Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-09-22


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 a monopoly of tho
trade, he could and did charge what.
ever price he saw ft-
AS result Of this condition Of
affairs there sprang into existence a
number Of bold spirits who began the
manufacture Of nitroglycerin. the ex
ploslve 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 a 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 moonlighter.
Many and varied were the adventures
that befell these moonlighters. A
driller coming out from town to a well
one day saw can half hidden in a
fence corner and stopped to investi.
gate. Taking off the lid, he saw what
he supposed was lard oil. Well pleased
with his find. he took 1t along with
him. He showed his treasure to his
mates at the well and then used some
of 1t to lubricate the engine. For some
reason the men We're called from the
vicinity Of the derrick. They had got
but short distance when there was
an explosion that fitted the costly en-
gine for the scrap heap. A close In
spectlon Of the supposed lard oil re-
vealed the startling fact that It was
nitroglycerin 1t was a frightened lot
Of men who glngerly returned the can
to the fence corner from which the
driller had taken 1t.
1t proved to be the property Of a
moonlighter, who had left 1t 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 moonllghter. a big
blond Swede, had come straight from
his wedding to the well. The liquor
he had been drinking in celebration OF
his marriage had rufIled 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 a trlae unsteady, and he
fumbled 1t several minutes. Finally
losing his temper, he roughly 1erked
the cap Into place and struck the per.
cussion cap a heavy blow with his
fist.
There was a crash that shook the
very earth. The derrick and everything
In IT. was blown to flinders. The men
who had been watching tho operation
were instantly killed
Some time later another terrible &c.
cident happened. The moonlighter
was young fellow and noted for his
careful work. The we'll 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 severe
men In the derrick, and 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 1t 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 lei" 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 1t came out and thus avert
ing the disaster, stuck to his post.
There came deafening explosion
that reduced the derrick to mass Of
kindling wood. The boiler aud engine
were twisted wrecks Strewn upon
the ground were the mutilated 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 annihllated.
Nltroglycerin is when handled In
broad daylight and under most favor
able conditions dangerous article
How greatly the danger was increased
by handling It as the moonlighters
were compelled to may easily be un
derstood. II was without doubt
most hazardous occupation, but the ex
element connected with It, to say
nothing Of the large amount OF money
received for their services, proved IRE
slstible to the reckless and daring fel
lows who became moonlighters.--Pitts
burgh Dispatch.