The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-06-27
SPORTS "LILICS" IN TEXAS.
Wichita Falls Banker Mixes EN- Up
in the Oil Game.-Pierce T.
LangfOrd.

National Petroleum News, Cleveland,
Ohio.
Your correspondent usually doSs
not go into the Highways and byWaSs
in search of victim. Neither does
he write about any one who has not
been baptized in salt water ana oll
from the subterranean depths of the
earth. therefore when mans picture
apnears in these columns it is a fore
gone conclusion that he is an OIL man.
The man this month, two years ago
had about as tender foot as ever
stepped onto the hard floor OF der
rick. But remember, that was two
wears ago, and today he has BEEN I'M
mersed in the golden fluid of oil, and
he is not a Baptist, either.
He was born during the stormy
period of October "a, 1861, at New
berry, S. c.. When "A years old ne
came to Wichita Falls, landing here
in 1885, hence he has been here long
enough to grow horns, and is long
horn right. But instead Of growing
horns he grew whiskers and he has
about the finest bunch Of ilacs that
ever cot mixed up in the sandpump-
ings. and he is as proud OF them as
he would have been back in his dear
old South Carolina had his father
given him a pair of red-topped-boots.
He did not go into the oil country
! but waited for the oil country to
come to him, and as everything comes
TO those who wait, he waited and 1t
came. PIP. Langford began, his
career as bank clerk in the old bank
building now occupied by the State
Bank & Trust company, on the corner
of Seventh street and Ohio avenue.
This was time when there was sure
enough outlaws and Indians, and they
needed men as we'll as bookkeepers.
This is the same building that was
robbed in February 25, 1896, by out
laws who will SO down in history as
men without a name. They died as
they lived under the name of "CraW-
ford and the Kid" and the stone that
marks their graves is so marked to-
day. When this bank was robbed +.
P. Langford was a clerk, and, as
good. soldier would state it, he knew
how to make retreat; he outran the
first bullets but the second hit him
and YOU can tell by TIE place he was
snct that he was Oh the run, but it
vss through lis efi,rCs that the rob-
berv was Known abG Crase given by
the local officers which was finished
by the famous Texas Ranger Bill Nc
| lDonald. The robbers we're taken to
the jail and guarded, where through
deceiving Mcdonald they were after
wards taken out and hanged. You
will note by this he has fought and
bled for his bank. In 1897 he was
elected cashier of the City National
bank, where large number Of the
oil men keep their "over-draughts"
and your correspondent as well. He
was promoted to the vice presidency
and here is where he enters into this
story as an oil man.
You will note what high forehead
he has, and before forget it, I want
to say that there is more in that head
than you can scratch out with fine
comb. He is in the right niche now,
for he is big, broad gauge fellow,
and it would be as hard to keep man
of his ability out of the oil game as
it would be to operate an ice plant IN
well just what you are thinking that
1 am going to say Although he has
only seen this one oil field, yet ne IS
as much of an oil man as If he were
born, as some men who aspire to
poesy would say,
where the derrick spires are tallest,
'fAnd the dividends the smallest;
Where promoters are the sjckest,
"And they get your coin the quick
est
"In Texas"
There is a saying that "No one loves
a fat man." and there is disposition
on the part of the oil fraternity to
give a man with whiskers the cold
side of their anatomy, but it never
phased P. P, and today the oil men
have taken him, whiskers and all,