Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-05-04
THE wHEELBARROw BET.

tween Judge N. L. DurpanA vi DoSeon'
and Ben Perley Poore. The article was
full of errors, and to correct some OF
them we publish the following article
from the Mountaineer, of Gorham, n.
H., which some time since fell into a
similar error. The breakfast spoken OF
in the Adrertiser article, was not a break
fast, but o'clock dinner. The city
did not pay for it, but Judge Burbank
paid every cent of the expenses himself.
As viii be seen by the speeches, Judge
Burbank did not insist upon compliance
with the terms Of the bet, but offered to
let Poore off. Judge Burbank and Major
Poore are the best of friends today. The
article must have originated with some
fertile correspondent who went OF at
half-cock without getting all the facts IN
the case.
In our last issue we copied an article
from an Indianapolis paper giving orlei
notice of the famous bet between Col II.
|. Burbank and Ben Perley Poore. In IL
were several errors which we dld not
notice.
Major Poore and Col. Burbank were very
warm friends. The Colonel, the moment
he found himself the winner, with the
greatest hberality and with all haste, sent
a messenger 10 the Major, fully releasing
him from the penalty of the bet. But the
Major had wheeled the apples about a mile
and a half when the messenger arrived,
and ne was not the man TO back out.
The campaign had been bitter, and
though both were constantly on the stump,
they always referred 10 each other in the
kindest manner, and they are stu the
'best OF friends.
We have received the following private
note from Col. b. correcting some points :;
Bosrox. April 6. ISsa.
lam exceedingly sensitive on the matter OF
that bet aud the part performed. IL MAS
forced upon me, and never say die. anu i
could saw ssNeni. vidi. vici" The manner IN
which 1 received the Major wiped out com
pletely all the aspcritics OF that hot campaign
and every body since has been my pohtlcAi
friend To SAY or intimate. thAt ltea,ea w
Maior harshly, and refused 10 let him on. hurts
in "A tender spot. II he had seen that ioollsh
Indianapolis letter, he would have corrected
it, errors az once. for he J. man, every men
OF him.
To show errors in. and correct impress
sions which may have been made by that
letter, we copy from Boston paper con
tanning a report OF the matter and the
speeches OF the Major and Colonel, made
on the head of the barrel, on the steps OF
the fremont House, where the Colonel was
then residing. Thirty thousand people, al
least. blocked the street in every direction
immediately after the nomination OF
Col. Fremont. one OF the most ludicrouS
bets on record was made, between Major
Ben. Perley POore, OF West Newbury, and
Col. II. /. Burbank, OF Boston, under the
following circumstances
The Major was i Jealous supporter OF
Mr.. Fillmorc's claims % Presidential hon
orS. and offered 20 wager 4 barrel Of apples
with any man in Boston, that Fillmore
would receive more votes, Ia Massachu-
sets, than FremOnt-tlc loser Of the bet
10 trundle the fruit on q wheelbarrow from
his own residence, 20 that OF the winner.
one DAY the waggiSh Major called on the
gallant Colonel OF the first Regiment, and
proposed 20 him the same wager, where
upon that gentleman, being chieitain III
the Fremont army, promptly accepted the
same.
The cream OF the occasion was the re-
ceptlou az the fremont House. The area
iu front, balconies, residences and roofs,
Ina every direction, were filed with eager
eyed and cared people.
The steps in front OF the hotel were
cleared. by great effort. when the ccremO-
nieS commenced. The barrel Of apples
was placed on eud under the portiCo Of the
fremont. when Major PoOre mounted it
and addressed Col Burbank In the follow
iug language:
COLONEL BURRlNR II had pleasant bet
with YOU on the Presidential election. which
have paid like a man. ami whatever may be
~tid about tie bet. trust these apples may not
prove apples uf di>Cord between u ith"rfr
These apples are VARIED in character. " seem
et al, II FRO, idyi.te Wa goiu. to !tNur me, -
my orchard refused 20 bear this year.
Ia The barrel yuu will find some ut the hing
apples. grytr brought nom England bS kuius
King. and given by him 10 nay grandfather.
NhO was his claSsmate IN college before the
Here Won viii also fnd some OF the Fall
sweet applcs-a MODERATE apple-hke come
o. the gentlemen with whom you have lately
been associated. llaughter.l You VIII ma,
besides, some ounces, very hArd 10 eat, anu
which viii require good deal OF sugar 10 naNe
them palatablc; aud which you viii nnd have
given a strong odor 10 the other contents Here
they are, as they arr. and such as they are, you
have them.
I am glad they here. lChecrs
am much obliged 90 YOU for the noble man
ner In which YOU Offered TO release me IRON
the further fultillmcnt 81 the conditions OF the
bet. trust YOU will always be as fortunate IN
receiving your just dues, a. you have been
today.
Whether In command Of that noble Regi-
ment, which i the pride OF the whole VI. ' NJ
or as a member OF the General Court or al the
bar of which you are an ornament, or among
the fair sex. among whom apples once caused
a famous commOtion, a. you will see by refer
ence 10 the Coed Book, Laughter, hope
You may always, as you have today, gain and
win. fCheer-.l Gentlemen, i now propose
three cheers for Hon. Robert l. Burbank, sen
ator elect o. the Commonwealth of Massachu-
sets.
The cheers were given with 4 hearty
good will.
The Colonel took the Majors place on
the barrel, and said:
MAJOR POoRE The earnestnesS and SINGER
ify with which YOU proposed this peculiar bet
are equalled only by the promptitude and alac
rity with which you entered upon, and have
completed the labors incident 10 the honora
BILE performance OF every condition thereof
Ii is said that II is pleasant to die for ones
country. We have al read, since Wednesday
morning. how pleasant II Is 10 suffer FOR ones
principles. CONTINUED applause.
You have had the fortune 10 Introduce III
political TACTICS" "A new method Of wHEEiNG
faughterl which fortune would have been
mine had not the voice OF the people awarded
II 10 you.
Your friends, who form this vast multitude
around YOU, irrespective of party, went forth
TO meet and greet you, and have escorted you
10 your journeys end, "a token OF respect Tor
an honorable man, and an honest politician
fCheers. And in the future, whether tilline
the soil Of your ancestral home, or enriehine
the pages OF your cOuntry's history, or defend
ing The Republic I'm the halls OF Congress, OF
again, calamity bearing the stars and stripe:
TO the very Halls OF the Montezumas, You vii
be the object of our benedictions
APPLEs, in human affairs, since the good Ole
DAYS of Adam and Eve, have played important
parts; or rather, important parts have beer
played with apples.
Man has PROGRESSED, but apples have DE
GENERATED. Then. a sISGLE apple decided
for he xVh "A whole