Morris tribune., 1913-08-15
DARING SHOOTERS
MoonIighters In the Early Days
of Our Oil Wells.
FORCED TO WORK IN SECRET.
These Bold Spirits, to Dodge the Owner
Of the Patent Method of Shooting
Wells, Had to Operate at Night-Men
and Machinery Often AnnihiIated.

and Machinery Often Annihilated.
One of the most dangerous and at
the same time romantic phases Of the
early oil business was known as moon
lighting. In the beginning of the oil
excitement certain man held the pat
ent on the method of shooting the
wells. Having monopoly of the
trade, he could and did charge what
ever price he saw fit.
As result Of this condition of
affairs there sprang into existence a
number Of bold spirits who began the
manufacture of nitroglycerin, the ex-
plosive used, and shooting the wells
for much less money than the 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. A stiff
fine for the first offense and 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 out Of the
way spot and when their services were
required did their shooting by moon
light. hence the name moonHghter.
Many and varied were the adventures
that befell these moonlighfess. A
driller coming out from town to well
one day saw can half hidden In. a
fence corner and stopped to investi-
gate Taking or the lid. he saw what
he supposed was lard OIL Well pleased
with his find. he took it 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 en-
CINE for the scrap heap. A close In
spection OF the supposed lard oil re-
veaIed the startling fact that it was
nitfOgfycerfn. 1t was a frightened lot
of men who gingerly returned the can
to the fence corner from which the
driller had taken it.
1t proved to be the property OF a
moonnghter, who had left it there, in
tending to return for it that night.
In so dangerous an occupation as
moonlighting many fatal accidents
were to be expected. recall very dis
tinctly two that occurred within short
time of each other.
In the first, the moonlighter, a big
blond Swede, had come straight from
his wedding to the WE'LL The liquor
he had been drinking in celebration of
his marriage had ruffied his usually
placid temper. He had filled the shell
with the glycerin and was endeavor-
ing to slip the cap into place. His
hands were trifle unsteady, and he
fumbled it several minutes Finally,
losing his temper, he roughly jerked
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 finders. The men
who had been watching the operation
were instantly killed.
Some time later another terrible ac-
cident happened. The moonlighter
was young fellow. and noted for his
careful work. The well he was to
shoot had made fine showing In the
sand, and the owner confidently ex-
pected gusher. The shot was started
down, and everything seemed to be
going all right. There were several
men in the derrick, and a tool dresser
stood waiting for the shot to reach the
bottom of the well when the piece of
iron he held in his hand. which was
called the go devil, would be sent down
to set it off, The moonlighter let the
rope, which was stretched taut by 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 well was
forcing the shot back out
ut is coming out. For Gods sake
help me catch itP' he yelled to the tool
dresser
With a shrek the tool dresser fed,
and the others, knowing their terrible
danger, followed him. The shooter,
prompted by the mad hope Of catching
the shell as It came out and thus avert
ing the disaster, stuck to his post
There came a deafening explosion
that reduced the derrick to mass of
kindling wood. The boiler and engine
were twisted wrecks. Strewn upon
the ground were the mutfiated remains
of what had been so short time be-
fore strong men. The moonlighter.
who had tried with. such desperate
courage to save them. had been com
pletely annihilated.
Nitroglycerin is when handled in
broad daylight and under most favor
able conditions dangerous article.
How greatly the danger was increased
by handling 1t as the moonlighters
were compelled to may easily be IN.
derstood. It was without doubt a
most hazardous occupation. but the ex-
.citement connected with it. to- say