The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-07-10
WESTON'S SECRET.


A Pretty Good Story, Whether 1t Is True or
Not.
From the New York Mercury
1t is now generally believed that
Weston's extraordinary feat is the result
of long cherished determination on
his part to regain his lost laurels,'' OBJ
served well-known wealthy gentleman
of sporting procivities to Mercury
representative. "In a measure it is.
But there is more than that in it. I
know to an absolute certainty that it is
one of the best laid and carried out
plans to scoop a big winning that was
ever concocted. | dare not give you
names; but will tell you story, for
the tr'th of which, in it's minutest de-
tails, [ pledge my honor.
"A friend of mine, club man and a
passionate sportsman, was heavy back
er OF OLeary against Rowell in the in
ternational match at Gilmore's Garden.
Even when things looked darkest and
most desperate for his man, he stuck
manfully by him. The consequence
was that he came out the loser over
$4,000. His bets were private ones in
most cases, and, except for few heavy
outside ones, his losses remained un-
known to the general public.
MY friend went to England on bust
ness Immediately after the match. He
there met Weston, whom he had known
before Weston, expressed himself
warmly in regard to Americas losing
the belt, and said: If I had couple of
months training, believe could win
it back My friend became convinced
by his enthusiasm that he did not over
estimate himself, and suggested to him
to try it. After some talk Weston
agreed to 60 into training at once. Then
the idea struck my friend to recover his
losses. Previous to that he had, as he
told me himself, been only actuated by
a desire to see the belt returned to
America. ...l s...
"Weston's popularity as walker was
deep in decline, and the betting in
any match he entered for was sure to
be against him. If he was known to
have been i'll training it might be more
favorable; but if his preparations were
kept secret betting men would regulate
their Investments by his old record.
Any one backing him under these cir
cumstances could get long odds, and
my friend, firmly convinced that the
veteran walker could win, determined to
indorse his convictions. His losses on
O'Leary had seriously crippled him.
He deliberately, and at no little sacri-
fee, raised $150,000 in cash, mortgaging
quantity of his real estate in this city
to do so. Every dollar of his money he
applied to one purpose. The victory of
his man meant fortune to him or
nearly absolute ruin, and he told Wes-
ton SO without reserve; I am putting
nearly every cent own on YOU he said;
if you win,' he said-'if you win, half
of what I gain is yours. I only ask two
things of you-one is to keep quiet
with your training, the other to do your
best
"Weston did so. No soul outside of
the plot knew that the ex-champion was
laying himself out for big victory and
fortune by rigorous training. When
he went on his pedestrian tour through
England people spoke of it as show
mans dodge. It was really part of
his preparation for the contest on
which he and his hacker rested their
hopes. My friend meanwhile went
quietly to work laying out his $4,000
where it would do the most good. He
worked SO quietly that scarcely any one
knew what he was about. Every one
thought that Weston went into the
match with no preparatory training. It
was not until he began to show up in
the match that people began to think
that he had been preparing himself for
the task, and to find out that some one
had quietly been putting up money on
him all along and held nine-tenths of
the bets laid against Weston in the
race. I don't know how much the
thing has netted him, but it is safe to
say that the scheme has cleared big
profit. There isn't sporting gentle
man in London who is not bit to
greater or less extent, fer my friend is
hand-in-glove with all of them and had
bets booked with ALL He has called
twice with his brother, each time giving
the amounts of his books"
"Half of this money, of course, goes
to Weston?" nr..
"My friend has promised it. He is
well known as man who never breaks
his word"