The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-06-15


days of mushroom fortunes, and he
named a sum that would have made
ia man Of many times Steele's millions
vince, but Steele quickly said:
Done. I'll write you a check and
you go down and get it cashed and
drink yourself to DEATH"
He wrote the check, declined re-
ceipt for the place, and, handing the
proprietor his hat and coat. told hin
not to come back, and went behind the
desk himself, acting as clerk. He en-
ljoyed this about an hour, then left the
desk without anyone in charge, and
went to the barroOm, where he gave
the barkeepers each two months wages
and told them to get out. He owned
the place and would run it himself.
1t took but a few hours for the lad
of money to tire of his costly toy, and,
going out on the street. he met an i'm
poverished acquaintance.
Billy he said, take this old ho-
tel bought it, but I'm tired of it.
It's yours
About this time Coal Oil Johnny
tired of the oil region and paid a flying
visit Ito Philadelphia and New York.
He remained only a short time, but
stories of his fearful and wonderful
feats of spending money there came
back to Venango county. One of his
jokes was to hire as many cabs as
would accommodate his friends, one in
cab, and lead the procession himself,
sitting on the drivers seat with $1OO
bills in his hat, drive round the streets
of the town until all were tired, then
Goal Oil Johnny" would go along the
line buying the horse and cab from
each astonished driver, then return and
present each driver with his own rig
again.
End of His Career.
But it was not long until the money
of Goal Oil johnny like all good
things, came to an end. Like a flash
lit had come to him and almost like a
flash the end came. In a little over
seven months from the time he came
into his vast fortune he returned to
Housewife, a few miles up Oil creek
above Oil City. and asked for lob of
any sort. He was given the position
OF roustabout at the little railroad sta
ton there, but he soon fed west to
escape sightseers and newspaper men
who came from far and near to see
and talk with the man who had spent
millions in such a short time. He lived
for long time on farm in Iowa,
then moved to Kansas, where he re-
manned until a short time ago. While
spending the holidays with friend in
sight of the old McClintock farm he
was stricken with pneumonia, from
which he died.
Unlike millionaires of the present
day, Johnny Steele did not turn from
his wife in the days of his affluence.
Nor did she. in the ensuing years of
poverty, waver in her affection. When
quite young he married Eleanor J..
Moftitt. his childhood chum. The knot
was tied just before the immense for
tune was inflicted on him. and in his
wild days of money spending his love
for her remained constant. There were
| no unsavory scandals with women con-
nected with the wild spending of John
ny Steele. and all his wild pranks were
played when away from Mrs Steele.
She alone could rule him. and she ruled
him with love. In vain she tried to
check his mad career of money show
ering, condoled with him when it was
all gone, but remained steadfast in her
love for him through all the dreary.
poverty-ridden years that followed.
faithful, loving. tender to the end.