Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-07-15

OF vi Lana, steals OerrlCk ana
Holds of Soldiers While He Drills
Pipe Line Companies Refuse to Han
die His Oil at Any Price-Finally
Meets Death While Robbins Ranch.
Ii is no ordinary bandit who is able
10 lay false claim 10 Il piece OF choice
oil land, steal derrick, drilling outfit
and all other necessary equipment, put
down the well himself and have the
luck 10 bring in GO.0VO.barrel pro-
Queer
That was only one OF the many
daring and spectacular exploits per-
formed by Monte" Michaels during
his tempestuous career In the oil fields
Of the Gulf Coast region of Mexico.
He met his death few days ago on
the ranch Of L. l.. Doheny OF Los An
gcles. cal, and associates at the
home Of the superintendent, Ed Watt.
near Ebano, Mex. Michaels was At
tempting 10 break into the ranch
house for the purpose of robbery when
he was shot through the head By Watt.
Generally Feared.
Although bandItry has been more
or less rife In Mexico for many years.
no native leader OF these lawless
forces was ever more feared IN the
territory whore he operated than was
Monte" Mlchuels
Nothing is known here about Mich
ael'S life before he came To the oil
fields.
For time Mlchaels led compare
lively quiet life IN the different OIL
camps Of the Tamplco region. Then
he began frcquenting the cantinas ana
gambling halls. Ills fnvorte game Of
chance was monte ana his success at
times In winning considerable sums of
money caused him TO be gdvea the
nickname of Monte" Michacls. BY
this time he was lording It over the
oil camps, wherever he happened TO
be.
Finally, Michnels got ready to make
his big stake When the discovery of
oil was made at Amatlan by the bring
Ing in of well of SO.Oo0 barrels. this
daring American driller went TO the
new pool and pitched his tent on Il
block Of land which was owned by
the Pantepcc Petroleum company. He
marked of the boundaries and gave
out the statement that he proposed 10
drill we'll upon the property. The
Pantepec Petroleum company sought
first by peaceful means to get Mich
aels of Of the land. He refused to
move IN appeal 70 the courts was
made by the company and writ OF
custer was obtained When the OFF,
Gers of the law sought 10 enforce the
writ they were met by Michaels. who
smilingly stepped out Of his tent with
a rifle carclessly thrown across the
elbow of his left arm. He told the
men that he would Kill the first one
that crossed the boundary line of the
block. The officers retired.
Collects Force.
one night h. collected force OF
McxicanS and hauled the timbcrs Of
derrick, engine and well.lrilling equip
ucut All belonging "a Il company thar
was preparing To- drill well Oh
nearby location. ana placed them up
On the plot of land where he was
sluatted In II short time he had the
derrick up and the drilling of the
Well started. Michaels was Well
known A. one of the most expert drill
rrs in Mexico. The bandit surround
eel himself with an armed guard Of
Mexican outlaws while he directed the
drilling Of the well. He cyea stood up
against an attack of soldiers To- drive
hilu from thu si,a'. Then came the
day when from the hole there Spurted
a column Of uil-6o.UDO barrels day
was the output Near al hand We're
gathering pipe lines of several big COM
panics Micharl~ sent word To them
that he wanted 10 connect NJ his we'll
with the pipe lines The word came
back from an ~ them that they would
not buy or handle his oil Appeal af-
ter appeal was made hy III" bandit
for a buyer of his oil. He even offered
10 sell the output Tor 10 cents q barrel
which al that price would have brought
him daily revenue If 5000. but
there were no takers.