The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-05-20
A Tail Jump.


"Hello, Charley!" shouted Ned. as he
burst into my room, n,the attic, ,pf " 30
boarding house in the Bowery, on the irSt
day of April, about an hour before the bell
was expected to ring for dinner.
"Well Ned, what's the row."
"Nothing. How much money have you
got7"
j"OnIy about Atty. why" .-
"Nothing. Lend it to me, Charley"
"Thunder! I lent you thirty last night"
81 know it--I've got thirteen Of it yet!"
"Ill tell you what it is Ned, I've only got
/ this fifty, and if you get on one Of your bend
ers and spend it, | shall be hard up here till
| "What 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.
| gave Ned ny Wallet end followed him
down into the street. (which way, Ned!
Where are you bound" But he went of
down towards Chatham Square like loco.
motive on trial. 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 g"zing up at the
tall steeple for about FIVE minutes, he de.
liberately pulled off his coat, and handed 1t
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 10 the spot was such that in
three minutes Broadway WAS blocked up.
"What's all this! What's going ont"
inquired dozen eager voices.
"Gentlemen," said Ned, "you see that
open place up there in that steeple--right
where the bell hangs!"
"Yes! yes!' screamed Atty Of the crowd
in answer to the question. .s. 81.
"Well, gentlemen, I'm going to jump up
there!"
"You can't do it, instantly came from
twenty of the bystanders.
atm bet he can" said an old gentleman
behind Ned, whom half Of the crowd knew
as one OF the richest merchants III Pear
street. j,
Ned looked over his shoulder in astonish
men.. The old merchant smiled and nod
ded his head. =.
"Good!" shonIl,ed Ned; five got one back
er. thought I'D have to bet my small pile
alone," and he pulled out his wallet.
"IlI bet two to one that you can't juu,I
UP there" said man coming close up tt
Ned, with his fist full of bills.
"Three to one!' chirped another.
"Four to one!" shouted, q third person.
"Fiye:" "Sx!" "Seven!" and fifty
sporting men crowded around Ned.
"Ill tell you what it is gentlemen. sai'
Ned Quietly, 81 haven't got much money
but III 20 it as long as 1t lasts; so jus
choose your stake holders, and let's be a
it," ..; ;.,.
That matter was soon arrsngd, and tn
betting went on, from to seven TO ore, til
Ned's wallet and mine were drained.
"Thunder" yelled Ned, II wish had
thousand. Here, Charley, give me m!
watch--t'I put that In. Give me my hat
coat!--vest!--b I'll bet--"
"Hold on!' said the old merchant, cher
+ is two thousand dollars, put /, up. II yo
h win, we'll divide"
| The two thousand was put up and covered
and the crowd began to be impatient.
"Gentlemen," said Ned, very gravely, I"
have never been up in that steeple, and yo
know might 60 slap into some confounde
iron thing that would hurt me. Now shoul
like it half d zen of you would be kin
enough to 60 up with me before jump, s
, that can see where I'm going to light"
"That's fair" shouted the crowd, and o
went Ned, with committee of eight, ove
across, and up into the steeple. The crow
was watching the open space by the bel
ahd in about three minutes after the part
entered the chuch, Ned's cocoanut was see
bobbing up and down in the belfry like
dandy jack. 1t wos evident to all that b
, jumped up there!
:, "sold, BY thund r!' said the .on
a gentleman, and sloped. s a........
a "Taken in and done for!" exclaime
sporting gentleman fiumber two.
"Give it up"' yelled four.to.one. and CT
p stick. .., .....I ..-'.....
"Fairly wont" sung out everybody,
chorus; and as Ned made hi5 appearance
: the street, the crowd gave him three cheel
; and dispersed. W.
The stockholders handed over Tie thone
to Ned, and we adjourned with the old me
chant to his store, where he rtiads d fair d
= vision of the winnings Gil round. after Whic
i the old fox told us thdt he hid at idea
u his head once OF trying that very game.
Now IT CANE TO Pass. "a lady asked
Is very silly Scotch noblemap, how it happen
ed that the Scotch who came'out Of the
own country, were, GENERALLY speaking, me
., Of more ability than those who stsid
II home. AL n Aa "A - gzasa isJ
A. ooh! madam" he said, "the tsason
i'd obvious! At every outlet there sre perso'
stationed to examine ell who pass, that G
a | =, = A. .....nsv,v ~ ouA hA uawurS 4