The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1879-07-11
WEsrON.N ~GCwrr.

A sr-,ss s..-~s >s.s,. Wh~ss.~v n i. vrae ..
Nss.
girssM III. ~ sast Mer8ss
" II j. now generally believed that
W.ston's extraordinary feat IL the rv~nlt
u long cherished determination on
his part ~ regain hin ln~t lanrrls,- oh.
served wcll.kn"wn wealthy gentleman
~ sporting rrocl,vitlcs 10 = Mcrs.nru
representative. In 1 measure ID il.
But there il more than that in il.
know 10 an absolute certainty that il In
one ri the brst laid and carried out
plans 10 scoop a big winning that was
ever coneocted. ,lare NIT give you
names; but will tell you story, for
the u I'll of which, ia its minutest de-
tails. pledge my honor.
A friend Of mine. club man and q
passionate spottsm waS heavy back.
or Of q Leary against Howell in the in
ternational match at Gilmorc's Garden.
Even when things looked slarkcst and
most desperate for his man. he stuck
manfully by him. The consequence
was that he came ont the loser over
SSO,OOO. HIS bets were private ones In
most cases, and. except for few heavy
outside ones, his losses remained nm.
known 10 the general public.
MY friend went 81 England on bust.
ness immediately after the match. lie
there met Weston, whom hc had known
before. Weston expressed himxelf
warmly in regard 10 Americas losing
the belt, and said: Ii had couple Of
months training. ! believe could win
1t hack My friend became convinced
by his enthusiasm that he did not over
estimate himself. aud suggested 10 him
to Try il. Alter some talk Weston
agreed 10 60 into training nj once. Then
the idea struck my friend ~ recover his
losScs. Previous "a That he had, ~ he
told me himself. been only actnatcd by
desire ~ see the belt returned 10
America.
"Westons popularity as walker was
deep In 4 dccllne. aud the betting in
amy match he entered for WAS sure 10
he against him. II he was known 10
have hcen in training il might be more
favorable; hnt il lns preparations were
kept secret betting men would regulate
their Investments by his old record.
Any one backing him under these CIR
cnmstanccs could get long odds, and
my friend, firmly convinced that the
veteran walker could win, determined 10
inlorsc his convictions. His losses on
O'Leary had seriously crippled him
He deliberately, and ut no little sacri.
flee. raised $l5O. 100 in cAsh, mortgaging
quantity III his real estate in this city
% do NO. Every dollar of his money he
applied 10 one purpose. The victory Of
hls man meant fortune TO him or
nearly absolute ruin. aud he told Wes-
ton 80 without reserve; am putting
nearly every cent Town on yon, he sail !:
il yun win, he sail II yon win, half
OF what gain Is yours. only ask two
things Of ynn~one In 10 keep quiet
with your training, the other to do your
best.
Weston did so. No soul outside oil
the plot knew thnt the OK champion WA
laying himself ont for Zig victory and
fortune by rigorous training When
he went on his pedestrian tour through
England people spoke 81 il ~ show
mans dodge II wAs really part of
his preparation for the contest on
which he and his hacker restcd their
hopes. Ny friend meanwhile went
quietly to work laying out lis &i50, mo
where Il would 10 the most god. Hc
worked 40 quietly TINT scarcely any Que
knew what no was about. Every ono
thought that Weston went into the
match with no preparatory training. Il
was not until he began 10 show up IN
! the match that pcopc began 10 think
| that he had been preparing himself for
! tho task, and TO hnd ont that some one
/ had quietly been putting up money on
him MI along and held niue-tcnlhs OF
the bets laid against Weston In the
race. don't know how much the
thing has netted him, hut Il il xafc 10
my that the scheme has cleared hg
profit. There isn't = sporting genie.
man in London who is not lit % a
greater Or less extent. for my friend Is
hand n.glove with all III them and had
| lHts booked with NIL. He has called
twice with his brother. each time giving
the amounts of his books
Half Of this money. Of course, goes
/ To Weston"
Ny friend haS promised il. He il
well known ~ \ man who never breaks
Lis word"