Year: 1871

oHdii ncNei loISeVj odiu lnc udI-
rator as he borrowed chew of fine cut
of me, and proceeded to stow it away
in the cavity in his mouth, formerly oc-
cupied by several teeth, 81 shall never,
while [ live, forget an incident that oc.
cured during the early period of our oil
excitement in Pennsylvania, and there
are many now living who were eye-wit
nesses of the occurrence, which was the
theme of universal conversation, while
strong men, accustomed to scenes of
bloodshed and deadly peril, shuddered
as they related the story to those who
were bold enough to desire to hear the
same. In the fall of 1865 the southern
terminus of the Oil Greek railroad was
at Shaffer, a small town on Oil creek
that had been called into existence by
reason of the discovery of oil, and no.
ted principally as being the nearest rail
road point to then famous Pithole city,
tn General headquarters of oil opera
tors, and the most northern outlet of
petroleum shipments.


Among those attracted to the oil re-
gion after the close of the civil war,
was young man named James b.
Hathaway, who after four years of
brilliant and distinguished service as an
officer of volunteers, had come hither in
search Of the wealth that was supposed
to be within the grasp of every one
Energetic and ambitious, it was not
long before he had acquired a little pro
perty, which by judicious system of
manipulating, he had disposed of to GER
tain spectators in New York, who in
turn sold the same for the snug little
sum Of s1,00O,000, which at that time
was about the average price of farmers
really, or supposed to be- upon the
"be!t.' This transaction netted Hath.
away nearly 100000 which he had,
with a wisdom seldom witnessed at that
period OF oil history, sent to his father
residing in Massachusetts. A few days
later, after writing to his friends Of his
fortune, and more especially to a young
lady named Laura De Haven, then
about concluding her studies at Vassar
college, and to whom he had for years
been engaged, he left the scene of his
good fortune near Pithole, and started
for home, Uid Shaffer and Miller farms.


As might be supposed, his thoughts
were pleasant ones, and, as he passed
through the woods on his way to the
railroad, it seemed as if all nature was
ih joyful accord with his feelings. AS
he passed along, the golden sunshine of
October tiDged the scarlet and yellow
leaves of the oak and maple with more
brilliant hues, and a soft haze in the
distant horizon added to the loveliness
of nature, as vail over the form of
beauty hightens the effect without con
cealing the loveliness beneath.


He pictured to himself happy home
upon the banks of the Mshamunkenan
in his native state, where, safe from the
prying eyes of the world and the officers
of the Maine liquor law, he gould pass
smoothly down the vale of life with the
fair being who had promised to be his,
enjoying his tod and in dreams of
blissful repose rebuild the air castles of
his youth and people them with bright
creations of fancy, until their mystic
halls should resound with echoes of JOY
ful recreation. He saw happy home
with loves of children climbing his
knee, and while Laura-his Laura
sang sweet songs to the delicious accom-
/ pauiment of the harpischord, he would,
as evenings shade fell like velvet cur
tain adown the mountain side, tell the
little ones of his adventures by food
and field, and how in the mountain fast.
nesses of the Keystone State he had
found the fluid that supplied the flame
to the Aladdin's lamp of his wealth.
But as such thoughts as these passed
through his brain he had been gradually
nearing his destination, until the ever
green crowned bluffs that marked the
site of Shaffer appeared in view. Pass
ing over the ferry aud in the excitement
Of his Joyful emotion, forgetting to pay
the fcrryman, he was aroused from his
reyerie by the voice Of the latter a. king
! Cor the customary fee pIacipp lO.dO