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was just about the only driller in the hills of east Texas, an area most experts considered empty of oil. A geologist from Texaco, confident the site was dry, told Joiner "I'll drink every barrel of oil you get out of that hole." He is lucky Joiner did not hold him to his words. In September 1930 one of Joiner's wells tested positive for oil. Word circulated quickly, and a shantytown grew up around Joiner's claim, filled with other wildcatters hoping Joiner would hit oil. On 3 October 1930 he did: As the gurgling and trembling of the pressurized oil grew louder, the oil foreman told an assembled crowd "Put out the fires! Put out your cigarettes! Quick!" As the gusher poured forth, the celebrations of the crowd grew reckless. One man pulled a pistol and starting firing into the sky. Three men quickly wrestled him...
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This section contains 187 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) |
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