Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-04-14
A TALL limp.

ssHelloa, Charley 10 shouted Ned as he burs
into my room, in the attic of 50 80 boarding
house in the Bowery. on the first day of April
about an hour before the bell was expected tc
| ring for dinner.
s'Well Ned, what's the row %
"Nothin'. How much money have you got I?
"Only about fifty. Why ?''
| s'Nothin'. Lend it to me, Charley.''
Thunder / lent-yor thirty last night,
81 know tive got thirteen of it yet 7''
"l'll te II You what it is, Ned, Eve only got
| this fifty, and if you get n4i one of your ben.
ders, and spendi it, shall he hard up here till
'sWhat in the name of stewed catharpen legs
are you talking about? Give me the pictures
and you shall have half. Come-fist over and
come along" said Ned.
| i gave Ned my wallet, and followed him
| down into the street. ssWhich way, Ned
towards Chatham Square like locomotive on
trial. l followed in his wake about two rods
aStern. On he went through Chatham street.
along Park Row, down Bowery, till he came
opposite Trinity Church, when he stopped.
and, after gazing up at the tall steeple for a.
bout five minutes, he deliberately pulled of
his coat, and handed it to me to hold for him.
Next off came his hat and vest. L Ithought be
was crazy. He pulled of his boots, and a
crowd began to gather about US. Ned took
out his watch and handed it 10 me.
The rush to the spot was such that in three
D.
''What's all this What's going on 2" in
quired a dozen eager voices.
''Gentemen," said Ned, ssyou see that o.
pen place up there in that steeple-right
where the bell hangs p"
''Yes! yes !" screamed fifty of the crowd in
answer to the question.
'Well, gentlemen, I'm going to jump up
there -
s.You can't do it, instantly came from
twenty of the bystanders
''l'il bet he can,'' said an old gentleman be-
hind \ led, whom half of the crowd knew as one
Of the richest merchants in Pearl street
Ned looked over his shoulder in aStonish-
ment. The old merchant smiled and nodded
his head
s.Good ~ shouted Ned give got one back
er. thought I'd have,to go my small pile a.
lone, - and he pulled out his wallet.
'sI;ll bet two to one that you can't jump up
there" said man coming close up to Ned, /,
with his fist full of bills.
''Three to one - chirped another.
ssFOur to one!' shouted third person.
s.Fiyei'' ssSiX - ssSeven i''-and fifty
sporting men crowded around Ned.
''Ili tell you what it is gentlemen" said
Ned quietly, Il haven't got much money, but
I'll go it as long as it lasts just choose
your shareholders, and let's be at it.''
That matter was soon arranged, and the bet
ting went on, from two to seven TO one, till
Ned's wallet and mine were drained.
'.Thunder," yelled Ned, 81 wish l had
thousand. Here, Charley, give me my watch
I'll put that in. Give me my hat coat =
vest boots I'll bet''-
S'Hold - said the old merchant, sshere'S
two thousand dollars, put it up. If you win,
We'll divide.''
The two thousand was put up and covered,
and the crowd began to be impatient to see
the jump
s.GeDtlcmen,'' said Ned, very gravely, 81
have never been up in that steeple, and you
know | might go slap into some confounded
iron thing that would hurt me. Now l should
like if a halt dozen OF you would be kind e.
nough to go up with me before | jump, so that
L can see where I'm going to light"
s'That's fair,'' shouted the crowd, and of
went \ ed, with committee of eight, over, a.
cross, and mp into the steeple. The crowd was
bout three minutes after the party entered the
church, Ned's cocoanut was seen bobbng up
and down in the beiry like dandy jack. 1t
was evident to all that he jumped up there
s.Sold, by thunderi'' said the two-to-one
gentleman, and slopcd.
Taken in and done forl' exclaimed snort
ing gentleman number two.
ssGiye it up!'' yelled four-tp-one, and cut
stick.
ssFairly won!'' sung out every rybody, in cho
rus; and as Ned made his appearance in the
street, the crowd gave him three cheers and
dispersed.
The shareholders handed over the money to
Ned, and we adjourned with the old merchant
to his store. where he made a fair division of
the winnings all round, after which the old
fox told us that he had an idea in his head
once of trying that very game.