The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-10
STORY OF A BRAKEMAN

Who Is Now Worth More Than a Million
Dollars.
The New York Journal prints story
about former railroad brakeman, who
has gone through all the ups and downs
of railroad life and finally landed right
side up with care. the possessor of cool
million and at present enjoying the hos
ptality OF the Fifth Avenue hotel. The
Journal says;
Aside from smoking long and dark cigars,
the only expensive habit of John A. Bunt-
Ing, formerly railroad employe, Is the
maintenance of one of the hundsomest prl.
vate cars in the world. Is Il better Goa
than any which, as Il brakeman Mr. Bunt-
ins hau ever coupled to an engine.
lie arrived here In an ordlAary sleeper
because his family could not come Win
him, and travelling alone, even in a pal
ace on wheels, is not more comfortable
than barn, according TO his way OF
thinking.
Mr. Bunting wishes to deny that the
foundation OF his material prosperity was
S110 loan on Il cheap watch and a mort
gage OF forty acres of cheap land.
The common story is that he forec,osed
the mortgage, and In day or so tie real
estate spouted riches.
He is stoutly built, and has n forid com.
plexlcn. His we'll set shoulders show that
the exercise of STAYING the tendency OF
freight cars TO run down grade, Is an ex-
cellent means OF physical development
He wears blue serge suit n brilliant
opal scartpln and several unosteutatious
diamond rings.
In the pursuit Of livelihood Mr.. Bunt
Ing has Travelled extensively In the United
States. His father was property owner
In this city, and at one time a member or
the board of aldermen.
Mr.. Bunting remembers that as boy he
saw Commodore Vanderbilt attending TO
his ferry Interests ON Staten Island He
went to the Pennsylvania ell fields and
then went to the Pacific slope.
There he engaged In railr0adlnE and went
| through every branch OF the serVice-brake-
| man. fireman and engine driver. lie de
MES that he ever tended water tower at
Tucson, Ari2.
Watching water run into a tank AMI out
again would not have been an occupation
| to the liking Of Mr.. Bunting. He became
| president of one of the Western roads ana
| later II contractor.
Mr. Bunting received a legacy from the
| estate OF his father, which enabled him to
| have working capital. He went down TO
| Kern county, Cal, to bore a well for
| water. Owing to a Misunderstanding about
| the terms he did not proceed with this
| enterprise.
! Ills attention was called to the pes sibiliiy
| Of there being Of. in Kern county. lie
| found that gas came from certain streams
| and that It burned with STEADY fame;
/ Sbale was seen and there were traces OF
! bisumen on the surface
With the assistance Of several friends
! 1900 acres Of land were purchased snd the
/ pro pectors began work
| "Boiing ar oil well is n business which
/ can not be done on the shoestring basis
said Mr.. Bunting. land that Is wis tn I
story about the watch and thu NOR gage Is
I ridiculous. 1t takes about $4,000 60 come
/ In on an oil well. We struck quantities OF
! oil sand saturated with % per cent Of oil
and began pumping.
II do not think much OF gushcrs. GuslD
ers are mostly gas, That's what makes
| them gush. We just pumped steadily 20
| barrels day or so.
| There was 4 doctor | knew, fr end o!
| mine let him have 100 acres OF land on
| his note at $40 an acre. Wasn't sure
whether he would pay for 1t or not. He all
and made million"
! Mr.. Bunting does not like to talk abaut
! himself When he speaks Of the rNm1rk
able vehicle constructed for hlm by wei
known company, he becomes enthusiastic
| lie Is sorry that he did not bring II with
Inn The next time he comes to New Yorl
he SAYS that he certainly shall travel In
| his own car.
There seem TO have been several mlsap
prehersops about the affairs OF BuDtlrg
and the one which hes caused him NOR,
annoyance than any otner Is the narrative
or his sending In his card to the srnpr'n
tendent of the Southern Pacific 81
and receiving the response that there "srt
no vacancies.
"vacanciesI exclaimed the old man, &C
cording TO the story. II don't want job
| wish to buy a private car"
As to the car itself, however, Runtins
enters no drnials. 1t has an observation
platform a parlor finished In tiger wO d,
dining room in English oak, aud bed rooms
nlcncc which It Is possible to compress int
rui