The Monticellonian., 1905-02-09
Dead Mans Spring How It Got Its Name.
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0N a recent trip through what is O known as the old oil country.

IN recent trip through what is U known as the old oil country, Tn a rugged part of Venango county" said John Gilbert, the travelling grc- ceryman, "the man who drove me over the hills was a grizzled native who seemed to be able to remember a whole lot of incidents of the early days of petroleum seeking. On our way, at wild and rocky ST etch of the road we came to I1vulet that flowed across 1t, and the native pulled up his horse and stopped.
 Want to get out" said he, and take drink out O Dead Mans spring?'
 The question was startling, and I didn't see any sp:ing, but was thirsty and 1 said I would be glad D have the drink if he would produce .he spring.
 Co to the upper side O the road. yonder where you see this little run come out O that lunch o, bushes, said he, push the bushes open, and you'll find as proper a spring as you ever set your eyes on to, or put your mug in
 T followed directions. and true enough, among the rocks and bordered by q rank growth Of ferns, was a deep spring, at least two feet in diameter, and of water the coolest, softest and sweetest I had ever tasted quenched my thirst and got back into the wagon.
 Now said the native. see that hummock on t'other side O the road, longside O that big rock?'
 ''I said I did, for the hummock was plain enough to be seen.
 Well said the driver, that's the dead man that gives the spring it's name. Geed ap, Joe,'
 We drove along some distance, and the native made no further reference to the dead man or the spring. In fact, he seemed to have forgotten all about them, but I was little euri- ous, and by and by said:
 "'And how did it happen?'
 'The driver looked at me for ali the world as if he hadn't the slightest idea of what I meant. pointed my thumb back over my shoulder, and was about to explain, when he exclaimed:
 'Oh-h-h. Him?'
 "'Yes,' said I. And the spring
 "'Well, said the native, the spring was always there, but he happened jest because crude grease is the best thing in the world for to make hai. grow on bald heads. and rattlesnaaes won't touch anything that's got it on
 ''I looked at the native a little un- easily, but waited.
 Dan Mitchell, I s'pose, was the iuckiest man that ever struck oil he said, after ahile. not cause he struck oil so much as 1t Wa5 cause he used a big lot of it on his bald head to make the hair grow.
 "'Dan had a couple O good wells down yonder long the creek. but he was prospectin' for more He had a bald spot on top of his head about the size of a pancake, and it worried Dan tremendous, cause ke was young fel- Ter yit, and had hopes.
 Somehow or other Dan hadn't heard yit that crude erease'd start hair to growin' on to bail heads as sure as a mustard plaster d start a blister, and that rattlesnakes, which was plen- tier than flies round a 'lasses jug. drawed the line at it, and let anything alone that had it on
 While you was putin down well, you had to kick rattlesnakes out O your way, or carry a club with you all the time, but the minute you struck oil and she began to squirt, them rattlers d begin to cut sticks away from there so fast that you wouldn't be able to find one within mile O your camp. Don't blame 'em much for crude grease don't smell anywaye nigh like a pineapple.
 And that's the reason. spose, that folks haint took to the crude grease cure for bald heads more than they have, They'd have to go into quarantine, I s'pose, while they was usin' it, anywheres outside O the oil camps.