The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-17
ONCE RICH NOW POOR.
How Misfortune Stole Upon a KloD-
dixie Pioneer.

Santa Cruz, Nov. 17.-Long before the
rush to the Klondike. Peter De Vile
was in the frozen country. He was the
original discoverer of the Klondike. No
man has had a career more crowded
with adventure. De Vile has penetra-
ted nearer the North Pole than any
one else. He claims to have discovered
n white race of Indians near the pole
He lived with them for some years ami
became a chief. De Vile has wonder
full stories to tell of his adventures in
the far North. of his sufferings amid
snow and ice and of su0erhuman eff
forts of battles against freezing TO
death And he would have met death
In the snow but for the timely arrival
of Indians. De Vile is large man
physically. He has owned claims in
the KlOndike of fabulous wealth. but
has parted with them for a song, not
knowing their real value. De Vile has
been rich. for he has taken much gold
out of other claims.
Several years ago he left the Klon-
dixie with a goodly stake. as he desired
to be in a civilized country After
numerous disastrous speculations he
decided to purchase a ranch near Santa
Cruz and engage in the poultry bust
ness. He was doing fairly well on his
nine acres of land, valued at $1,000, I'M
I'll the oil craze struck the county.
One day John Hayes of San Francisco
visited the ranch. Hayes said he was
land was rich in oil. In fact it was 50
plentiful that it oozed out of the ground
in many places. De Vile began to feel
that he was already an oil king For
him the poultry business had no further
charms. Later Hayes brought Frank
Shilling, a San Francisco attorney, to
the place The attorney also claimed to
be an expert, and confirmed what
Hayes had said regarding the oil. The
attorney waxed eloquent over the inn
mense sea of oil that was flowing unre-
strained under the surface. Beside it
the Beaumont wells would be as a To-
cent piece is to dollar. All that was
required was capital to purchase the
necessary boring outfit AS De Vile did
not have the money required. it was
proposed that the De Vile stock COM
pany be organized. He was told that
there would not be any trouble to float
the stock Cor friends of the projectors
were eagerly awaiting the opportunity
to grab at it. All they wanted De Vile
to do was to transfer the ranch to the
De Vile Oil company in return for
which he and his wife would be given
$1,000 shares of the capital stock of the
par value of 81 each. and be made di-
rectors. They agreed to do all the Dor
Ing necessary.
The company was organized, stationery
having on it a picture of an oil derrick
and IN large letters THE De Vile Oil
Company was procured. and the lana
duly transferred. Not dollar in money
had passed between the projectors and
lie VILE Soon the directors were ousted
and assessments levied. which De Vile
was unable to pay Suits were brought
against the De Villes Tor non-payment of
assessments and the stock sold under ex-
eeution with the result that they have
neither stock nor land.
Then the personal property, which At
torney Shilling claimed was given by De
Vile for the use of r. N. Potthurst as
long as he leased the ranch, was alb
sorbed
The De Vile company never made any
attempt to look for oil, for it is a known
fact that none exists Instead of carry
ing out the agreement the land was
leased for farming purposes. De Vile
and his family were reduced to straiten-
ed circumstances
They were forced to live on dry bread
while their only shelter was Il tent Dur
Ing ra1nstOrm they were drenched to the
skin. Kind-hearted people took pity ON
them and provided them with a house
De Vile, explorer. miner and one time
Iabulously wealthy, is now earning live
lihood mailing boxes in the Ben Lomon1
winery. He has a suit pending in the
superior court for the recovery of his
ranch. Saturday the suit for the recov-
cry of the personal property vas heard
in the superior court. In his argument
Attorney w. P. Netherton made one of
the most s-athing addresses in reference
to tie manner in which Attorney Shilling
had acted ever heard in the superior
court.