The Irish standard., 1905-02-11
Dead Mans Spring
How It Got Its Name.
I'm a recent trip through what is
known as the old oil country.

~0N a recent trip through what is
known as the old oil country,
IN rugged part of Venango county,"
said John Gilbert. the travelling gro
ieeryman, "the man who drove me over
hhe hills was 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 rivulet that flowed across
Il, and the native pulled up his horse
I'd stopped.
"'Want to get out" said he, and
luke drink out O. Dead Mans
apring?'
"The question was startling, and
didn't see any sp.ing, but l was
thirsty, and said would be glad
to have the drink if he would produce
the spring.
"'Go 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 spring as you
ever set your eyes on to, or put your
mug in
Il followed directions, and true
enough, among the rocks and bordered
by rank growth Of ferns, was deep
spring, at least two feet in diameter,
and Of water the coolest, softest and
sweetest had ever tasted. Iquenched
my thirst and got back into the wagon.
"'Now,' said the native, see that
hummock on t'other side O. the road,
1ongside O. that big rock?'
II said did, for the hummock was
plain enough to be seen.
4'Well,' said the driver, that's the
dead man that gives the spring it's
name. Coed ap, Joe!'
eve drove along some distance. and
the native made no further reference
10 the dead man or the spring. In
fact, he seemed TO have forgotten all
about them, but l was little Curl
Gus, and by and by I said
land how did it happen?'
1.-THE driver looked at me for all the
idea of what I meant. l pointed my
thumb back over my shoulder, and was
about to explain, when he exclaimed:
"'Oh-h-h! Him.
EYES, said l. 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 haE
grow on bald heads. and rattlesnakes
won't touch anything that's got it on. >
Il looked at the native little I'M
easily. but waited.
"'Dan Mitchell, s'pose, was the
1uckiest man that ever struck OIL he
said, after ahile, not cause he struck
oil so much as it was cause he used a
The hair grow
Dan had couple O. good wells
down yonuer long the creek. but he
was prospectin' for more. He had a
bald spot on top of his head about the
size of pancake, and it worried Dan
tremendous, cause he was young fell
Ter yit, and had hop,s
Somehow or other Dan hadn't
heard yit that crude creased start hair
10 CROWN on to bald heads as sure as
3 mustard plaster d start a blister,
and that rattlesnakes, which was plen-
der than flies round 'lasses Jug,
drawed the line at it, and let anything
alone that had 1t Oh
"'While you was putin down a
well, you had to kick rattlesnakes out
o your way, or carry club with you
all the time, but the minute you
struck oil and she began to squirt,
tflem rattlers d begin to cut sticks
away from there so fast that you
wouldn't be able to find one within a
mile O your camp. Don't blame 'em
much, for crude grease don't smell
anyways nigh like pineapple.
land that's the reason, | spose,
that folks hain't took to the crude
grease cure for bald heads more than
they have, They'd have to go into
quarantine, I s'pnsa. While they was
1sin' it. anywheres outside O. the oil
ramps.