The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-11-16
sMisreAany.
HE TOOK ALL THE BETS.
Remarkable Jump Made by Car
son Valley GrassllOpper.
Carson iNey.) Appeal.

Carson New Appeal.
Some weeks ago John Mackay was
sitting in the Gould q Currie office read
ling about the dumping Frog of Gala
veras," when an idea struck him that
some sort of trick like that would be
a splendid thing to ring on Maurice
Hoefich, the mining expert. Hoefich
is around the Office good deal, and
whenever lie takes q lunch with Mackay
he is sure to get in some sort of dis.
pute aud offer bet Mackay don't like
betting and frowns it down unless be
thinks people are trying TO bluff him
At last he determined to cure Hoefich
of his habit and find where the weak
|spot in his armor lay.
One day he saw Hoefich on the stoop
playing with an enormous grasshopper
which be was teaching to jump. Hoe
flich's grasshopper could jump twenty
three feet, and it wasn't long before he
remarked to Mackav:
"Ill bet you 50 dot you can't end q
hinsect to beat him ?"
Mackay bet $40 that he could beat it,
and Hoef ch raised him $40 at once
The bet was closed at those figures, and
Mackay said he would have the hopper
there in day or so. He then sent a
trusted emissary down to Carson Val
/ ley to secure contestant for the winged
steed of Ho, flich.
The man spent nearly a-week roaming
lin Carson Valley catching hoppers. He
finally sent an official report to Mackay,
stating he had caught over three thou
sand grasshoppers and put them through
their PAGES The best gait any of them
had was seventeen ani three-quarter
feet. He doubted if bigger jumper
could be secured. On receipt of the
letter the bonanzs prince telegraphed to
bring him up anyway.
The next day he arrived with about a
dozen hoppers from farmer TreadwaY's,
and Mr.. Mackay gave them quarters in
his room as Vanderbilt would stable his
stud. Each hopper had cigar box to
himself, and every morning they were
taken out and put through their PAGES.
1t was impossible, however, to get one
TO jump over eighteen feet, although all
sorts of invigorating food was given
them.
Mr. Mackay was In despair, but one
morning hopper sniffed at a bottle of
ammonia on the table. and Immediately
jumped thirty feet. After making few
experiments it was found that one Whit
OF ammonia so enlivened the hoppers
that they could make jumps that were
almost Incredible Next day Mackay
annonncei to Hoeflch that he was ready
for the match The expert was ready
at 9 o'clock, an hour before the time,
with his pet hopper. Not finding Mr. !
Mackay in, he sat dowa in the .stuSly,
and there noticed the bottle Of ammo-
mia. While he was examining it, Bridget,
the old faithful domestic of the Gould
4 Currie firm, came In with:
"Don't be techin' that nnmonia. Mr.. |
Hoefich. It's to make Mr. Mackay's
hoppers sprightly. Bedad, believe in
the robes of St Patrick, he's out O. his
senses since the pump broke at the north
ind"
Ho fitch pumped the domestic. and
soon knew all about Mackay's game.
A light broke upon Hoef;ch; grab.
hing the bottle, he rushed up street to
Perkins's drug store. threw away the
ammonia, and ordered it filed with clo-
reform. In ten minutes he was back.
and leaving the bottle where he found
it, got out of the place as fast as he
could
Mackay soon arrived with half doz-
en- mining superintendents he had invi
ted up to see him have some fun with
Hoeflich.
They we're hardly seated when Hoe
flich came in with hopper in a cigar |
box under his arm.
81 vas leetle late Mr.. Mackay, but
I'm here mid der hopper and der coin."
He laid down the money, which was
covered promptly.
"Any one else to ped ?"
Joe Stewart laid down 800.
John Kelly put up $50.
Warren Sheridan stepped in for 5000.
Hank Smith wanted like amount
Sam Jones had only $50, but he put
it up.
Then few got into the corner of the
room aud concluded it was shame to
rope Hoefich in that way, and finally
sgreed to give the money back after they
had won it Mackay then bantered Hoe
fitch to raise the pot 100 shares of Union
Con. Ho,fich wrote an order on his
broker and remarked:
"Dar's no limits to de bets, gentle
men, de coin speaks"
Nearly every man doubled his bet,
and then Maekay got behind Sam Jones
and let his hoppers sniff the ammonia
bottle, which held Hoefich's cloroform.
Time being called, the hoppers were
placed side by SIDE on the piazza, and at
the word ''go," each insect was touched
on the back with a straw. Hoefich's
grasshopper described semicircle in
the air and scored twenty-four feet
Mackay's gave lazy lurch of some
four inches, and, folding its legs across
its stomach, fell fast asleep. Jones
swore he could hear it snore.
Hoefich walked back into the room,
swept the coin into canvas sack, and
Mackay wrote out an order for stock
Hoefich went up the. street with his
hopper under his arm, leaving the others
too astonished to speak. Presently
Sheridan put the ammonia bottle to his
nose and called Mackay's attention to
the smell.
"Cloroform. by gracious"
Then the Milesian woman who was
the cause of all the mischief, appeared
with broom and announced it was
"swapin' time," and the crowd dispers-
ed, each going in different directions.
AS Macksy started for the Union
shaft be remarked:
"That fellow Hoefich does play in
Id queer luck"
And to this all hands inwardIy agreed
Health hope and happiness are restored