The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-31
HOG GUESSING.

MoRRIsANIA IN THE ENJOYMENT OF UNIQUE
ENTERTAINMENT.
At Ormsbys Hotel, Central avenue, West Nor
risana, old time hog guessing match came of yes
teray to the great delight Of several hundred people
from all the surrounding country Was the first en-
tortan Of this kind hold in Morrisania the
thing being more peculiar to Long Island, New Jersey
and Down East. The following handbill announcement
Was extensively circulated in the neghborhood for
several weeks prior to the event.
The two mammoth hogs, Tom and Jerry. supposed to
Wednesaay January So is7s. Can be seen daily on the
hogs Both be guessed for. Chances hfty cents each
HOGS.
Both hogs were born Blackwell's Island eighteen
months ago OF portly parents and betrayed the
family tendency to run TO grease to wax ham fat and
flourish II might be natural expect OF hogs raised
on Black wells Island lean and hungry look, consider
lug the little Of food the prisoners likely
allow when their eager appetes under a full head
of steam, but hogs pets from their infancy
up and enjoyed privileges unknown to the prisoners
Grown up ,ney gotlazy aud presumptuous insisted on
roofing among the celery and cauliilower beds, aud
were peremptory Sold They were Tor several weeks
exhibition in yard adjoining the hotel, where they
were visited by hundreds in the matter oil
The guessing Tor thus interesting pair was done
in different manner from that pursued at similar
entertainments on Long Island There tho porker is
killed. dressed aud hung tho scales, while the
crowd assembled in a CIRCLE guess away at the prob
able the carcass, cach guess Oelng recorded
sheet OF paper. Az the affair yesterday each
guesser received ticket with number Gu this he
inscribed the name OF the hog he selected, tho
weight he thought him likely 10 bring and his own
name. duplicate ticket was put IN a box and
when the weighing was done the box was opened
and The guess coming nearest to the ascertaiped
figures by the scales won the hog There were 20
guesses at nifty cents guess. Eacn hog on his eet
and in the living pork weighed 900 pounds, ana
more comely PAIR gruntcrs ever adorned an agri-
cultural prize show. But between the active grunIing
iOh m a q
a butcher OF some experience IN slaughiering hogs
had evidently the inside track OF anybody In guessing
the exact weight, yet neither Tom jerry fell
any butchers lot The guesscs varied Tor each ami
nal from $40 lbs. to $751; showing very wide dlspar.
much to be deplored. A host Of country peo-
PIE surrounded the pen where Thomas and jeremiah
reposed IN vouptuous ease on u carpet OF odorous
straw anu received the comments passed upon them
with supreme apathy.
THE SLAUGHTER.
Soon there came upon The scene half dozen
swarthy pork butchers who jumped into the pen and
rolled tommy on his back amid kicking anu
squcaug that only one OF his vast proportions and
Iorce OF limb and lung could DO capable His lilo
blood dyed the straw and earth around him, but
he deep Ia barrel OF scaldng water before he
gave up the fight and yielded his last grunt. He
was quickly scraped and dressed and suspended
TO the limb OF AN apple tree. Offering a very
tempting sight as ho swung in mid air. Jerry was
treated TO ike experience and then no scales
sent Tor, aud GREATNESS expectancy Tor moment
hushed the grounding mob for every had nude
guess aud every Que mad made a bet on the aggrc-
gate weight of the Two hogs Jerry WIS declared to
was made over TO the hote 10 see who
the fortunate guesscrs. The box was produced
and The judges, Messrs sylpe, Taylor ana Wander.
bit, sat down to the examination. Alter an hour
spent IN TINS business IL was discovered that Mr.
William Churchill, OF Fordbam, WAS the winner OF
Tom, having alone guessed his precise weight, while
tho nearest Jerry wore Mr. William Graves and Dr.
Giles, each OF whom guessed $50 pounds. Giles sold
his claim Tor Sl2 and Graves carried home his
prize in wagon with feelings OF cxuberant glce
the country people from the surrounding neigh.
borhood made gala day OF IT, and when the guesses
declared least OF wine and song followed. Tho
excitement Of the guessing was sufficient stimuant
TO good fellowship, and the gathering broke up for
home after what appeared 10 be u uay they relished
cnsdf npiv VOL