The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-05
Novel Political Wager.

Tine o2i of March was gala day for
Peterborough, New Hampshire, it being
the occasion OF tue paying the Great
Fish Wager. between Colonel J. l..
Bolster, OF East Jaff'rey, and Colonel 5.
|. Nose, OF Peterborough, the Repnb!i
can candidate for Senator, in District
No. Eight. This wager was made be-
tween the parties some six weeks prior
10 the recent election, and was to this
effect, viz: If Straw was elected Gov
ernor, Colonel Z. was to purchase 200
pounds OF fresh fish, and deliver the
same at The depot in Peterborough,
and Oh a day agreed upon by the
parties, lie was 10 wheel or draw them
through the streets and sell them
while Colonel V. was to accompany
him blow the horn and take the money.
The 22d having been agreed upon by
the parties, an extra train was run over
the Monadnoch railroad, which arrived
at 81 A. NJ, bearing Colonel B: and a
staff Of fifty true and staunch Dem
Gratis, many OF them bearing banners
and badges appropriate to the occasion.
At the depot they were met 10y a large
escort OF the friends OF Colonel ", &C.
companied by the Peterborough h cornet
band under the leadership Of T. P.
Ames, ESQ.,, in an Oriental costume and
baton: Colonels Bolster and No5e
mounted on two.horse sled, loaded
with fish and appropriately decorated
with American flags drawn with ropes,
to which were attached the picked men
and friends of Colonel B Colonel V.
bearing his fish horn, Sir .tt5t long.
And last though not least, the camp
followers of the two distinguished mil
itary gentlemen.
AT 6alfpast ten o'clock, the process
sion took up the line Of march, and
paraded the principal streets, marshaIed
bv Colonel C. Scott, and Captain NJ.
l.. Morrison, mounted for the occasion,
and was welcomed along the route by
the firing of cannon, the cheers OF the
assembled multitude, and the waving
OF handkerchiefs by the ladies, who
seemed no less interested than the poll
ticians.
The PROCESSION came 10 halt in front
Of II. K. Freuch's hotel, where a
photograph WAS taken Of the living pan
Drama.
Colonel B. mounted the fish box. and
in a few well-timed remarks acknowl.
edged his defat, consoliDg bis political
friends with q prospect OF fall return
from their saline retreat, to which COL
Y responded in a humorous, off:hand
speech. Both speeches appeared duly
appreciated, judging by the applause
manifested.
The sale OF the fish was now COM
m.nced, Colonel V. selling them at
auction, and good prices were realized
for some they being sold under such
names as E. A. Straw. j: A. Weston,
J W. Patterson, J. G. Sinclair, etc.
Salt river pike sold for one cent, while
a disappointed admirer OF Sinclair
carried him home for sir cents. The
bids were at times spirited, and it is
said by many that the loser was the
icinney.
Ar the close OF the sale, the contest =
ant. with their friends. repaired to
Town Hall, where fish chowder was
served to his appreciate patrons, by
Dea. Dalphon Osborn. Taken as 3
whole, this wager has never been
eoualed in the State, both as 10 its
character and the details in carrying il
out It is estimated that not less than
1000 persons were present.
In the evening the Republicans gave
a free dance st Town Hall, to which
thew invited all their Democratic friends,
and many availed themselves Of the op
portunity, and thereby forgot the
chaQrin OF defeat. About $50 couples
were present, and the festivities were
not elossd until the wee sms hours.