So it's March of 1872, and in the Oil Refining District of Cleveland, the fear was palpable.

Oil refining was a harrowing business in the best of conditions. There were wild fluctuations in

the price of crude oil, tough negotiations with oil drillers and railroads, and the ever-present

possibility of an accidental fire taking down an entire refinery in a flash.

But this was a different kind of threat.

Rumors were flying that Rockefeller and his standard refinery had negotiated a backroom deal with the railroads.

He'd be shipping his oil for cheap, while all the other refineries would be left in the cold,

shipping their oil for exorbitant prices, if at all.

In the midst of this panic,

Rockefeller went to refiner after refiner, offering them a way out. Calmly, he would explain

that they were doomed, but they had one option to gain something for their years of effort,

and that was to sell their refinery to him for pennies on the dollar.

Some of the biggest refineries in Cleveland had already capitulated.

It seemed inevitable that the rest would do so as well.

One refiner tried to stick up for himself.

His name was John Heisle.

He got upset. He started shouting.

Drawing himself up to his full measure, he told Rockefeller to his face, I'm not afraid of you.

Rockefeller took all this in calmly.

He moved very little and the tone of his voice never changed.

He responded quietly.

You may not be afraid to have your hand cut off, but your body will still suffer.

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