch was consulted.
once. about twenty years ago. while Long
was searching for water his forked peach limb
performed such antics that even the Glviner
amazed. When seeking 10 locate water
the stick always turned outward from him and
pointed down. but only when standing directly
over the vein Of water. and losing the strange
power when ii was crossed. But on this
casion the peach limb turned both inward and
outward and on any place within a several
acre tract
comprehend. lie studied about it several weeks
and finally went TO j. II. Dowell n man OF
learning and inquired what else could be found
in the earth. DOWell after enumerdting many
natural products stated that in some parts Of
the country oil and gas We're also found Long
then announced to his rural neighbors that un-
der their farms lay vast reservoirs Of gas and
oil. So absurd did this seem that he was laughed
at and suspicious cast upon his sanity. RE tried
to induce some Of his acqaintanccs to aid in
proving his assertions. but without success. BY
10 "A
when confronted by financial difficulties he
decided it t. a brother. who subsequently re-
fused to deed it back.
Long naturally resented this Injustice and
after stormy interview with his brother he
decided to try his fortunes in another state. He
went to Crawford County. Ohio.
During his stay there the county experienced
an oil boom, in which Long and his forked
stick cut quite a figure Finding few who would
believe in his strange power and having no
money If his own. he gave his services for little
or nothing. He worked hard to accumulate
money to put down well for himself. but fort
une was reluctant 10 smile upon him. Re
claims now to possess the secret Of pool Of ii
three miles wide and 4 little over a mile long
in the Ohio field. which he hopes some time
10 test and Of which ne has told no one the
location.
While in Ohio he learned that his prediction
made 10 neghbor in this county twenty years
ago had been verified ana he returned here.
His predictions since then have been accurate
and precise and he is now beginning 70 enjoy
the local fame he has 50 long sought.
AT the kamer well. drilled on the sam Cad
bury lease mile east Of jefferson. the grizZled
old oil wizard said there would be no oil. and
he was right notwithstanding two small oil.
producing wells in the immediate vicinity and
hat OIL mn confidently predicted this particular
we'll would be a Cusher.
on the Harry Carroll farm. a mile and
half west, the wizard located well for the
Manhattan Oil Company. although there was
not an oil well in radius OF several miles
from there and ii was situated in wildcat ter,
ritory. Long not only said 1t would De go9d
,od rho icrtb hat oil
be encountered and within few inches the
thickness OF the oil-bearing rock or sand lie
positively states that this well IS on the edge
Of great oil pool, which is a little to the
southeast -o
This wildcat well located is now making 100
barrels a day. and the same company Is put,
ting two more wells on adjoining leases, ana
other companies are being attracted t. the held;
which it is believed is destined 10 outrYal
the famous Peru field. All this comes about
through the efforts IF the oil wizard. VINO was
ieered at and considered a lunatc twenty years
ago for predicting that there was oil within the
boundaries Of the State. The faith Longs
farmer friends now have IN nm Is SHOWN Dy
their eagerness to drill an abandoned we'll
POO feet deeper, as directed by tho wizard
The Manhattan Oil Company drilled a Wen
on the Knox farm four miles north OF Jeiler-
son. near III wizards home. He predicted that
its production would be- greater than any wei
in the state. The company experience sredt
difficulty in putting down the well, ana mary
Abandoned il after reaching the REGULATE deptn
when It was a strong gasser. Drilling stopped
200 feet short II the wizard required IHilt
and no,y a movement is on foot to drill the wei
POO feet deeper as Long strenuously CONTENDS
and mis- followers believe THAI II VIII result as
he predicts on many other Wells he mas gTd-
,5it,rsIv volunteered his predictions with great
accuracy ,,. A.,
Long is sixty years old and a bachelor Al
though he was born in Indiana ne can speih
t,neIisb only brokeny and prefers German
H~ admits that aside from being able to locate
oil wells he is the most Ignorant man IN ii.' me
country. being unable % read 'I "'''e anu N''o"
ing little Of the outside world.