The Cairo bulletin., 1907-01-02
CL AIM ILLINOIS
CUSHER SALTEO
PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN PART or
STATE EXCITED OVER POSI-.
RiLlTY or A FRAUD.
OIL SHIPPED TO WELL
At Campbell From Bridgepcrt--Has
Since Disappeared and Much
Touted Hole is Now Said TO
BE VaIueIess.


McLcansboro H., January l.--This
city, the so4rroundlng country and in
fact almost all OF Southern Illinois II
In state of tense excitement con-
cerning the rumor that the eli well re-
Gently brought in on The farm OF Gen
eral James A. Campbell near this city
was salted, During the past few
days the rumor that twelve barrels Of
crude oil were ompted into the hole
in order TO convince ONE one that he
well was genuine has become more
persistent than ever and farmers own
ing property in the vicinity f the hole
who could sell their farms for fabulous
prices should the we'll be genuine are
threatening 10 use any means to sift
he mater to The bottom and ascertain
whether or not the hole Is Cry and has
been salted' as reported or contains
oil in paying quantities
Twelve barrels Cf crude ot were
shipped from 1he Bridgeport district s.
Enfield and hauled from that city -
the well by wagon Every trace lf The
barrels has since disappeared The two
men who hauled the oil from Enfield
to the well both bear good regulations
here They say that they hauled the
oil and that their services pere paid
for by the head driller at the well
Neither ct them knows what has since
become Of the tewlye barrels or their
contents. The head driller, who hired
the men to haul the oil viii not talk
bot ii is said that he claims the we'll
10 be genuiae
Opi1iono Are Different.
General Campbell on whose land
The well is located says, that
his property Is under lease and
4l,- ..-sv+ - v-s-#s>.-,e a--s..4.li
than anyone else. fie gives 1t as his
opinion, however. that the well is gen.
uine. Mr. Stewart, who has been fin,
ancing the drilling Of the hole has ad-
vised his friends that the we'll is a
dry one" and hat they are losing
both time and money when they at
tempt to secure leases in the commnn-
ifv contiguous to The Campbell tract.
Oil men who had rushed to this city
when II became known that oil had
been found In paying quantities have
taken him at his word and left the
country, with the exception Of few
Men who have been in the oil bust
ness all their Ives say that Stewart
could not afford o be Judas lscariDl
to his kind and that ne is telling the
truth. They say thai if the we'll Is
genuine and Stewart has deliberately
misle1 other oil men d order TO secure
more leases himself Tat every oil man
In the country viii be his business
enemy for life. T}ey say on the
other hand that it wo,ld be impossible
10 salt" the well, ell it, and the
property on which it is located for .
price and escape proseca-
ion and punishment. They cannot
,oniure mp a single motive that would
prompt the Sailing" Of the we'll and
IN the other hand cannot see what
benefit Stewart could hope ol
obtain by leading his lifelong friends
and business associates to believe the
well yalueles..
False Store es About Oil.
The stories sent out from this city
saying tha- streams of oil had
lowed through the fields and i'm the
litches near the well are false. Ncry
lew traces Of oil can he found even |
lrouad the derrick floor Il would have !
leen comparatively easy to have
.mptied the twelve barrek Of crude OF |
no the well burned De staycs IN the /
,oiler Of the drilling ouffI and thrown |
he hoops into the creek which ruu
Iear bv bit tae question npperm zt "a /
he minds of people in this vicinity is /
whether or not such q 'hihg could have I
Deeu perpctrated with 'le hope OF cs /
apiug ultimate detection The plug /
n the casing az present Is saturated /
With oil which ind Gates tha there g /
strong pressure OF oil from below |
vat on the other hand fl would be a 4
cry simple matter TO sa'urate Ct from |
not ide sources.