The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-07-07
A TALL JUMP.

'Helloa, Charley shouted Ned,
as he burst into my room, in the at
tic of $3.50 boarding house in the
Bowery, ono day, about an hou
before the bell Was expect, d to ring
for dinner.
We'll, Ned, what's the row?
sNothin.' How much moAey
have you got?,
'OnIy about fifty. VVhy?'
'Nothin.' Lend it to me, Char
ley.'
Thunder! l lent You thirty last
night
i know tive got thirteen Of
1t yet
L tell yon what it Is, Ned, I've on
ly got this fifty, and if you get on to
one ofyour benders, and spend it, !
shall be hard up here till'-'WhatI
in thename ofs:ewed catharpon legs
are you talking about? Give me
thepictures, and you shall have half
Come-fst DER, and come along
| gave Ned mywallet, and follow
ed him into the street. (Which
way, Ned? Where areyou bound?
But he was of down Chatham
Square like locomotive on trial, !
following in his wake about tworods
astern.
On he went through Chatham
street, along Park Row, down
Broadway, till he came opposite
Trinity Church, when he stopped,
and, after gazing up at de tall stce-
pie for about five minutes. he doIlE-
erately pulled OF his coat, and hand
ed it to me to hold for him. Next
off came his hat and vest. | thought
he was crazy. He pulled off his
boots, and crowd began TO gather
about us. Ned took out his watch,
and handed it to me.
The rush to the spot was such
that in three minutcs Broadway
was blocked ur.
What's all this? What's going
on?' inquired u dozen eager voices.
.GentIemen,' said Ned, 'you see
that open place up there in that stoe-
ple-right where the bell hangs|
Yes! yesn screamed fifty of the
crowd, in answer to tho question,
sWell, gentlemen, I'm a going to
jump up here!'
You can't do it, instantly came
from twenty Of the bystanders.
sI'lE bet he can,' said an old gen.
tlemen behind Ned, whom half Of
the crowd knew as one of the rich
est merchants in Pearl street.
Ned looked over his shoulder in
astonishment. The old merchant
smiled and nodded his head.
Good! shouted Ned, I've got
one backer, l thought Id have to
go my small pile al2ne,' and he
pulled out his wallet.
'I'll bet two to one YOU can't
jump up there,' said man coming
close up to Ned, with his fist full of
bills.
Three to one!' chiFpod another
sFour to onc!' shouted q third.
Five!'
sSix.'
sSeyenf~-and fifty sporting men
crowded around Ned.
TIL tell you what it is, gont'emen,'
said Ned quietly. i havn't got much
money, but III 20 it as long as it
lasts; so just choose your stakehoId-
ers, and let's be att
That matter was soon arranged,
and the betting went on, from two,
to seven to one, till Ned's wallet
and mine were drained.
Frhundcrr yelled Ned, 4 wish l
had thousand. Hero Charley,
give me my watch---I'll put that in.
Give me my hat!-coat!-vest!--
boots! LII bot'--'Hold on!,--said
the old merchant. heres two thou
sand dollars; put it up Ifyou win
we'll diyide.'
The two thousand was put up ant
covered, and the crowd began to b.
impatient to soc hciump.
'Gentlemcn,' said Ned, very grave
ly, i have never been up in tina
steeple, and you know l might g
slapinto some confounded IRON thing
that would hurt me. Now | Ishoulc
like it if half dozen of you woulc
be kind enough to 60 up with me
before | jump, SO that / can sec
where I'm going to lighl!