Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-02
Queer Wagers.

The following stories of strange bets in all
places and times is taken from All the Year
Round:
Some years ago q London waterman waoefed
that he and his dog would jump from the centre
arch OF Westminster bridge, and land at Lam
beth together. He leaped from the bridge. and
the dog followed suit; but taking it into his
head that his master was in danger of drown
ing, the faithful fellow dragged him. willv-nillv
to the shore, and by his well intentioned blum
der lost the waterman his wager. When the
false news came to England that Sebastopol
had fallen three days after the battle of the
Alma, party of Sussex men drank TO the
health OF the yctors at certain inn; but one
ncredulous man would not believe the clad
tidings, and offered to give the landlord A
sovereign upon condition of receiving a shl-
ing day as long as the Russians held their
own. The offer was accepted and for many a
Saturday night did "the Russian" look for
his seven shillings, the unlucky believer
IN the prowesS of the allies eventually paving
some eighteen pounds for his single sovereign
An old match came off at York in 1906, be-
tween Thomas Hodgson and Samuel White
head, the question being which of the two could
assume the most original character. Whitehead
got himself up hall man and half woman one
side othm representing a fashionable lady, the
other negro, booted and spGrred. Hodgson,
who was adjudged the winner, appeared as a
yertable man of money; his coat and his waist
coat were covered with bauk notes, his hat band
was of the same valuable material. while n ma
per affixed to his back told those TO whom il
concerned that he was John Bull. Not reckon
ing purse filled with gold on his hat Uodo-
sons trimmings were worth 375 guineas. 1--WE
are extremely sorry" says the recorder of the
contest, that the whole of the money cannot be
converted, as it certainly ought TO the use of
his lawful creditors"
Brunei once got the best of Stephenson over
wager They were travelling together in a
railway carriage, Stephenson wrapped in a
dark plaid, on the exact disposition of the folds
OF which he rather plumed himself. "You are
looking at my plaid" SAID he to Brunei. 'Iu
bet you ten pounds you cannot put it on prop
erly the first time" 'Ill bet YOU ten pounds
against the plaid" said Brunei. of / put it
on right when we get out at the next station,
the plaid Is mine; if | miss l pay you ten
pounds" Done" said Stephenson. Brunei
sat silent until the train stopped, then stepping
on the platform, he asked for the plaid, which
was slowly unwound by its owner and handed
over, nor TO be given back again, for Brunei
wound 1t round his own shoulders as if he had
always worn it. He had never tried il before.
but when challenged did not like to be beaten,
and at once set to work TO study out the folds
OF the plaid. 81 got the thing pretty clearly in
my head before we reached the station, and
when saw him get out Of 1t knew was right,
so put 1t on at onceD
brougham contrived to make q holiday pay
ior itself by the exercise Of a little shrewdness
II was in his college days, that, by the way of
seeing little life, he went one autumn to Dunn.
Irles, IN order to make one at Caledonan hunt
ineellng' According to the then custom, every
pody dlned at a table d'hote, and after dinner
betting set in. Brougham offered TO bel the
whole company that none of them would write
down the manner in which he meant to 90 to
the races the next day. Those who accented his
challenge wrote down their coniectures. and
Brougham wrote down his intention OF travel
Ing in 4 sedan CHAIR mode of conveyance no
one hit upon. To the races he went, an Immense
crowd seeing him safely chaired to the course.
The bet was then renewed as to the manner Of
his return to Dumiries, tho accepters taxing
their wits to imagine the most improbable meth.