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ZIMMERLA(Continued From P/ago l)in southern Russia, close to Rumania, for the Russian Petroleum Corporation, Ho was in Old Mexico the first time when war was. declared, in 1901 He was back again in 1913, 1914 and 1915. In 1904 in . the Tam-, pico fields he saw the natives die like flies of yellow fever. There were so many dead that they 'never dug graves for many. Tire biggest drilling difficulty in Old Mexico in 191.4 was in keeping with the laboring crow. Every few weeks a general would come along arid draft the Mexicans into the army, hi 1914, Pancho Villa, the famous Mexican bandit, raided the Tampico country; Mr. Zimmerla also drilled on Panecho river near Tampico.Liked Morning Tower States Mr. Zimmerla has drilled jn inetude New York, Pennsylvania. Olio, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas. He came to the Panhandle field 10 years ago come June 26.-There was a time when Mr..Zimmerla wouldn't take a job unless it was on early-morning tower. That •watch” had the advantage of being cool, and. besides Mr, Zimmerla just-liked it. When he first began drill-, tog, all the ropes used were-Manila ropes, not wires as they are now. The derricks were of lumber, whereas now they are steel.He was familiar with the “suitcase” sand in the Whizbang and Keifcr fields. He said the sand usually lasted for about 300 feet, and drillers hated it -because it cut out the bit so frequently. It was then they’d pack their suitcases and leave. Tile veteran driller made the booms at Cushing, Tonkawa and Red Fork, all in Oklahoma, after his experiences at Whizbang.• Mr. Zimmerla is not the type of cable tool driller who squabbled with his fellow-workers. His friends will tell you that he never had a quar-re with them. If he saw that he was going to have trouble with them, or if there was going to be friction, he’d walk off the lease.Fire Destroyed Pictures There is one experience Mr. Zimmerla regrets keenly. Through the years, he had collected many pictures of wells and oil field boom towns where he had worked, and several years ago all were binned in a fire. Mr. Zimmerla made the Ranger boom in 19.19 aud 1921, but lie has not really been Impressed by boom town wickedness since be went through the Whizbang reign of. terror which was undoubtedly one of the roughest, toughest oil fields on the map, Hi-jacking, murders, robberies, gambling and all sorts of vices flourished, aided and abetted by the law. It was in this field that the gun of the chief of police was found on the body of a slain hijacker.Mr. Zimmerla, despite his 50 years in the oil fields, has a calm eye, a calm hand and a strong chin, and ho looks as if he has a number of active years .before him. He still drills and he does the job as well as he ever did.setwltaxofTlamAuswetMfl'GarbccTpla-clif.sea!FraKanwa:senofi the ste A ' cht ahi pla lt;ere exi lt;mlt; the bet Ithegai8:3lt;salshithifogAt:Vi(wcficacthadteimov
Newspaper Details
Pampa News
Pampa, Texas, US
Wed, May 17, 1939
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
William S.
NA, 28 May 2024
Other Publications Near Pampa, Texas
Pampa Morning Post
Pampa News Post
Pampa Daily News
Pampa News
