Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-09-02
Fun at n Fakir's Expense.

August Rische, the man who dis
covered the rich silver deposits which
have made Leadville famous all the
world over, and made his own fortune
as well as the fortunes of several other
now noted men by that same token, was
in town lately, and in company with
party of friends, visited the Exposition.
Peter Finerty, who was at the paking
of the discovery, was also of the party.
After strolling about the building for
time and reviewing with pride, as may
well be supposed, the fine display of
minerals which their discovery did so
much to bring to the notice Of the world,
they strolled out to the shady side of
the building in search of q cooler spot
than any they had yet discovered. On
the way the attention of one of the
party was attracted by the stentorian
voice of "fakir," who had set up
board thickly studded with jack-knives
aud daggers of various sorts, just inside
the main entrance, aud was vigorously
endeavoring to induce people to try
their luck by calling: "Three rings for
10 cents, or seven for a quarter of a
dollar Try your luck now. You can
win any knife on the board if you throw
one of these rings around it, and all for
the small sum of 10 cents, or one dime. I"
AS an additional inducement a small
revolver was attached TO knife here
and there where the rings were least
likely to alight, and the spectators
were assured if they could ring the knife
the revolver would go with it. One of
the party above alluded to suggested
that they try their luck, and as the
fellow did not just at that time seem to
be doing a land-ofiice business, they
strolled over and invested q quarter.
very much to his delight. The first
quarter brought no return. The second
was no better, and the third likewise.
Then it was MIR. Finerty's turn. He
threw, and almost the first ring brought
down knife. The rest OF the party
insisted that he should throw again. and
this time he picked out revolver. Such
success soon begot enthusiasm, and
another quarter was invested and
brought its return. The fakir began to
show symptoms of feeling blue, and
still he kept up a show of pushing
business by offering "three rings for 10
cents. " The report that gentlemen so
well known in Colorado were amusing
themselves i'll this way, and with such
success soon spread through the
grounds, and crowd ga thered around
the "fake" which before had attracted
but little attention. The throwing
began TO grow exciting. The tbrower
rarely failed to capture prize of some
sort and once he was so fortunate as to
win two revolvers in seven throws, or
on one investment. The sport was kept
NO until So had been invested, and the
party altogether had thrown 224 rings.
When they came to take an account Of
their winnings three of them were found
to have got nothing, while Mr.. FinerSy
had won a total of II knives and 6 re-
volvers. These prizes were distributed
among the party and their friends, one
of the revolvers being presented to Mr..
Loveland, the General Manager of the
Exposition. The party then broke up
in the best of spirits, and the "fakir +"
went on calling out "Three rings for
10 cents, or seven for a quarter"
though in modulated voice and tone
not calculated to attract the attention
of throwers to Mr.. Finerty's luck and
skill. denver NeWs.