The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 95, July 1991 - April, 1992 Page: 443

Book Reviews

tainly one of the things that makes this tale so intriguing is how Higgins, a to-
tally self-taught geologist holding views greatly at odds with the professionals
of his day, developed his uncanny ability to find oil. He correctly located more
than seventy fields and left a list of over a hundred places that are still untested.
How he did it, no one ever knew. He hinted, saying he used "four indicators,"
but took his secret to his grave. However many and loud his detractors, and
they were both, he became a very wealthy man with his system.
McDaniel also demonstrates that, in addition to Higgins's unorthodox geo-
logical ideas, his personal life added to his reputation as an eccentric. In his
middle years, for example, he set tongues awagging over his intense fondness
for young girls, especially after he adopted several and had them live with his
mother and sister. The last of these he married when she was eighteen and he
was forty-five. As another example, during his last twenty-five years, in spite of
having great wealth, he drove the same "Model A" as he traveled far and wide
in his search for oil.
As one might expect in a book written by an admiring relative, Higgins is
pictured in a good light, though it certainly does not ignore some of Higgins's
shortcomings. One also might quibble with the lack of notes and that the essay
on sources says most of the material used is in the private hands of the author.
But the book is a rousing start on which some future historian will surely build.
In an industry filled with colorful characters, Pattillo Higgins must rank near
the top of any list where peculiarities of personality, steadfastness of purpose,
and success in finding oil are factors in the ranking.

443

Stephen F. Austzn State Unzverszty

JAMES V. REESE