In 1857 Edwin L. Drake is sent to investigate an oil seep in a creek near Titusville, Pennsylvania. Overcoming many other obstacles, Drake's innovation to shield the well from water entry by using a drive pipe finally allows drilling to proceed until striking oil in August, 1859. His perseverance yields many barrels of oil a day, and immediately brings about the start of the oil industry.
as Colonel Edwin L. Drake
as Uncle Billy Smith
as Crew Foreman
as James M. Townsend
as Doctor Brewer
as Joel D. Angier
as George Henry Bissell
as Hotel Desk Clerk
as Sam Brown
as Salt Driller
as Man on Horseback
as Farmer
