New-York tribune., 1908-04-13
BUTCHER TO CAPITALIST.
Oil Land, Spurned by Others
Brings Ferguson SI.5OQ,OOO

PittsbUrg, April 12.-Cyrus Ferguson butcher ana
oil operator, of Pittsburg, and the West Virginia
Panhandle yesterday afternoon received an of-
fer OF Sl5oo0Oo for his oil properties in Hancock
County, ". Va, and he VIII accept The papers
making capitalist of q butcher viii De signed
early IN the week. Western Pennsylvania is now
ringing with talk about "Cy' who has decided
that he has now enough and win return to his
farm.
Nineteen years ago Cyrus Ferguson was
butcher in SteubenviIe. Ohio. When word came
across the Ohio River that the big Matthews
gusher had been struck At Mcdonald twenty-five
miles over IN Pennsylvania Ferguson. VINO was
swinging the cleaver in his litJle meat shop, is
said TO have quit in the midst of cutting some
pork chops for a customer and started for the new
oil field "Cy'' denies this Indignantly and de-
Clares that it was a steak he cutting and
that he finished the cutting. wrapped the meat up
and collected for it before he for the ferry 10
embark for the new OIL field. 1t is not disputed by
any one that Ferguson nineteen years ago came
into the Mcdonald oil field without a cent. Yes
terday he arranged to sell entire oil field Of his
own
The last find of Ferguson's, the one which has
brought q bunch Of coin him in his declining
years, was what his fellow men call blind luck,
out Ferguson does not admit this. Ever since he
gathered his first few dollars at Mcdonald and
began groping for OIL he known man
who believed in signs. Territory from whcn
all other operators had rushed away, declaring
there was not a drop Of oil 10 be got. always
appealed to Ferguson. and he would sink well after
we'll, getting dry hole after gusher until he could
not get much better than even with the game,
each well drilled is supposed 10 cost $1,000 in real
money, whether IL produces or is a "duster'
But with his final find Ferguson brought luck
not only 10 himself and family, but TO others.
-Four. years ago Ferguson having gained some lit
tie money. retired 10 Holidays Cove, ". Va.
where he bought large tract Of land, intending TO
spend the rest OF his life q farmer.
But cCpperhead snakes drove "Cy' Ferguson
back into oil production. and incidentally into
''NIilIionaires' Row That part sf the country
which Ferguson selected as his farm proved 10 be
in one of the worst cCpperhead snake belts in the
world. Il a.! right when he was forced 10
place drove Of hogs in the front yard TO keep
snakes away from the house. but when one fine
afternoon in hay time all the harvest hands struck
because in one small hay field in few hours
Ten copperhead snakes had been found among
the hay, Mr. Ferguson decided that life the farm
with copperheads was not 10 his liking, and
returned TO the production Of oil. He de-
cded TO sink wells in a little forbidding looking
Tract in the Folarsbee oil held Of West Virginia.
choosing territory which had been passed Up by all
other operators for Cyrus always took up that
which the other fellows didn't want He walked
into his bank in Stoubenve. across the river some
days later, and in conversation with q business
man dropped the remark that he about TO try
once more for oil.
Let IN that oil field. 1Ir Ferguson 80
pleaded Bert Lee a young clerk in the bank
who had overheard the remark. Ferguson always
liked the young clerk. but he now frowned on him.
He asked what money Lee had, ana was told none
Well. ! haven't got 2 whole lot, either-nOt
enough TO carry any one along" replied Ferguson.
but if you can scrape up S-62 within the next
week III let you have one-sixteenth Of the thing
I'm taking one other young fellow in on that plan
and you are the only Two TO know anything
about il"
Lee raised the S262 and bought share Of the
new oil deal This was six months ago. It was
only few days ago that Mr.. Ferguson walked into
the same bank
What VIII you take for your share Bert2' he
said.
Sixty thousand dollars
You're on Give me d blank check" replied
Ferguson, and he wrote the young fellow check
ior that amount Of money. taking the stock He
came 10 Plttsburg and, as told above arranged TO
SCI! out his holdings for &,59l0J5 The other Young
fellow is holding out for 100000 for his share