The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-13
WAsHERINOMAN's LUCK.
Texas oil BOOM Makes Her Inde-
pepdently Rich.

From the New York World.
Austin, Tex, July 6.-Mrs. Lena Rob-
erts of this city is one of the fortunates
who have suddenly risen from poverty to
riches through the Beaumont oil boom
The boom is over and matters have set
tied down to a legitimate business basis,
but there were many who reaped fine
and totally unexpected harvest from the
Texas Eldorado. Mrs. Roberts is a
widow, and at the time oil was discovered
was doing washing for the support of her
large family of children. Her husband
died several years ago, leaving her $40
acres of land located a short distance
from Beaumont. She tried to sell the
property, but nc, one would offer her more
than 81 an acre for it. Although she
needed money badly she concluded to
hold the land and leave it ss an inheri-
lance for her children.
When oil spouted from the ground near
her holding offers for it came in az a live
BY rate. She finally sold for $4,000 cash.
few days later it was resold for $4,000
Nevertheless Mrs. Roberts is perfectly
satisfied.
Fortune From N "ShOestring."
About three years ago T. S. Moore, a
young man employed by a rice-growing
company to make a survey for an irri-
cation system in Southeast Texas, found
himself with two good horses on his
hands. He had been driving the animals
to a blackboard. and having completed
his work. he had no further use for them.
He traded them for twenty acres of land.
and with the deed to the property in his
pocket he took the train for Kansas City.
He had almost forgotten his trade when
the news of the oil discovery reached him.
a few weeks later he decided TO come
to Beaumont and take look at his land
and see what it was worth. He was
astonished to find that he could sell 1t for
500 an acre. He sold IL for that price and
invested the money $4,000 in another
piece of land in the oil field He became
an active trader and cleaned up more
than $4,000 before the boom subsidized
Several poor colored men who owned
small tracts of land scattered about in
the oil field sold out their holdings for
fortunes. One negro is said to have sold
his small patch Of ground for $4,000 cash.
Rich Through Faith.
Patillo Higgins. who owns and has
leases on many thousands of acres OF
oil lands, some In the very heart OF the
proved oil district including two of the
best gushers in the field. is reputed 10
be worth more than 100000 in actual
holdings. with the prospect of increasing
his wealth several times over when the
plans for the development Of his properties
are carried out. Mr.. Higgins struggled
with poverty for many years. He was
the first person 10 assert that oil existed
al Spindle Top Heights This was ton
years ago. and he organized a compay
al that time TO drill a well in search OF
the product
owing to the lack OF proper machinery.
the well was put down to a depth OF a
few houndred feet and abandoned Mr.
Higgins continued 10 agltate the OIL qucs-
ton ana made many unsuccessful at
tempts 90 get men OF capital interested
IN his scheme to drill another well on
spindle TOP Heights. II was through HE
efforts that Capt A. y. Lucas. the OIL
expert Of PittaburR, WAS Induced 20 bore
the well which brought in the frst gush-
er.
Mr. Higgins Loot no time In securing
Leases Oh lands near the first well len.
mediately after fbe nrHf discovery Nas
made. iio made some LARGE desla Bhion
gave him money slth which ~ snlarEo
NE operations, ana BE- b. DoW probably
- nost sueessafsl inQiYl1ual 0psfat0T