The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-06-11
An Exciting Contest.

A curious wager was decided in this city
last Wednesday afternoon, which was singular In
Its results that We relate u for the benefit Of our
readers, we-k known millionaire, member of the
Pacific Club, having OCCASION some six weeks ago, to
District messenger boy 10 carry note the sub
ect of the abnormal and marvellous sowDess Of said
concern messengers up for discussion by the
members Of the clhb. In the course OF argument
another wealthy citizen grayely offered TO wager
ilOO 900 that he could 20 10 New York ana return,
via Panama, before one OF the District messenger
boys could execute erand OF responsible distance.
10 the surprise of the listeners this bet was gravoly
accepted by the first mentioned plutocrat and, after
some hesitation on the part OF the other, the agree
ment was duly drawn up and signed, the two checks
placed In the hands of II stakeholder, umpires &C.
ected, and the preeminaries arranged In u manner
ON the whole suggestive of Vernes "Around
the world In Eighty Days. romance. The next
day messenger boy was rung for at A. M, and
accordingly one answered the call some nine hours
subsequently, as Is tho established custom Of the ratcr
nifty. At precisely $3.50 L. NJ. the boy was handed q
note addressed to house In the extreme suburb Of the
Western Addition, while at the Same moment the pro-
poser of tho wager, accompanied by an umpire,
Jumped into n carriage and caught the overland boat
Mt the wharf. ON the road Ia New York the gentle =
man, whom we shall call o'Fcclin, was delayed four
days by snow blockades and 80 missed the steamer,
for berthB In which he had tclegrnphed ahead His
party caught the next boat week later, made fairly
quick passage down the Atlantic side of Tho continent
crossed the lsthmus, and took the city of Panama for
this port, much encouraged, as cabegram received
as no embarked advised him that the boy, who had
been secretly followed by those Interested, TO that
he mot with no Intentional detention, was then en-
gagged at his twenty -secOnd game of base ball ut tho
Coming up the California coast tho Panama broke u
crank aud was obliged 10 put into Santa Barbara for
repairs This consumed five more precious days, In
which the only solace for the passenger anxiety was
that the messenger had made detOur Of few blocks
for tho purpose OF selecting dog at the pound. FL
nally the machinery was rghted and the vessel got
under way. As the Golden Gate was approached,
Mr. O'F eelln was again In despair, rs u heavy fog
threatened to cause the steamers detention outside
day or two. AZ this critical moment, however, n
steam tug, chartered by the travellers anxious friends
appeared and ignoring all risks the bar was crossed
and the wharf reached. A fleet saddle horse was In
readiness, aud throwing himself upon IT, the excited
man tore like q whrlwnd up Market and down Mont
gomcry streets, and dashed up stairs into the club
rooms, where tho tempesluous cheers OF the members
told him he had won.
The fortunate winner had hardly dropped breathless
into chair and was receiving tile congratulations Of
his friends, when the door again opened and youth
In uniform, with rcd hair AMI chemically iulamed
nose appeared. II was the District messenger.
Gwen, did you deliver the nOte2' asked the
oNasperatcd loser, with crushing sarcasm.
''NGs, sir, -
"wheTe's the answered.
''DOwn stairs, sir.
"What the devil do you mean by down stairs 20
rOarod the millionaire.
hWell, You see, sir, - said the boy, beginning To
SWIVEL, " | dropped the answer while was playing
game Of marbles, coming back, and-and a goat ate
itup Hut brought tho goat along, SIR ''Hs' >
dOWH StdtrS, ttfd 10 The lamp post ~
The listener made furious attempt Ia clutch the
boys throat, but with sied howl Of rage he fell
dead I'm AN apOplectlc Nc.
tNoTE-We had really not Intended TO have Killed
this party when We started In, bat his death TO
DO somehow necessiated by the dramatic requirements
Of the case However, we tender our Sincere c0n-
dolenCes and regrets to deceased's family who viii
doubtless appreciate the dollCaCy OF our position
Dcrftck DOdd IN Sun Francisco POST