The sun., 1879-02-23
.FREAKSOF PICKLE FORTUNE.
NOW MONEY MELTs AIvAY FROM MEN
VINO BECOML SUDDENLY RICH.
The story OF Richard A. Peniatnn-DrnvvinE
Hair 10 MInon Dollars In n Lottery and
Losing 10 In Toying TO Breed Fast Horses.

The story Of Richard A. Penistnn-Drnvvinr
| Hair - MInion Dollars in n Lottery and
Il Losing 10 In Toying TO Breed Fast Horses.
easy come easy CO." remarked a sports
man TO his friend. on reading the account in
THE SUN OF the drawers Of the principal prizes
in the late extraordinary French lottery.
Then you don't believe" quericd the friend.
that lucky hits in lotteries are Of lasting
benclt2"
" l never knew them prove so. and have
known Of many so-called lucky strikes"
Can you mention case in poini2"
Yes. half dozen. There was Noah Taylor
OF Jersey City. He drew S70000 in n lottery
years ago. At first he hourished. He built a
large hotel In Jersey City. Then he laid in a
heavy stock of whiskoy before the war tax was
imposed making heaps of money out of that.
Finally. however. his fortune dwindlod away.
it is said. until he has lost all.
"Then thero wns George Smith of Chicago.
He camo hero about the timo the Crystal Palace
opened. Within n month he won 100000 cash.
Tho next summer no had to borrow dollar to
get dinnor.
| "Tako John Morrssey for another example.
| He made n hundred lucky hits. After his death
his estate amounted to littlo or nothing.
Tho most remarkable case. however. is that
who five years ago drew tho largest prize ever
-" i remember his case" broke in the friend
but have heard 80 many CONFLICTING stories
thni don't know which to believe.
THE facts are thcs,." continued the sports
man. as / have them from Mr.. Pcnistan' a
Hssorates: Mr.. Pcnstnn was doing com
Portable business in Philadelphia. but was not
making money enough To- indulge in his love
for fast horses. One day in the spring OF 1873
he read au ndvertisement OF an extra drawing
OF the Royal Havanu Lottery. which was TO take
place April ~. IN which the first priHs was an.
npuncrd ~ sjOOUD0. Tho idea struck INN TINT
h. might draw that prizo and show tho boys
what he could do IN the way q inst horses.
Acting on the idea. he wrote to Murtinez ~ Co,
agents of the Spanish lottery in this city, en-
closing money for a ticket. On receiving the
letter a clerk Of the agents TOOK the top ticket
t,fr7Il ami sont it To MIR I,nstan. In a few
days n despatch cnluc from HHvnnn to the
cf'rt that ticket l,Q77 had drawn the capita
pre- ~ s5jJODO. Mnrtin'z " Go. teiegrnphed
Mr.. prni-tau tHnt his ticket had drawn th" great
prl2r. Mr. P'nstnn lump1d Tor Joy On hearing
the news Slapping the brother Oi his father
n-law. Thomas -. whitney. ON ms shouders,
h'' exclaimed. II this - true. old fellow, III
and. ia company With the brother oi his father
in-luw. came on to draw the money. They
found thnt they would have To wait about a
week until the Havana steamer arrived with
copies OF the official drawing before the prize
could be cnshcd.
Tho marty pnioycd them selves seeing the
sights Of the metropolis until the official draw
tngS came MIR. penirtan who was. then about
IS. tail. slender. aud geniiemanly. bore his
avoiding amy display. As soon as th" drawings
cnmn MARTINEZ ~ TO- paid over $4,000 IN 'asn.
the amount due after dedurting the difference
m,twoen American dollars ana spanish money.
This wns the largest prize ever cashed here.
Two years previously ticket 9.4l4. drawing
S2UNODO. had been paid.
The tickle goddess who had smiled 80
biandiy on Mr.. Ienlstnn now began her capri
cious cnpcrs. The brother ot ms father -law
sued him for ths alleged promised half oi his
suddenly acquired wealth. tOgWhrr with n claim
for udyanc,'s or something Of that nature. A
4.
Iruistan. nervous and worried. paid over
$4,000 for pes'e and puietnrss.
Then widr-aWakc horsrnlen received him
with nDen arms. lie was what they term an
nng"l.onp with plenty Of money 10 cApend on
hursrnssh. \ few Of his horses turned out
we'll ana mndp "A noise nj the time. One great
md Respected hurscnan. VINO VIII never .san-
hln y penny on horse, paid Mr.. PeniciHn
slJ.Wil FOR a s!l 'niid stallion. lie bought Frl-
liwcralt ft"rnis great tarheyem"nt at Saratoga.
In me main. however, Mr.. Penistan's > ventures
turned out l'oor.y. The hckle Jade seldom
smiled: she seemed to have forgotten
her old favorite. Mr.. Penstan. however, was
hail fellow we'll met with lovers of the horse.
He kept extensive breeding farms poured ont
money lnvlShiy. whlcthe l"'-i vintagr- moistnn-
cd the lu- of uis many guests. A man fond of
and willing t. pay we'll for last horses trols
quickly into thr aus tiOns oi the nri-tocralic
Old breeders. especially Y IN Kentucky. Here Mr..
lie had theory mat hy blending the best racing
with troitns stock. the fas,cst trotters in the
world could be produced. Glowing statements
were al Tunes sent 10 MN ol promising colts
that were To Uc ths coming horses. but when the
lllnN came 10 Try th"tn they Wrfe lOund wanting.
Indeed. II In said that he often paid rNtravl-
giant sums for colts that hn had never seen.
" sale OF his trotttng stock in Fhyctte county.
ny, curly lnst TALL seventeen head, including
stations. mares. and gsllinlss. which had cost
round sums. tho highest price realized was
500. and the lowest sS5 ior "a single horse
The others averaged about 5000. Then came
tumslrs in real estate. and tho man who
had become rich with n WAVE of fortunes
wand found himself overwhelmed by waves
from n sca of troubles. He sold out. after an
experiment of less than three years in Ken
tucky. and animals that cost him heavily were
sold for a song. His farm brought far less than
the cost price. Ii only yshows how soon u fortune
OF half a million can he got away with by fast
horses and a lad run OF luck.
am tolI;' snid tho sportsman, in conclu-
friend recently. MAJOR It would have been
much better for mr IL | had invested in 5-2O
bonds instend of 2:20 flyers But then you
easy come, easy co.