The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-04-14

of the They held their foreheads in their
hands. and rocked with anguish. knowing that they
must suffer for days before sight or comfort would
return
The ear-sawing noise continued and effort
speech was resigned. But the appearance OF the
women was eloquent the eve. and they
invited TO other shacks for proper clothing.
When there were no more lives TO save. Seth and
Tom took counsel in such sign language they
could improvfse.
Tho crew knew their business and hurried TO the
nearest general store. where they got wads OF cot
ton which they packed into their ears. Then they
Went blowing through the greasy mud till they
found patch of blue clay. They dug their hands
into it and slapped il over their ears by fstful
When they masked all but the ewes. nose and
mouth. they followed Seth's lead, and keeping
the windward of the deadly breeze. made rush for
the derrick
The sand blast that ate away the collar the
Joints OF pine and the case-hardened rings OF the
bile. the softer tissues of their
faces and hands. but the scream of the giant
whistle slashed through their heads with agony
OF countless knives.
Orders were given by Selling man and point
ing. The crew worked like mad. sweating with the
torment of the din. Everything was bupGled i'm
the haste and had to be done twice: but. in time,
with roncs and tackle, nipple and open gate
valve. and Joint of nine made MP tight into one
piece, wer" swung from the torn and shattered der
rick Failure followed failure before 1T was firmly
screwed into the we'll casing Then nine taken
at random without regard to ownership. and made
Which the gas was set on FIRE. The titanic s6rie
stopped If Niagara We're Suddenly turned to
stone There only the dull OF great
Game twisting and winding in unearthly beauty.
There's oil in that gas strata. notice them red
streal5s in that blue famer' said Tom.
face.
We've kill that gas first" said Seth. at
wish had Decker's hydraulic pump old Betsy
J loaned him n boiler once his fireman was too
fond OF dime libraries and he let the sheets
Just and take it. Garraran has the mules and
wagon and he is in Houston TODAY celebrating
We ought to have nine sticks co per cent. dyna-
mite down in that hole before night"
Tom was OF without thousht of sleep o, s, t,,.
Napoleon would do in Texas oil field.
The other took of their clay masks. pulled
drank like men half-dead of thirst. then set to
work making the necessary foundation and steam
connections for "Decker's Old Betsy"
BEFORE these were ready. the sun down. but
by the light of the huge fare, six jack-rabbt
the middle heavily chained to the bed. was "old
Betsy With rollers. skids and crow-bars she was
coaxed into Mace on the hastily made foundation
The wheel of the gate-vave was screwed tight and
the light from the great torch went out There
onlv little elimmer from new moon When
Betsy was ready. steam was turned on, and then
the battle began.
Fourteen inches of steam behind ive-inch
rston. it ought to against that gas said Tom.
She'll do six hundred mounds, I've seen her..
But if 'Betsvs'' credit good for six hundred
she failed to show 1t. She aled her suction pipe.
made half dozen quick strokes and stood CULVER
Ing with effort steam letting from the safety valve
the outside Of the casing; there'll be hell pop
ping heah in a minute
The scattered; the derrick foundation trem-
derrick floor
remained alone in the trembling derrick.
Hang pair OF chain tongs that safety
valve!" he shouted Then he opened the steam
valve wide and stenped outside the derrick Tho
faithful "Oid Betsy, slowly picked her natural
and doeeedlv forced the back down the
pine under the nressure of steam and muddy water
until Seth had his wild well under control.
Meanwhile of the had got the wire.
others the dynamite another the pluneer magnetic.
long heavv niece OF cast iron was attached be- 3
humiliation lowered carefully into the well.
with the tenderness that would be shown sick
babv
She's on bottom said Seth. unmindfuI OF the
hazards as he pulled the wire and down.
'Stand away. Tom: I'll handle that magnetic"
Seth would never let his men take risk that he
roud take himself.
Here goes my best hope in this oil field. II
the two black and the magnetic
And then he took the lever with both hands, and
IL quick punge
Far down below there was unified thpd. there
was a culver OF the ground. anxious silence that
tmnerceptiblv creseendoed into mutter. gurge.
er"wl a roar. a eod-iite whoop--and a vast tower
Of black oil shooting aloft and smashing back
WIN sonnd that was angelic symphony TO the oil
mems souls
# nearly midnight when Seth appeared again
DIT the boardtne-h house which rising wind had
went clear OF the fumes. He washed M. well
tho soap box outside. but he still somewhat
the worse for fatigue and his anointment
done But Alice gathered him close and kissed
him than once
Even the baby had felt it unfit TO sleep at such
crisis in their three lives He up on the bed
and earnestly hunted for his in a
shaft Of moonlight.
Sefh was so excited that he began at once to
eahbla business
we estimate the well at 900 barrels dav
old FTaZe1ton came ROUND honr offered
ne $4,000 cash she flows. told him that
with oil Of the present price I'd clean up that
I'm few DAYS. so declined. You see 3 900 bar
rels Of oil ar IS cents q barrel makes"
.tYou tell that tomorra honey" said
Alice. stopping his Inns with kiss Aren't Won
glad robbed the bank2"
Yes. thought of that said Seth. sheepishlv
I'm kind Of ashamed and kind OF proud I guess
tt will be square if we refund what borrowed
with 100 per cent. for the loan newspaper re-
Lpd mo rHu+ IT-
be- and told him The Little Tin Bank said
WIN? and said. 'Because'"
And that's enough" said Alice "But
ore T. all 70 the baby" Then Seth Sr and
Mrs Seth S-.. knelt down bed and seized
Seth. Tr- They kissed him and nuzzled him so that
he lost count of his toes and had to begin all
again.