The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-02-03

nesting with him. He had been used
to tho bluffs Of the newly rich In those
days Of mushroom fortunes, and he
named a sum that would have made
a man of many times Steele's millions
vince, but Steele quickly said:
Done. I'll write you a check and
you 60 down and get it cashed and
drink yourself to DEATH"
He wrote the check, declined q re-
! ceipt for the place, and, handing the
proprietor his hat and coat, told HIM
not to come back, and went behind the
desk himself, acting as clerk. He en-
|joyed 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. l 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 to Philadelphia and New York.
He remained only a short time, but
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 800
bills in his hat, drive round the streets
Of the town until all were tired, then
Coal Oil Johnny" would go along the
line buying the horse and cab from |
each astOnished driver, then return and
each driver with his own rig
again.
End Of His Career.
But 1t was not long until the money
II Coal Oil Johnny" like all good
hings, came to an end. Like a flash
t had come to him and almost like a
lash the end came. In a little over
months from the time he came
INTO his vast fortune he returned to
housewife, a few miles up Oil creek
Ibove Oil City, and asked for a job of
my sort. He was given the position
Il ~rOustabOut at the little railroad sta
there, but he soon fled west to
scape sightseers and newspaper men
came from far and near to see
talk with the man who had spent
in such a short time. He lived
a long time on a farm In Iowa.
len moved to Kansas, where he re-
until a short time ago. While
pending the holidays with a friend in
Ight of the old McClintock farm he
as stricken with pneumonia, from
hich he died.
Unlike milliOnaires of the present
ay, Johnny Steele did not turn from
is wife in the days Of his a~f1uence.
did she, in the ensuing years OF
waver in her affection. When
lite young he married Eleanor J. !
Offitt, his childhood chum. The knot l
as tied just before the immense for .
ne was inflicted IN him, and in his =
lid days Of money spending his love :
r her remained constant. There were =
D unsavOry scandals with women con- .
with the wild spending of John :.
Steele, and all his wild pranks were :.
aged when away from Mrs. Steele. =
lie alone could rule him, and she ruled :.
m with love. In vain she tried to :
eek his mad career of money show =
ing, condoled with him when 1t was :.
gone, but remained steadfast in her =
for him through all the dreary. =,
years that followed. :
lthful, loving, tender to the end. .
.-. u