Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-22
PRINCE OF ALL sPENDTHRIFTs.
"coal Oil Johnny Set Pace That
None Has Ever Attempted to Equal.

"coaI Oil Johnny" Set a Pace That
None Has Ever Attempted to Equal.
In the intoxication Of suddenly ac-
ouired wealth, 100000 in hand and
an income OF 100000 a week from
old and new leases on the Widow Nc
Clintock farm, John w. Steele re-
solved to reveal his opulence to the
world-to see everything in 1t, and by
no means through a smoked glass.
In his ignorance, for he could not do
much more than write his name, he
saw in the fortune only the opportuni-
ty for personal display, and he sud-
denly burst with butterfy-like radi-
ance into grimy Housewife, the near
est town to the old homestead, teem-
ing with all conditions Of men, hon
estly or dishonesty bent upon eating
at Dives's table or scraping up the
crumbs Of gold that fell around 1t. But
for this young Croesus this town was
but a pent-up Utica. Thence to
Titusville and Oil City and finally to
Pittsburg, where he first found an orbit
large enough to spread his wings. A
mere chronology of his public acts
comprehends his whole history. He ap-
peared to the guests Of the old Monon-
gahela House in a coat Of blue velvet,
giving the head waiter, who had ush-
cred him to a seat 800 bill and his
ll-k4 U
put down the soup, and second fifty
when the meal was finished, and that
obsequious person asked: "Is that
all, sir?" His first public sensation
was at a music hall when he stepped
from his box onto the stage and said
to the black-faced comedian: "Sing
that again, and here is a thousand"
From this resort he drove to the
Sanitary fair being held in one Of the
large halls, reaching the floor as some
one was making a patriotic appeal
"for the contribution Of one days in
come" Here you are. sir" and push
ing through a gaping crowd which
easily parted he handed up five $500
bills. What name, sir?" Put 1t
down to Coal Oil Johnny" thus
coining the soubriquet which was
never effaced. He was recognized by
a Venango county man. John, we
want soldiers monument in Frank
lin" Steele searched his pockets.
THAT is all the change I have" and
he passed over $500. 1t is said that,
saving the monument at Girard, in
Erie county, toward which Dan Rice
contributed $4,000, this was the first
memorial raised in this state to the
fallen heroes.
There was an older man in Pitts
burg who resolved to exploit this
youthful and reckless son Of Helios.
His name was Seth Slocum, and he
commanded just those powers to open
stage doors, to penetrate the inner
most recesses Of the concert hall and
unlock the chambers Of Isis which
would appeal in a compelling way to
a .profiigate spirit. Behold, therefore,
this matchless young spendthrift, un-
der his tutelage, and the champagne
rout which ensued when to call for
one bottle smacked Of penury, and
only basket was de rigueur. Under
such expert administration there
formed about him a great company OF
parasites to fawn upon him, to exalt
his already Caesar-like aplomb and
gold pieces-even when gold was at
215!-and strips Of the long green
what more logical than that all this
horde Of leeches, decked out in the best
tailor-made at his expense, should be
quartered. at the Monongahela-that
decent people fed from 1t as from a
besom, and that a covetous manage
ment was forced at length to say:
"Your absence Is more to be desired
than your company" Then the pre-
parations for the conquest Of Phila-
delphia, which loomed upon the hori-
zon of Steers Imagination as the
promised land. We'll take it by
storm-special cars-if you say so I'll
buy a locomotive-and new clothes all
around" OF course, there was unan-
imous concurrence. What you need
said the mentor, "is bodyguard-a
man you and I can trust man
who knows every twist in hotel
table form and how to dress you
as BELTS your station. That man
Is Major Teagle, and I have writ
ten him to be prepared for our ar
rival" Thus 1t was that the invasion
was accomplished-the arrival by one
of the first trains at the new terminal
in West Philadelphia, which had been
the Arcade Of the great Sanitary Fair:
the procession Of carriages through the
city, having at its head the victoria
bearing Steele in his blue-velvet en-
blazonment, the converted might
hawk" on the box seat, and at his side
the impressive figure Of the "Majah,'
for many years to come one OF the
most picturesque Impressions Of our
city life.
Two incidents rise conspicuously out
Of the throng which marked the
spendthrift's career in Philadelphia.
One day he stopped in at the Conti-
mental, when the late ]. E. Kingsley
had just been admitted to the firm
controlling 1t. II wish to see the pro-
prietor." He is engaged" said the
clerk, staring at the marvellous sar-
torial apparition. II won't be answer
ed in that way. Here, boy"-tossing
twenty dollar gold piece to the bell
boy-"take my card to the proprietor"
When Kingsley appeared he said, lay
Ing a mass Of bills on the counter:
There are $4,000. It's yours. All l
want is the right to run this hotel one
day, and pay all the extra expenses
Kingsley could not resist the temp
tation. Picking up the money he said:
For "a hours it is yours to command
"Slocum." cried Steele, you are clerk.
Get behind that desk. Gaylord"-this
was Johnnie" the minstrel-"you are
bellboy at 500 a day. where's that
clerk?" Here, sir!" You are dis
charged" AS soon as It could be pre-
pared a huge sign was raised across
the reading room windows (afterward
IL. II .x,tf