The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-06-18
CONTINUED Prom Saturday

NNhAhhaNA AANth oAAAAN4AAi
Even tho railroad right OF way
had been drilled, Switch engines
shuntcd rows of flats almost be.
tween tho Straddhng derrick legs
Gny's driver had been dumb thus
far now he broke out abruptly;
speaking about mud, l was cross,
ing this street on a plank tho other
day when saw bran.new derby
wing In tho mud and picked Il up.
Underneath e was guys head.
Hullog said. You're in pretty
deep. amt youg'
Tho Teller looked up az mo and
said; This Amt bad. You'd ought
70 SEQ my brother. I'm standing
on his shoulders
The chauffeur laughed loudly at
bis own humor. Some country.
call ~ But tho suns out. so Il
Nln DO blowing sand tomorrow"
When Burkburnett had been left
behind, another and yaster island
Dr. derricks came into view. II
marked tho Burk .waGgoner pool.
part OF the Northwest Extension. 80
called.
The car was waiting its turn 20
cross a tiny toll bridge spanning a
sluggish creek. the bed OF which ran
ieepage oil from tho wells beyond.
when the driver grumbled aloud:
-Four bits 90 cross So.foot
bridge. There's graft for youl
ono old hester above hero tore a
hole IN his fence opposite n wet
place In tho road and charged Us
half a dollar 20 drive thru his pas.
,ure. But u was cheaper than get.
ing stuck. He had 90 carry his
eoln home In an cat sack After n
few weeks somebody got TO wonder.
Ing why that spot never dried out.
and, come 10 investigate wha' d'you
Think"
Il seldom think when am being
entertained" his passenger declared.
We'll. that poor stupid had
damned the creek. and every night
he shut tho gate and flooded his
road"
II the clustered dcrrlcks OF the
town.Slte pool were impressive. there
was something positively dramatic
about the Extension. Burkburnet,
had been laid out in lots and blocks.
and the drilling had followed some
sort OF orderly system; but here
were no streets. no visible plan.
This had been a wheat field. and
as well after well had como In.
derFicks. drilling rigs. buildings
tanks. piles OF timber. and casing
had been laid down with complete
disregard OF all save tho owners
convenience. Overnight new pipe
lines were being laid. for hours
counted here and the crude had 10
End outiet-fucl had 10 be brought
in. These pipe lines were never
buried. and In consequences The
ceaseless flow OF traffic WAS for.
ever forced TO seek new channels.
Tho place became bewiidering
maze. thru which teams floundsred
and motor vehicles plunged at ran
dom
Towns had sprung up. for tbis
army Of workers was Isolated Ia a
sea Of mud. but whereas "Burk'
Was moro or icss permanent. New.
town. Bradley's Corners Bridge
town. vera cities OF canvas. boards
and corrugated iron. b. day they
were mean. filthy. groiesque: b.
night they became incandescent.
for every derrick was strung with
lights. and the surplus OF gas was
burned in torches TO prevent II
from accommodating in rayines or
hollows in explosive quantities,
They were Mardi Gras cities.
Day By day this field spread on,
ward toward the Red river. the
whole region smelied Of oil.
Fire. OF course. was an ever.
present menace. Newtown. for In.
stance. had been wiped out several
times for II lay on slope down
which broken pipe line could belch
q resistless wave OF flame. and even
yet the place was a litter OF chaTed
timber. twisted pipe. and crumpled
sheets OF galvanized iron. Owing
TO this menace the residents had
taken the only possible precaution.
They had dug in. Behind each
place OF business was cyclone
CELLAR bomb-proof sheitcr-iuto
which human bodies and stocks OF
merchandise could be crowded.