The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-09-13
How Mother PuHleId Got
the Better Of the Boom.

lUH MUlllGI LulllGlO dOl
the Better Of the Boom.
1.-The town must be burnin' up;
wisht now that | had stayed a little
longer. It's drefful, though-dreffnl to
think on. Mother, I'm going up TO the
hill field TO get better sight"
The glory of the September sunset,
which Squire Duffield bad not noticed,
had scarcely faded when another light,
which be at once perceived, filled the
heavens in the direction of Swanton,
sleepy old eounty-seat, with a popula-
ton Of about 200 souls.
Latterly new influence had mani
Tested itself in Swanton. The young
people had surrendered themselves to
it completely, and even their elders,
bred to slow thought and action and TO
distrust of innovations, were weak
ening under it. 1t had all happened
within few months. One day we'll
dressed, smOoth-spOken stranger had
put up at the Swan House, and had
hired horse and buggy and had driv-
en- about the country asking mysterious
questions Of the farmers. Then he dis
appeared, but shortly returned with a
man whom he introduced as a capital
ist. That sort Of parsonage was unfa-
milan to the Swantonians, and they
spent much time in specializing upon
his probable and possible future.
There was lurking suspicion that
the presence of the strangers BODIED no
good, which became active when they
were Joined by an engineer and show
ed disposition to prowl about other
peoples property. But this being fol-
lowed by proposals to purchase land at
liberal figures, the resentment died out.
1t was only sn acre here and another
there, with sn option on larger tracts,
but 500 an acre for $50 land was an ef-
feetive sntidOte to distrust. The Gu
pidity of the farmer was quite as well
understood by the keen city men as his
hesitation and suspicion. and they had
no difficulty in getting what they
wanted.
Natural gas was the ostensible OBJ
ject Of their search, and Swanton was
in two minds about the desirability Of
discovering such a commodity. That
it was not familiar agricultural prod
uct was to its diseredit, but there were
those who were sanguine over the easy
acquisition Of fortune and the estab
lishment of prosperous and populous
city. The editor of the Daily Banner,
after talk with the capitalist, unhesi-
t:=.::;;2gly said that Swanton's golden OPP
portuLity was at hand.
The madness began to get in its work
when the Buckeye improvement and
Development Company opened spa
eious Office, on Jefferson street and the
sound of drills woke the echoes through
the peaceful countryside. Deals were
made, openly and surreptitiously, and
enterprises and rumors of enterprises
quiekened the sluggish blood of even
the most conservative.
Already gas had been found in small
quantities in several wells, but the ex-
cited community would be satisfied
with nothing less than 'gusher."
One was expected in the big well on
old man Hartman's place at the edge
Of town. There had been difficulties
from salt water and from the breaking
of machinery, but the experts were
sure that gas would be found in inn
mense quantities. Indeed, il had been
making considerable commOtiOn for
several days. Squire Dufiield said he
was mighty glad that he didn't live
near the pesky thing" be didn't want
it on his farm; he preferred a good crop
of wheat
This light, which seemed to indicate
tremendous fire, cofirmed his pre-
vious judgment. ''Some fool has drop
ped lighted cigar and started the
thing off," he argued, land it's spread
to the hull town declare ef I wasn't
so beat out, I'd drive in an see what's
happenin'.
"By gracious. may be it'll burn the
bank up-Tm goin'.
"Jake, Jakei hitch up jimmy quick's
ever yoI can! I'm goin' to town."
shouted the squire; and five minutes
later he and his hired man were urging
the unwilling "Jinny" toward Swan
ton. The distance was five miles, but
'Jinny" could be counted upon TO COW
er it Ia an hour, and to get back in half
that time.
The country grew brighter and the
roaring increased as the mare trotted
briskly over the smooth pike. "It's
queer" muttered the Squire, rthe fire
don't seem to change. We see it better
cause we're gettin' closer, but it don't
get bigger. nor act like an ordinary
fire."
Every time the Squire thought of his
5000 be touched up Jimmy" with his
whip.
"It don't seem TO be spreadin' much;
they're keepin' it well toward Hart
mans place. he said, rs they got near
town: bat Jake couldn't hear him for
the fierce roaring of the flame. The
mare was so frightened by the time
they had come within hslf mile Of
the well thst her master determined to
put her up and to proceed on foot.
"How far has the fire spread ?" he
shouted in the ear Of the hostler who
came out to take her.
'sNo further'n Hartman's well, I"
screamed the man, grinning.
Squire Duffeld couldn't believe that.