The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-30
Weston's Secret.
I New York Sunday Merc,nl, :,

SNoW O1A OuuOdy mercury,
ct is now generally believed that Wcs-
toms extraordinary feat is the result Of u
long cherished determination On his part
to regain his lost laurels," observed q
well-known wealthy gentleman of sport
ing proclivitics to.a Mercury representa-
tive. SIN a measure it is. But there is
more than that in it. know to an abso-
lutte certainty that it is one Of the best
laid and carried out plans to scoop big
winning that was ever concocted. / dare
not give you names; but will tell YOU
story, for the truth of which IN it's mlinut-
est details | pledge you my honor.
"a friend OF mine, club man and
passionate sportsman, was heavy hacker
OF O'Leary against Rowell in the interna-
tional match at Gillmore's garden. Even
when things looked darkest and most des
perate tor his man he stuck manfully by
him. The consequence was that lie came
out the loser Of over $4,000. His bets
were private ones in most cases, and ex-
cept for few heavy outside ones, his loss
es remained unknown to the general
public. ,.3 &, .5.
My friend went to England on bust
ness Immediately after the match He
there met Weston, whom he had known
before. Weston expressed himself warm
~ in regard to Americas losing the belt.
and said :%'sIfI had a couple of months
training I believe could win it @back."
My friend became convinced of his enthu-
siasm that he did not overestimate him
self, and suggested him to try it.. After
some talk Weston agreed to go into train
ing at once. Then the idea struck nv
friend to recover his losses. Previous to
that he had, as he told me himself, been
only actuated by desire to see the belt
returned to America. i ..a.
'Weston's popularity as a walker was
deep in decliue, and the betting in any
match he entered for was sure to be
against him. If he was known to have
been IN training he might be more favora-
BILE; but if his preparations were kept Sc
cret betting men would regulate their in
vestments by his old record. ANY one
backing him under these circumstances
could get long odds, and my friend, firm
~ convinced that the veteran walker
could win, determined to indorse his con-
victions His losses on O'Leary had serl-
ouslY crippled him He deliberately and
at no little sacrifice raised $15O,O0O in
cash, mortgaging quantity of his real
estate in this city to do So. Every dollar
OF this money he applied to the one pur-
pose. The victory Of this man meant "a
fortune to him or nearly absolute ruiz,
AND he told Weston so without reserve.
II am putting nearly every cent own on
you," he said; IF you win, half OF what
l gain is yours, I only ask two things of
you-one is to keep quiet with your train
ing, 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 vigorous training. When he
went on his pedestrian tour through Eng
land people spoke of it as showman's
dodge. It was really pant of mis- prep
aration for the contest on which he and
his hacker rested their hopes. NY friend
meanwhile went quietly to work laying
out his $150,000 where it would do the
best 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
shor up in the match that people be-
gan to think that he had been prepar-
ing himself for the task, and to find out
that some one had quietly been put
ting up money on him him all along,
and heldanlne-tenths of the bets laid
against Weston in the race. don't know
how much the thing has netted him, but
it is safe to say that the scheme has clear
ed big profit, there isn't sporting gen
tleman in London who is not bit to a
greater or less extent, for 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?"
my friend has promised it. He IS
we'll known as q man who never breaks
his WOrd.''