The Farmington times., 1906-01-26
imeeting with him. He had beon used

meeting with him. He had beon used
to the BLUFFS OF the newly rich In those
days OF mushroom fortunes, and he
named a gum that would have made
man OF many times Steele's millions
vince, but Steele quickly said:
Done. III write you a check and
you so down and get it cashed and
drink yourself to death"
! lie wrote the check, declined re-
ceipt for the place. and, handing the
proprietor his hat and coat, told Il. IN
not to come back and went behind tho
desk himself. acting as clerk He en-
joyed this about all hour, then left the
desk without anyone in charge, and
went TO the barroom, where he gave
the barkeepcrs each two months wages
and told them to get out. lie owned
tho place and would run II 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
poyershcd acquaintance.
Billy" he said take this old ho-
Il tel. | bought 1t, but I'm tired OF 1t.
It's yours"
About this time Coal OIL Johnny"
tired Of the oil region and paid a dying
visit to 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 Nenango 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
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 II was not long until the money
Of Coal Oil Johnny" like all good
things, came to an end. Like flash
II had come to him and almost like a
fash the end came. In little over
seven months from the time he came
into his vast fortune he returned to
Rouseville, few miles up Oil creek
above oil City and asked for job OF
any sort. He was given the position
OF roustabOut at the little railroad sta
ton there, but he soon fled 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 4 short time. lie lived
for n long time on farm in Iowa,
then moved 10 Kansas whore he re-
mainel until n short time ago, While
spending the holidays with a friend in
sight Of the old McClintock farm he
was stricken with pneumonia, from
which he died
Unlike mi,,ianaiIrs Of the present
day. johnny steele did not turn from
| his wife in the days of his afIluencn
| Nor did She in the ensuing years Of
poverty. wayar in her affection. When
quite young he married Eleanor J.
MofIitt. 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 wore
no unsayOry scandals with women con-
ncctcd with the wild spending Of JOIN
ny steele ana all his wild pranks were
r'qypl - hon 1wpv frntn Mrg CtDa1n
She alone could rule him ard she rule
him with love, In vain she tried to
check his mad career Of money show-
orlng, condolcd with him when Il wa
all gone but ramnae1 s'eadfast In hor
love for him through all the drrqrv
rovrr'y-rildon years that followed.
faithful lcving tender to the end.