Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-10-16
NUMBER 42.
TALL JUMPING.

] uuISt Iltu my IouLl III tlIt attlC VI u y JV
boarding house in the Bowery, one day,
about an hour before the bell was expect
ed to ring for dinner.
"Woll, Ned, what's the row ;"
Nothn'. How much money have
you got ?"
"Only about fifty dollars. Why9"
Nothin'. Lend it to me Charley"
Thunder | lont you thirty last
night"
81 know it. I've got thirteen of it left
yet"
- tell you what it is, Ned, I've only
got this fifty left and if you get on one Of
your benders and spend it, l shall be hard
up here till"
"What in the name of stewed cathar-
pen legs are you talking about? Give
me the pictures and you shall have halt.
Come, fist over, and come along"
gave Ned my wallet, and followed
him down street.
Which way, Ned ?"
But he was Oft toward Chatham street
like n locomotive on trial, following in
his wake about two rods astcrn.
On he went through Chatham street..
along Park Row, down Broadway till he
came opposite to Trinity Church, and af-
ten gazing up at the tall steeplo for about
five minutes, he deliberately pulled of
his coat, and handed it to me to hold for
him, Nnvt ,H b,a p aud hnf 1
thought he was crazy, lie pulled off his
boots and crowd began to gather round
us. lie took out his watch and handed it
to me.
Tho rush to the spot was such that in
three minutes Broadway was blocked up.
"What's all this ? What's going ON
now ?" inquired dozen eager voices.
Gentlcmon," said Ned, "you see that
open place up there in that stoepe-right
where the bell hangs ?"
"Yesl yes !" screamed fifty of tho
crowd in answer to the question.
"Well, gontcmon, I'm going to Jump
Wo here!"
"You can't do it," instantly came
from twenty of the bystandcrs.
am bet ho can," said an old gontlo.
man behind Ned, whom half the crowd
knew as one of the richest merchants in
Pearl street.
Ned looked over his shoulder in II. on
shment. The old merchant smiled ard
nodded.
"Good " said Ned. "l've got ono
backer. | thought I'd have to so my
small pile alone"
He pulled out his wallet.
"I'll bet you two to one that you can't
jump up there" said man coming up
close to Ned, with his fist full Of bills.
"Three to one" chrped another.
" Four to one /" shouted II third.
Five !"
"Six !"
"Seven -. and fifty sporting men
crowded around Ned.
"Ill tell you what it IS, gentlemen"
said Ned quietly, 81 haven't got much
money, but I'll go in rs long as it lasts
so just choose your stake holders, and
let's be Mt it,"
That matter was soon arranged, and
the betting went on till Ncd's wallet and
mine were both drained.
Thunder !" yelled Ned, 81 wish |
bad a thousand. Here Charley, give mo
my watch-I'l put that in. Give mo
my hat coat vest! boots I'll
bet
"Hold on" said the old merchant,
"here is two thousand dollars put it up.
II you win wen divide"
"Good again old cock f." cried Ned.
You're trump "
The two thousand were put up and
covered, and the crowd began to be inn
patient to see the jump.
Gentlemen," said Ned gravely, :"
have never been up there in that steeple,
and you know might go slap onto some
confounded iron thing that would hurt
me. Now should like it il half dozen
Of you would be kind enough to go up
with me before jump, so that | can SEQ
where I'm going to light"
THAT'S fair" shouted the crowd, and
off went Ned, followed by committee OF
eight, across the street, and up into tho
steeple. The crowd was watching tho
open space by the bell, and IN about three
minutes after the party had entered the
church, Neds cocoanut was seen bobbing
up and down in the befry Ike a dandy
Jack. 1t was evident to all that ho
jumped up there.
"Sold, by thunder !" said the two-to-
one gentleman, and sloped.
"Taken in and done for " exclaimed
sporting gentleman number two.
"Give it up !" yelled four rto-one, and
cut stick.
Fairly won !" cried out everybody in
chorus and as Ned made his appearance
in the street, the crowd gave him three
cheers and dispersed.
The stako-holders handed the money
over to Ned, and we adjourned with tho
old gentleman to his store, where we made
a fair division of the winnings all round,
after which the old fox told US that he
once had an idea in his head OF trying
that very game.
-a~--
~ ,Crfy -Ae we po i'm for the good