Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-22

engaged" "Is It engaged now?" show |
ing a 800 bill into the drivers hand. |
'I think not" smiled the man. At the |
door of the Girard, where throng |
was awaiting him, he thrust $1,000 in
to the astounded drivers vest. Let
me see better rig tomorrow" Wher-
ever he went there went with him Slo-
cum and Teagle, neither suffering
from their obsequious attachment. 1t
Is to be said Of them-possibly be-
cause they saw for their own good d.
minished possibilities-that they en-
deavored to keep him out Of the gamb-
ling dens at the northwest corner OF
Ninth and SAMSON streets. He insist
ed however. and left over $4,000 In
the tigers NAV. When Skif and Gay
lord brought their minstrel troupe to
Concert Hall Steele became enamored
with its life. Here was something
better than organizing a colored band
in Locust street, giving 1t heavy gold
braided uniforms and solid silver In
struments-under the masterful intui-
wearied of its sounding "brasses' In
front of the Girard. IT you men will
serenade me tonight I will back the
show" Could ordinary minstrel ma
ture Withstand this? Never; and the
thing they played most was Goal OIL
Johnnie Is His Name" and that earlier
composition, Champagne Charlie"
When the modern Titmouse appeared
on the balcony II was to answer the
cheer Of the mob with dollar bills. He
not only reclothed the Skif and Cay
lord enterprise. gave 1t from Klemm's
famous Market-street store the hnest
possible orchestral outfit, but ne
bought a locomotive, baggage car and
ota 70
of travelling companies with such an
equipment. When the organization
started on this career Of sumptuous
travel II was estimated that Steel had
spent 100000 in less than two months.
At Saratoga, where he gambled
while the minstrels played, and where
John Morrissey took from him $4,000
at one sitting, an old man came up to
him, and, laying his hand upon his
shoulder, said: do not forget the
words Of Franklin-.Always taking out
of the meal tub and never putting In
soon comes to the bottom" Whereat
steele rose up: Gentlemen, under my
new leases I am getting $4,000 week
which was a somewhat extravagant
enlargement Of the real figures-"and
II you think I've got to the bottom OF
the tub there Is a roll Of $50,000. Let
me tell you, one and all, that ] once
hauled oil ten miles in Venango coun-
ty, and II worst comes to worst I'll
haul 1t again." a saying which was
prophetic. At Utica the minstrel COM
pany went on two weeks carouse, ne
paying the bills and the estimated re-
ceipts for the fortnight; and the way
to far-off Chicago was dotted all along
by these excesses. In that city, when
he heard that the splendid Crosby
opera house. the finest extant in Amer
lea, and subsequently won by poor
farmer In the great lottery scheme by
which 1t was disposed of, could not be
leased for "a niger show" he Is said
to have driven up in state and to have
planked down a mass Of 100000 be-
fore the owner. will you lease 1t now
for a beneflt% mo" was the answer,
but will give it."
All meteors, astronomers say, even
tually find the earth. Steele did. IN
1867. In three years he had squan-
dered $500, 900, and, when he least ex-
pected 1t, the oil ceased running on the
old McClintock farm: the pactolian
stream had dried up. When he had no
more money and all credit was ex-
hausted the parasites dropped on like
gnats from a bloodless carcass. His
wife had managed to get $4,000 from
him but the bank In which she deposited
It failed. BY the sale Of some jewels he
had sent her she managed to own a
modest little home but Steele did not
like the prodigal Of old, Immediately
return. Like one awakening from
iebauch, there was a hazy memory
that at times and places he had LETT
packages Of money for safe-keeping
He began to retrace his steps. Az Oli
City he discovered a trunkful OF old
clothes, and In the pockets $1,000. The
ardor Of speculation seized him, and
within a week 1t was gone. Instead OF
despair there came the inspiration or
work. He would get back to Phila-
delphia. He could drive the stage for
the Girard. but Kanaga said: Your
creditors have filed their claims
against your estate, for Pfttsburg
court has adjusted you bankrupt, ana
you had better get back to the Oil
country" These were the claims:
H. w. Kanaga, Girard House,
Philadelphia .$ls'Sz4
w. E. Galbraith, attorney-at
law, Erie ................. 1o'ooo
d mia NJ iewelrv ........ 5,s05
.John d. Tones, harness ........ 1880
w Horn Phila-. cigars Sc
E. H. Conklin, Phila., liquors 2024
Phelan & Calender. billiard ta-
HES .... 1000
Va rious hatters .. 300
Claim by Teagle ......... S,ooo
This surely tells the story Of roy
al spree from which Steele had at last
awakened. He had bought experience.
He would go home. On his return,
stopping at Wilkesbarre, he heard In
the gossip of the reading room Of an
unclaimed package at one or the
banks. He presented himself, was
identified and put In possession. 1t
contained $4,000. He had never re-
membered it. Now he would make
his peace with his wife, and the long
ing for his little son seized him. But
first he would test himself with work,
and he engaged as a freight handler
at Oil City, and by gradual approaches
the mark Of acedness-reached
his wife. And what became OF this
Fortunatus? Ask the people OF Ash
land, Neb., to which place he after
ward removed the reunited family.
Would any one suspect that this far
mer of 81 or 63, enjoying the respect OF
all his neighbors. was ever that veri-
table fool Of fortune, Goal OIL john
ME e?"-Philadelphia Telegraph.