112 Reminiscences of 



disguise. There was a large cylinder stove in one part 

 of the barroom, so red hot that more space existed 

 about it than elsewhere, and near this I proceeded to 

 the inner circle. Here I divested myself of my outer 

 clothing, and managed in an hour or so by revolving 

 about to pretty well dry my underwear. Wringing out 

 the contents of my bag and holding out some of my 

 outer clothing, I managed before I lay down on the 

 floor for the night to approach some degree of dryness, 

 and I passed the night much more comfortably than 

 one would if lost overboard at sea. 



At the railroad station in Boston, just before 

 leaving, I was sought for and found by an acquaintance, 

 Carlos Pierce, who had happened to hear that I was 

 going to the oil regions, and who asked me if I would 

 visit a tract on Oil Creek below Titusville, which he 

 had an option of purchase on for a limited time for 

 some amount. I told him it was quite impossible as I 

 was going on a pleasure excursion and I could not give 

 any attention to business. He was very persistent and 

 disinclined to take a refusal, and finally said as his 

 period of option was short, he would give me five hun- 

 dred dollars to take a look at it, even brief, and inform 

 him by telegraph if a new well of value had been reached 

 upon the tract, which had been reported to him, but 

 which he had some doubts about. 



I finally yielded to my friend's solicitations, though 

 reluctantly, and the result put me to a great deal of 

 bother, for the next day was the one I should have to 

 visit the tract and the prospects of getting there in the 

 morning appeared very dubious when I looked out on 

 the booming Oil Creek, and the frightfully muddy roads. 

 Besides, the bridge across a creek close to the town. 



