The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-09-03
DARING SHOOTERS
MconIighters In the Early Days
Of Our Oil Wells.
EpRceD TO WORK IN SECRET.
These Bold Spirits. to Dodge the Owner
Of the Patent Method Of Shooting
Wells, Had to Operate at Nisht-Msn
and Machinery Often Annihiiatsd.

Wells, Had to Operate at Nisht-Msn
and Machinery Often AnnihiIatsd.
One of the most dangerous and at
the same time romantic phases Of the
early oil business was known as NOON
lighting. In the beginning OF the oil
excitement u certain man held the pat
ent on the method OF shouting the
wells. Having a monopoly Of the
trade. he could and did charge what
ever price he saw fit.
As u result OF this condition of
affairs there sprhng into existence a
number of bold spirits who began the
manufacture Of nitrog yccrin. the ex-
plosive used. and shooting the wells
for much less money than tile patent
holder charged. They were forced
to use the greatest secrecy in their
work. for the patent holder had men
employed for the express purpose of
spying on all the wells drilled. \ stifr
fine for the first 0ffense and II prison
term for the second were the punish
ments inflicted on the man unlucky
enough to get caught. These outlaw
shooters had their plants for making
the glycerin located In some ont OF the
way spot and when their services We're
required did their shooting 10y moon
light. hence the name moonligliter.
Many and varied We're the adventures
Akne f..I
driller coming ont from town 10 n well
Npne day saw a can half hidden in II
Fence corner and stopped To investi-
gate. Taking Off the lid. he siw what
he supposed was lard oil. We'll pleased
with his find. he took il along with
him. He showed his treasure to his
mates at the well and then used some
of it to lubricate the engine. For some
reason the men were called from the
vicinity of the derrick They had GOT
but short distance when there WAS
an explosion that fitted the costly eli
CINE for the scrap heap. y close in
spection of the supposed lard oil re
vealed the startling fact that il was
nitroglycerin 1t was frightened lot
\ of men who gngerly returned the can
No the fence corner from which the
fdriller had taken it.
1t proved To be the property OF y
mOonlighier. who had left ii there. in
tending to return for it that night
In So dangerous an occupation as
mOonlighting many fata accidents
were to he expected. recall very dis
tinctly two that occurred within Il short
time, of eaclr other.
In the first. the moonlighter. big
blond Swedc. had come straight from
his wedding to the well. The liquor
he had been drinking in celebration of
his marriage had rufiied his usually
placid temper. He had filed the shell
with the gIycerin and was endeavor
ing To- slip the cap into place. His
hands We're tribe unsteady, and he
fumbied 1t several minutes. Finally.
losing his temper. he roughly jerkch
the cap into place and struck the per-
cussiOn cap heavy blow with his
fist.
There was crash that shook the
very earth. The derrick and everything
In it was blown TO flinders. The men
who had been watching the operation
were instantly killed.
Some time later another terrible ne
cident happened. The nioonligllter
was n young fellow and noted for his
careful work. The well he was to
shoot had made Il Zine showing in the
sand. aud the owner confidently ex-
pected g,isher. The shot was started
down. and everything seemed to he
going all right. There were several
men In the derrick. and tool dresser
stood waiting for the shot 10 reach the
bottom OF the wen when the piece of
iron he held In his hand. which was
called the go devil. wouldbe sent down
to set II OF. The mOOnlighter let the
rope. which was stretched taut 10y the
weight OF the heavy shot. run through
his hands. Suddenly the rope slack
ened. He knew only too well what
that meant. The gas IN the we'll was |
forcing the shot back out. |
1T Is coming out. For G,s.', sake |
help me catch it, he yelled 10 the tool |
dresser.
With a shrek the tool dresser He'd,
and the others. knowing their terrible
danger. followed him. The shooter.
prompted by the mad hope OF cat' hing
the shell Ms II came out and thus avert
Ing the disaster. stuck 10 his post.
There came n deafening explosion
that reduced the derrick to a mass Ut
wood. The boiler and engine
were twisted wrecks. Strewn upon
the ground We're the mutiiated remains
Of what had been so short time he
fore strong men. The moonlighter.
who had tried with such desperate
courage TO save them. had been com
pletely annihilatcd.
Nitroglycern l. when handled In
broad daylight and under most favor
able conditions II dangerous article.
How greatly the danger was increa sed
by handling II as the moonIighters
were compelled Ia may easily he UNI
lerstood. II was without doubt a