The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-04-19
FREAKS OF FORTUNE.
nav Money Melts Away From Men who
Become Suddenly Rich.
New York Sun.
New York Sun.

z6portsman to a friend, on reading the
.ccount in the Sun Of the drawers of the
Principal prizes in the late extraordinary
French lottery.
"a Then you don't believe" queried the
r5end, " that lucky hits in lotteries sre
II lasting beneft9'
e q never knew them prove 80, and /
ksve known of many so-called lucky
trikes."
-" Gan you mention q case in point?"
Eyes, half dozen. There was Noah
baylor, OF Jersey City; be drew SIC, 900
lottery years ago. At first he -four
ehed. he built large hotel in Jersey
Rity. Then he laid in heavy stock OF
fhisky before the war tax was imposed,
BAKING heaps of money cut of that
fnaIly, however, his fortune dwindled
Iway, it is said, until he had lost all.
&c Then there wss George Smith, of
Chicago. He came here about the time
NE Crystal Palace opened. Within 8
Month he won $4,000 cash. The next
hummer be had to borrow dollar to get
y dinner.
Take John Morrigsey 5or another
Example. He made a hundred lucky
hits. Alter his death his estate amounted
Dc nothing.
The most remarkable case, however,
is that Of Mr.. Peuistan, the Philadelphia
iquor dealer, who, five years ago, drew
The largest prize ever paid in America."
q II remember his case" broKe in the
Friend "but / have heard 80 many con-
EHicting stories that / don't know which
/ BIO believe
The facts are these" continued the
sportsman, "as / have them from Mr..
sPenistan's associates Mr.. Penistan YVES
doing q comfortable business In Philas
R.delphia, but was not making money
enough to indulge in his love for fast
horses. One day in the spring of 1873
he read an advertisement of an extrx
drawing of the Royal Havana lottery,
which was to take place April 23d, in
which the first prize was announced as
Es$500, 900. The idea struck him that he
might draw that prize, and show the
boys what be could do in the way of fast
horseg. Acting On the idea, he wrote to
Martinez g. Co., agents of the Spanish
pottery in this city, enclosing money for
the ticket. On receiving the letter,
CLERK Of the agents took the top ticket
S(l077) and sent it to Mr.. Penist&n. In 8
few days dispatch came from Havana
to the effect that ticket 1917 had drawn
the capital prize of $500,V00. Martinez
4& Go. autographed Mr.. Penisuan that his
ticket mad drawn the great prize. MIR.
Penistan jumped for joy on hearing the
great news. slapping the brother Of his
father-in-law, Thomas B. Whitney, On his
shoulders, he exclaimed: If this is
strue, old fellow, I'll give you half of it,
Then he insured his life, and. In company
with the brother of his father-in>law,
eame On to draw the money. They
ound that they would have to wait
bout week, until the Havana steamer
arrived with the official drawing, before
The prize could be eashed.
"The party enjoyed themselves seeing
\ the sights of the metropolis until the
Official drawings came. Mr.. Penistan,
whip was then about forty five, tall, slen-
der and gentlemanly, bore his good
fortune with rare modesty, studiously
avoiding any display. As soon as the
drawings came, Martinez g. 90. paid over
$40, 900 in cash, the amount due after
deducting the difference between Ameri
can collars and Spanish money. This
was the largest prize ever esshed here.
Two years previously, ticket 9444, draw
ing $20Q 900, hsd been paid.
"The tickle goddess who Rad smiled 80
blsndly on Mr.. Penistan, now began her
.capricious eapers. The brother of his
father@in-law sued him for the alleged
promised half of his suddenly acquired
wealth, together with claim for ad-
yanees, or something of that nature. A
Lawsuit doomed up, and it il said that
Mr. Penistan, nervous and worried, paid
over 500 900 for pesce and quietness.
"Then wide-awske horsemen received
him with open arms. Hewss what they
term an angsl-one with plenty of money
to expend on horseGesh. A few Of his
horses turned out well, and made
a noise Mt the time. One xxaat and