The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-10
VOL. XLvI.--N0. 1871.
STARTED ON THE BIG WALK
1Ur FOUR PEDESTRIANS STEPPING
rOR1H IN GILMORE'S GARDEN

In the Field, md the Wngers they Oner.
QAM.-At about 80 the crowd was so
sreo, that the doors were closed and no one else
was admitted.
The crowd on the outside made rush
against the heavy doors. Thoy yielded and the
mass pushed in through tho lobby and against
the seh, partition that separates tho corridor
from the garden.
The two policemen at tho door wore power
less. Twenty policemen under Capt. Williams
inside. were hastily collected and made charge
upon the mob. After five minutes OF vigorous
clubbing the mob was driven back. and tho po-
lice cleared the whole street in front OF the
Garden.
1t is supposed that many persons In the mob
were seriously hurt by the clubbing.
Police Commissioner Nichols was severely
hurt in the crush He happened to be at the
head OF tho crowd whom the rush was made.
Excitement was at fever heat In and
around Gilmore's Garden fully six hours be-
fore the pedestrians. who were to walk for the
Ashley belt came upon the track last night
Even in the afternoon there were knots OF men
and boys IN front Of the Madison avenue en-
trance. discussing the outlook. Many OF these
were well dressed men. who emphasized their
opinions by striking their palms with their
canes. Inside the big building the track was
being levcllcd. and the roller was taken from
the track Just as the pedestrians stepped on the
sawdust. With all the pummelling 1t had re-
coiycd II was still too springy and decidedly
damp. Men began to crush into the Garden at
49, nj NJ fnll y
sons inside. including many women. At II the
throng had been increased fully thousand
and stream Of people were flowing in. They
invariably stood a while by the cottage that
0Leary will occupy. A sentinel paced in front
Of the door, but there was no one inside. He
was PROBABLY guarding the choice supply OF
provisions that a champagne basket suggested.
At II the band began a sedate concert and at
~ cnliycned the character Of music enough to
give selections from "Plnafore" and The
Chimes Of Normandy" Nobody paid any at
tention To- the band. however. 1t was the groups
Of from nty TO hundred men that now and
then suddenly came together on different parts
Of the floor like iron filings around magnet.
and then rs suddenly separated that attracted
attention. The cause OF these aggrcgations was
half dozen professional bookmakers. who
wore shiny silk hats, had stufy welts OF green
backs twisted around their fingers. and offered
10 bet against any man who was to walk. Never
before was seen in this city so much of this COM
parativey new style OF betting. II grew popular
and hundreds OF bets. ranging from 81 up to
81 600. were recorded in the little betting books
For instance. a dignifed little man. taking II
place in the centre Of the building. shouted:
Ten to one against Ennis. 6 TO against Har-
rman. to against Rowel 3 to 4 against
0Leary"
tbat n,tI oil
with light moustache. fancy tie. and gold scarf
y" say that I'll bet to 4 agaius, oIeary."
The thrOng closed in. the little man had hard
" elbow room to write. and the money between
his fingers was temptingy near fifty hands.
" I'll do that once. twice. ten times" said tho
iall man. for hundreds or thousands"
Make 1t once now" said tho little man. "a
MS pencil ran rapidly over his note book.
Shall say $1,000 to $3.50 ?" holding his pen
eilup.
Done. and repeat II you will"
Not now / want to book some OF thesa
small bets. I'll hand you ticket by and by.
A."
An right" he added. Now want to bet
ben thousand dollars on just these terms"
Some Of the listeners thought this was brag
but when they learned that the tall man was Al
Smith. the hacker Of OLeary. and that tho
liitr man represented one Of the big pool-sell-
iug firms. 1t was Get down that the bet was
genuine
Mr. smith said that these odds we're the best
that he had found. and he wanted TO snap VI
all Of that sort that he could get. He added that
Abou, i25OoO that he knew Of had been staEed
during the day.
Al II .3O there was the sound Of corks popping
IN the barroom. the band was playing sad and
contempNtivs airs. the shouts of the book max
ers could be heard from all parts OF the build
ing and clouds Of smoke. slowly ascending.
dimmeQ the artistic glOres Of the AriOn ball.
VII n had been allowed 10 remain upon tho
pillars. Tho chronometers and score cards
wsrr placed side hy sido on the time keepers
stand. and experts paced the track. ana
now qnd then picked UP liue pieces Of wood
which q sore or blistered foot would be sure 10
protest against. The eleven Judges conferred
Cargr. j. Merritt ". j. DemSrest. and Ed.
E9-iuer, who were TO serve the first tour from !
Meanwhile all OF the pedestrians were sleep
lng q their hotels, and It il said. 10 show their
eA client condition, that they were able to slum.
P'I -'uhdly. Oieary took things very easy a.
'- room IN the Metropolitan all day. lie paced
"'N ana rh hule. ate heartily, saw a
w.lt 20 hed. lie wus nslerp in Ave minutes
ma dld not wake until Mr. SlMtery ma Alr.
ling his Tainer called at II e.. Then he
dressed alto "A light supper. put on his tights;
fni slipp.d his street dress over them. jumped
INTO li"k. and WAS driven rapidly TO the Car,
uI~re
hpw'll hal boon uut 10 bed in the Ashland n,
800 u. afternoon. aud after cat mans tor an
h'ur fell into 4 sound sleep. ~ ll> Mr.. A.
kh-0h ami Mr.. simpson RwOke him. IL.
di -7ed, walked across Fourth avenue. and
t.Iu"i ntg his little cottage, The pale conn-
t+utnce % Barney Aaron who will look after
L"ary, WAS seou AZ r. A/~on was uneom-
npn!'auve. He simply Waited the boys "a
iil on and see who's who"
Hartman rested all day in the 81. James
H1,e., and slept during the evening. lie
.ane in with. his attendants soon after
Twelve, and Ennis, who had been sleep
M IN the Putnam House. fol owed soon.
lh" band struck up Bahy Mine at ~ but
the confused babble of voices and the ain OF
Wnnsanls ot boots upon the floor sthod me
Ll74' The great building was rapidly hllinI
ny Never was such n thing seen on nro'
isht Many Of them came 10 stay until break
ld-i. too.
soon after midnight there was great rush
hNl man ~ very shiny spring SIX NAT "hs
y mo along by the throng. IL WIS van ness
ttn{lng the glory Of walking 1000 hali milet
~ 1000 half hours. having finished the ieat IN
10 afternoon. BY this time the great tler'
OF seats had been filled, and on The
ualn moor there were 50 many persons
nW 1t was not easy to get around
ihe pedestrians kept very quot through al
ms. They were receiving the last touches