Evening star., 1935-09-09

to defraud the Government. He was
in his 74th year when he was ac-
quilted of the bribery count in 1880,
six years after indictment.
In the years of civil litigation over
the oil leases all had been Cancelled
by court order. Mr.. Doheny once
made the statement that these can
cellations cost him $2l 100000.
He never wavered from his aSser-
tion that the 100000 was advanced
to Fall as loan to an old friend
a mortgage loan ON Falls Western
ranch properties.
Likewise, he insisted at all times
he was motivated by patriotism, not
chance of possible profit, in taking
over the naval reserves. He asserted
he had been led to believe a Pacific
war was imminent and that it was
necessary to concentrate oil in Homo
lulu for American vessels. Here was
an opportunity, ne said he had been
told, for man of wealth to perform
an act which would immeasurably aid
MS Government.
When Fall, his friend Of the days
of mule skinning, table waiting and
odd jobs, was convicted. Mr.. Doheny
was in court, militantly comforting
the weak and faltering Fall. The oil
millionaire sprang to his feet and
blaZed, Its that damn court" when
the verdict was returned.
Mr.. Doheny'S life was one Of adven-
ture, of picturesque ups and downs.
He was born August 10. 1856. Gold
was his goal when he started from his
birthplace, Fond Du Lac, Wis, at
the age of 16. to seek his fortune. He
had just graduated from high school.
Failed Many Times.
Here was a Dick Wilmington, with
his belongings on his back. At the
end of his journey he was reckoned
man of princely possessions. The
road to that objective was studded
with menial jobs and many failures.
His first idea of the straight road to
wealth was in prospecting. But he
lost his accumulated capital in an ex-
pedition into the Black Hills of South
Dakota.
For 20 years he travelled through
the West when that region was in the
turmoil of adolescence. In 1892 he
reached the end of the rainbow-in a
vacant lot in Los Angeles. He drilled
for Oil there-and found it.
Four years later he was broke again.
But he recouped. and developed his
California oil interests to an estab-
hshed position.
He turned to Mexico in 1900 and
spent 20 years building up his inter-
ests, which pioneered the oil industry
in that country.
Never look back" was the Doheny
formula for success. That philosophy
he followed until he became head Of
great combination of oil and sub
sidiary corporations in Mexico. Cali
fornia and Louisiana. Pan-American
Petroleum & Transportation Co.. of
which he was president, was his prin-
cipal interest aside from Mexican
Petroleum Co. He retired as president
of the latter concern In June, 1922.
Mr.. Doheny married Carrie Estelle
Behold of Marshalltown, Iowa.
Mr.. Doheny landed in Los Angeles
with about $4,000 and fairly good
knowledge of metallurgy, geology and
chemistry. During his years of travel
ing he also managed to study law
and gain admission to the bar, al
though he never practiced that pro-
fession.
Birth of a Fortune.
The beginning of his career as an
oil operator is connected with an in
cident in Los Angeles in the Fall Of
1892. He saw a colored man hauling
a load of black, tarry stuff which the
man called "brea" and said it was to
be used as fuel. knowing that "brea"
was an oil exude, Doheny leased q
vacant lot at Patton and State streets.
near where the man had loaded his
wagon.
He drove a shaft to a depth Of $50
feet and struck oil in small quantities.
That operation has been referred to
as the first and last time that oil ever
has been mined" A well driven rs
feet deeper yielded oil in paying
quantities.
No refineries were available and
wooden tanks holding about 100 bar
rels were erected in which to store
the oil until a market was found for
it. Mr.. Doheny looked after that
phase of the business and he often
was confronted by the f1ercest kind
of competition because the opening of
the field quickly brought swarms of
experienced dealers. Within two years
more than 200 companies had been
organized and more than 1890 wells
had been drilled within the city limits
Of Los Angeles.
Mr.. Doheny turned to Mexico after
his California interests were estab-
lished, confident of discovering and
opening up virgin oil territory not