Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-11-24
THE POOLS.

many papers.
THE POOLS.
Among the betting men, and their num-
ber is legion, great deal Of interest centres
in the pool rooms. Pool betting is a spe-
cies of gambling without cards or dice and
has become quite fashionable, even among
so-caIled respectable men. The pool rooms
have been the arena of much excitement
during the past week. There are a number
of these fashionable gambling houses on
Broadway. The two most largely patron
lied are known as Johnson's, corner of
twenty-eighth street, and palatial establish
ment of ex-prize fighter, ex-congressman,
John Morrissey.
1t was expected that another cradle-rope
would be stretched across the East River
Saturday, but, owing to delays in its manu-
facture, it was not received. 1t will proba-
bly, be placed in position this week. As
soon as this is done, it is the intention of
Engineer Roebling to. have the cradles, (all
of which are in readiness.) suspended. and
work begun on the foot-bridge, about the
first of next month, and pushed as rapidly
as circumstances will permit.
There are several kinds of pools known
as Auction, French and Combination. A
portion of the room devoted to such pur-
poses is fitted up with an elevated platform,
upon which are seated the auctioneers and
clerks. The rooms are provided with seats,
and form comfortable lounging place for
the fashionably dressed loafers of the city.
Hundreds are usually in attendance but
not three per cent are bidders or buyers.
The auctioneer announces that a hundred
dollars is bid for the first choice on the
general result. The favorite candidate is
then named, generally thus! One hundred
dollars for Tilden How much do l hear
for Hayes? The bidding is varied accord
ing to the working of the political ther-
mometor, varying from thirty to eighty
dollars for Hayes, Tilden one hundred. The
bidding having closed, the gross amount
for both candidates, is written on two tick
cts, and one handed to each party. The
successful bidder receives the entire
amount, less three per cent which is the
pool sellers fee.
French Pools.-In another part of the
room, neatly arranged side by side, are a
number of frames constructed with spaces
for names and to indicate consecutive num-
bers. The favorite candidate is indicated
in a slip inserted on the board, together
with an Indicator, TO tell the number of
times such tickets have been sold on this
favorite. As between Tilden or Hayes
there would be but a choice between the
two but when used for horse-racing it is
frequently choice e.n1ong many. The
Whole OF the money, realized by the sale Of
tickets for bGth parties is divided pro rata
among tnose holding tickets bearing the
naaE1e maize of the successful candidate. For in
stance pool of three thousand dollars made
up by the sale of tickets at five dollars
each, would indicate six hundred sabserib-
ers. If divided as follows: Three hun
dred and fifty sold for Hayes, and Hayes
was successful the three thousand dollars
would be equally divided among the three
hundred and fifty Hayes tickets. If Til
den were successful, the three thousand
dollars would be divided among the two
hundred and fifty holders OF his tickets.
This class of pools, was extensively sold in
New York, on the local, State and general
election.
Combination Pools.-This is a favorite
arrangement, from the fact that the
amount paid to the successful subscribers
is much larger than by any other. The
process is this! The pool seller puts up
four doubtful States, say Louisiana, North
Carolina, Wisconsin and California. The
buyer selects his States as he chooses, and |
pays five dollars for a ticket indicating his
ideas. Thus he might bet that Tilden
would carry California and North Carolina,
and Hayes Wisconsin and Louisiana. To
win, the result must be precisely as his |
ticket reads. He may be right on three of |
the States, but if the fourth goes against |
him, he loses. This is a favorite method, |
for the profits of the few winners are enor-
nous. To win on this combination, the |
better would have marked Louisiana. Cali
iornia and Wisconsin for Hayes. and North
Carolina for Tilden. The money in the
pool is divided among the few who were
upkV or wise enough IN make that cboico