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Who Was Patillo Higgins?
Patillo Higgins was a man with a dream.
He is often called the "Prophet of Spindletop".
Higgins was a self-made man who had been involved in many business ventures such as
logging, real estate, and then brick manufacturing. In the early 1890's he was looking
for a fuel source for his brick kiln. He heard about oil being discovered in Pennsylvania
and how it was being used as a fuel source. He decided to take a trip there to learn more
about oil. While he was there, he learned how to recognize the surface signs of oil.
Some of these signs were gas seepages, parrafin dirt, and sour water. Higgins immediately
thought about the hill near Beaumont where he often took his Sunday school class for
outings. Town folks called it "Sour Hill Mound" because of the sour smell that came from
the sulfur in the springs located close by.
Higgins was convinced that these were the signs of oil. He immediately
returned to Beaumont and began his great oil adventure that led to
the boom that
shook the world.
Our tour guide, Tex, has pulled a trick out of his bag and arranged an
interview with Mr. Higgins. Take time to read this interview to learn more
about the discovery of Spindletop.
Tex: Excuse me sir. Could you spare a few moments to talk with us about your big discovery at Spindletop? Mr. Higgins: Sure, I don't mind a bit. Tex: How did you become interested in Spindletop? Mr. Higgins: Well, I'm in the brick business. I heard oil and gas are even-burning fuels. I believed these fuels would help me run my brick factory more efficiently. I chose Spindletop Hill because I believed oil and gas could be found there. Tex: Did you have anyone helping you? Mr. Higgins: Yes, my partners are George Carroll and George O'Brien. Together we purchased Spindletop Hill. We then incorporated Gladys City into the Gladys City Oil, Gas, and Manufacturing Company with the purpose of finding oil and building a city around it. Tex: Did you ever get discouraged and want to give up on your dream? Mr. Higgins: No, even though the company made three unsuccessful attempts, I still believed in its potential. I then advertised for an expert geologist or engineer to help. Tex: Well, tell us how did your search turn out? Did ya'll find someone that believed in Spindletop? Mr. Higgins: Yes sir, I did! Captain Anthony F. Lucas, a native of Austria, now a citizen of the U. S. traveled to Beaumont and leased 663 acres of land at Spindletop to begin drilling. Tex: With the success of the Spindletop discovery, were you disappointed in the final outcome? Mr. Higgins: No sir! I set out to prove that there was oil at Spindletop Hill and that's what I did! As far as being upset about the money end of this deal, those scoundrels that had tried to keep me out had to pay me royalties. I later formed Higgins Standard Oil and Fuel Company so I suppose I had the last laugh on them! Tex: Mr. Higgins, sir, what are you most proud of with your accomplishments? Mr. Higgins: Well, I'd say that my dream became a reality. I achieved a lot for a boy with a troubled past to now being everything from a self-taught geologist, draftsman, inventor, and engineer. Tex: Mr. Higgins, sir, you have certainly earned the title of "Prophet of Spindletop" and proved yourself to the world. I want to thank you for your time and for giving us such an informative interview. As you mentioned, Captain Anthony F. Lucas was another important person to the discovery of Spindletop. Top
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