The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1879-11-08
Freaks of kiekle Fortune.

Easy come, easy 20" remarked a
sportsman to his friend, ON reading the
account OF The drawers uf Tie principal
prize IN the late extraordinary French
lottery.
Then you don't believe Quiried his
friend, "that luck hits are laatn benc-
tits?"
II have never known them to prove SO,
and and have known of many So called
lucky strikes.
"Can you mention a case in pointfi
"Yes, half dozen There was Noah
Taylor of Jersey City. He drew $4,000
in a lottery years ago. At first he flour
ished. He built a large hotel in Jersey
City. Then he laid in a heavy stock of
whisky before the war tax WAS imposed,
making heaps OF money out OF that
Finally, however his fortune dwlndled
away. it is sad. until he had lost all.
Then there was George Smith of Chi
cage. lie e4ine here about the time the
CrlNstai p.tIaee opened Within mnntl,
he raete S=f0e.eo, CASH Tie neat sum
mel he ii II A.sa4ss i tta.l..i IL get il
dinner
Take john Norrfssg .r ,nethcr az
mple. IL ht5tte i ssntlf.d .RNkN Iats
After his deatl. his estate amounted t. lit.
tle or nothing.
y le. lat9s3 tef4att> .t5tt ease. however.
i that tot Mr. ptnistan, the pailaltl,thia
liquor dealer, NEe, tife year= 49,. drtN
the largest p1t1eeNes paHi II Amef1ra.
Il remember lis case, hlt#kt in tllt
friend, 'st.ut | have heard sa many con.
hirfin4 stories th4t don't know which
II believe.
The facts are these. continued the
sportsman. ..sts have them from Mr.
Penistans ) associates; Mr.. Penlstan MAS
doing comfortable business III phila-
dclphia, hut was not making money
enough to indulge IN his love for fast
horses On. day IN the spring ct 1873
lie read mn advertisement of IN extra
drawing Of the Royal Havana Lottery.
which was to take place April %, IN
which the first prize was announced as
100000, TIE idea struck him that he |
might draw that prize and show the boys |
What he could do in the way OF tas,
horses Aching on the idea he wrote TO
Martinez y Co, agents OF the Spanish |
lottery in this city, enclosing money for
4 ticket On receiving the letter the
clerk of the agents took the top ticket |
tlo17l and sen, il to Mr.. penistan In Il
few days a dispatch came from Havana
to the effect that ticket l011 had drawn
the capital prize Of S500,O00. Martinez
4 Co. telegraphed Mr.. Penistan that his
ticket had drawn the great prize. Mr.
Pemstan jumped for Joy on hearing the
news. slapping the brother Of his n
ther- ia law came on to draw the money
They found they would have t. wal,
about Il week until the Havana steamer
arrived With copies Of the official draw
lnI before the prize could he cashea
lie party enjoyed themselves seeing
the slen> It the metropolis until the
officials draw.ll.s came, Mr.. Penlstan,
y liz was then ABOUT i, tall, slender and
gentlcmanly, bore his good fortune with
rare modesty, stualously avoiding IN,
display. As soon as the dra ings came
Martinez i Go. paid over $4,000 III
ASH the amount due after aeluctlng the
difference between American dollars anti
Spanish money. This was the largest
prize ever cashcu here. Two ears pre-
yions,y ticket 9444, drawing 5000, 900, had
ocen paid.
"Thc tickle goddess who had smiled So
dandy on Mr.. Penistan now began her
'aprlrlous capers. The brother OF his
law sud him for the alleged
promised half Of his suddenly acquired
wealth, together With clam for adyanc-
IS, or something Of that nature. 4 laa
SUIT loomed mp, and 1t IS said that Mr..
Penls.an., nervous and worried. paid
over $4,000 for peace and quletness.
"Then wide awake ho.seMcn received
him with open arms. lie was what they
term an ange-one with plenty Of mo-
ney to expend on horse. flesh A few OF
his horses turned out well, and made
noise at the time. One great and respect