The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-26


meeting with him. lie had been used
TO the bluffs Of the newly rich Ia those
days OF mushroom fortunes, AID as
named a sum that would have MADE
man OF many times St.ele's millions
vince, but Steele quickly said:
Done III write you a caecx and
you 90 down and get Z cashed and
drink yourself to death.
lie wrote the check, declined a re-
cept for the place, and. handing the
proprietor has hat and coat, told n.m
not TO come back, and went behind the
desk himself. acting as clerk lie en-
joyed this about an hour, then eft 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. lie owne-
the place and would run II himself
1t took but a few hours for the lad
Of money 10 tire OF his costly toy, and.
going out on the street, he met an i'm
poyerished acquaintance.
billy" he said, take this old ho-
tel / bought 1t, 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.
/ lie remained only a short time, but
stories OF his fearful and wonderful
feats OF spending money there came
back TO Nenango county. one OF his
Jokes was TO hire as many cats as
would accommodate his friends one In
a cab, and lead the procession himself,
sitting on the drivers seat with 500
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
present each driver with his own rig
again.
End Of HIS Career.
But it was not long until the money
OF Coal Oil Johnny" like all good
things, came 10 an end Like flash
il had come TO him and almost like
flash the end came. In a little over
seven months from the time he came
into his vast fortune he returned e
Housewife. a few miles up Oil creel
above OIL City. and asked for job o.
any sort He was given the position
OF roustabout at the little railroad sta
ton there, bit he soon fled west Z
escape sightssers and newspaper mel
who came from far and near TO s..
and talk with the man who had spen
millions in such short time. He livet
for a long time on farm in Iowa
then moved 10 Kansas, where he re
NAMED until a short time ago. Will
spending the holidays with q friend +
sight OF the old McCllntock farm h
was stricken with pneumonia, fror
which he died.
Unlike millionaires OF the presen
day. Johnny Steele did not turn fror
his wife in the days OF his ahluenc
Nor did she. in the ensuing years
, poverty. waver In her affection. Whe
quite young he married Eleanor
Mofitt. his childhood chum The knC
, was tied Just before the immense 10
, tune was inflicted on him. and in h
J wild days OF money spending his lo'
for her remained constant. There We
no unsavory scandals with women CO.
, nected with the Wild spending of job
! ny Steele. and all his wild pranks we
! played when away from Mrs. Steel
|. She alone could rule him. and she rul'
him with love. In vain she tried
=, check his mad career OF money shoN
F, ering. condoled with him when II vi
: all gone. but remained steadfast In h
!, love for him through all the drear
: poverty-ridden years that followe
faithful. loving. tender 90 the end.