Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-09-05
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 Nisht-Msn
and Machinery Often Annihilated.

n macnInerI Orton Annini'ateo.
One Of the most dangerous and al
the same time romantic phases OF the
early oil business was known as moon
lighting. In the beginning Of the oil
excitement a certain man held the pat
ent on the method Of shooting the
wells. Having a monopoly Of the
trade. he could and did charge what
ever price he saw tit.
AS a 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 a prison
term for the second were the punish
ments inflicted on the a 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 We're
required did their shooting by Don
light, hence the name moonlighter.
Many and varied were the adventures
that befell these moonlighters. A
driller coming out from town to a we'll
one day saw a 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 it along with
him. He showed his treasure to his
mates at the well ard then used some
of it to Intricate the engine. For some
reason the men were called from the
vicinity Of the derrick. They had got
but a 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-
vealed the startling fact that it was
nitroglycerin. 1t was a frightened lot
of men who gingerly returned the can
to the fence corner from which the
drlller had taken it.
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 ar occupation as
moonlighting many fatal accidents
were to be expected. I recall very dis
tinctIy two that occurred within a short
time Of each other.
In the first, the moOnlighter. a big
blond Swede, had come straight from
his wedding to the well. The liquor
he had been drinking in celebration Of
bis marriage had rufled 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 trl1e unsteady, and he
fumbled it several minutes. Finally.
losing his temper, he roughly jerked
the cap into place and struck the per-
cussion cap a heavy blow with his
fist. .'0.-. 4 .
There was Il 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 &C.
happened. The moonlighter
was a young fellow and noted for his
careful work. The well he was to
shoot had made Il fine showing III the
sand, and the owner confidently ex-
pected IL gusher. The shot was started
down, and everything seemed to be
going all right. There were several
men In the derrick. and 4 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 20 devil. would be sent down
to set 1t OF. The moonllghteltl ut the
rope, which was stretched taut BY the
weight Of the heavy shot, run tMpASh
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.
1T IL coming out! For Gods SAKE
help me catch it" he yelled to the too'
dresser.
with a shrek the tool dresser neu'
and the others. knowing their tettlo..
danger. followed him. The snoo.et'
prompted by the mad hope OF catcnlns
the shell us 1t came out and nus aSer''
lng the disaster. stuck to his post.
There came u deatening e4p'os'on
Tint reduced the derrick to 4 mass OF
kindling wood. The boiler ana ens'ne
wera twisted wrecks. Strewn upon
~. ,,ronna were the mutilated remains
of what had been 50 short a tune "
fnra .tronr men. The moonlighter'
Who had tried with such desperate
" AN, J.sto ahM them. had been COM
pletely annihilated. !.
NitroR,ycerin Is when handled IN
hroad daylight and under most favor
able conditions a dangerous arucle.
How greatly the danger was increase.
n handling 1t as the mo%onlighters
ware compelled to may easily be un'
aerstood, It was without doubt q
most hazardous occupation. but the ex-
element connected with 1t. to say
nothing OF the large amount Of money
received for their services. proved ire
aistible to the reckless and daring EEL
lows who became moonlighters.-Pftts-