The Placer herald., 1856-12-13
Doesticks' Bets on Pennsylvania

State Eectons.-Was sure of Pennsylva-
MIA Ohio, and Indiana, for the Republicans
so made up my mind to bet on the Oppo-
siton, and started out in pursuit ola custom
er-was willing to bet acih anybody who
had good clothes, and on anybody who l
thought would win.
Went into the "Pewter Mug"-Buchan-
an man in his shirt sleeves with ragged
breeches and battered hat, wanted to bet
$4,000 that "old Buck" would carry his
when no one took him up, he offered $50,
900 against 10000, but as there was no So,
900 man on hand, he magnanimously came
down to S. 700, but as there didn't appear
to be even that small amount ready at the
instant-he lowered his term to thousand
dollars, against which he proposed to lay
$50 900, but still no one listened-he went
on offering greater and greater odds, and
made bold defiance to all the world to put
up ten dollars against 100000 and finally
offered to take hundred thousand dollars
against a glass of whisky on the democtacy
of Pennsy finding no one to rake
him mp even at that offer, he turned away in
high dsdain, staggered up to the bar and
in two minutes the enterprising bar-keeper
kicked the hundred thousand dollar man into
the street because he couldn't raise three
cents to pay for a glass of liquor.
The room seemed to be full of million
aires, who all wanted to bet on Buchanan
to any amount-thought that the possession
of a great deal OF money must make a man
thirsty, for noticed that when any one call
ed the crowd up to drink, the millionaires
always responded to the invitation, and took
double horns-observed too, that they never
asked any one to drink, and thought it must
be because they feared setting a bad example
and leading strangers into dissipation.
Then Fillmore man wanted to take a
ed all those in favor of Fillmore to come
up and drink, and the milionaires all came
up-then Buchanan man requested all who
were going to vote for Buchanan to come up
and take horn, and The miIlionaries again
came up;-then Fillmore man claimed it
and the other man claimed it--then they hit
and Buchanan went down before a rap
from a chair, but not before he had floored
Fillmore with Observation-Disclosures mill
ionaries dressed chiefly in black eye and a
second hand coat, anxious to preserve the
peace, took the decanter from Buchanan
man and drank the contents before the bar
keeper caught him at it-then the bar-keep
er got excited, jumped over the bar and
pitched into his wealthy customers-he was
perfectly sober, and consequently had tre-
mendous advantage over the others-so he
devoted himself for few minutes with great
energy and singleness of purpose to an indi-
vidual who, a little while before, had express
ed willingness to stake half a million on
PENNSYLVANIA but who was now surrepti-
tiousy filling his pockets with Goldfish and
crackers, and hustled him out-then he
took a sixty thousand chap by the nape of
the neck and pitched him into corner,
then he gave his attention to a seventy thous-
and fellow and povetry-strlcken rascle who
had not offered to bet more than fifteen thou
sand on Buchanan, which two were having
a quiet fight all alone, and kicked them into
the gutter-then he went promiscuously and
impartay at the rest of the crowd with a
club, and dealt out two handed hickory Gus
tice" till all were subdued and satisted-he
came to me in like afectionate manner, but
| called for two drinks and showed him the
money, and he thought better of it.
Thought there wasn't much chance of win
ming my new clothes from these gentlemen,
so | hurrahed for Buchanan, threw a quarter
to the barkeeper and took myself while he
was looking for it behind the barrels
In the course of a day or two | found
Brown, who was well dressed and willing to
take my bets-so | made the following wa
gers:-a new hat that Pennsylvania would
give twenty thousand Republican majority
new coat on fifteen thousand majority and
cravat, pair Of pants, and half dozen
shirts on ten thousand-then l got bet of
pair of pants and an oyster supper on the
general result in Indiana,-went home and
thought had done good days work, and
made suit of clothes quicker than | could
in any other way-went to bed satisfied with
the world, and dreamed about the cut and
quality Of my new coat.
Next day the election came off-met
DamphooI, he'd been betting on Pennsyl
vana too, that it would 90 for Fillmore. So
had all his namesakes; in fact, he informed
me that all the Damphools had bet on Penn
svlvania, and on Fillmore. Met Brown and
told him I'd take a six dollar hat, or, if he'd
make it a cash bet and pay it then, I'd allow
him small discount; but Brown said 'Wait"
Told Brown he might as well 90 home and
putson his old slut and give me the new one
as to wait till night, but Brown strangely
preferred to wait-told him to be careful
meantime and not sit down in any dirty spot
with my pantaoons on, then followed him
slilv for two hours admiring my new clothes
from distance.
Night came at last, and it was time for the
returns to come invent to the dewspaper
offices and heard the result read. Fremont
seemed all right-wished that had ten hats
bet, and clothes enough to last me ten years.
Then the scale seemed to change, and in a
little while didn't care for more than half
a. IL