National Republican., 1883-02-21
COMPETING CANN1BALs.
Mr.. O'Brlen, OF New York, Bets MIR.
Geoghegnn That He Can't Eat Thirty
Pigs Heads I'm Thirty Days-The Gorg-
Inv Heuun.

Mr.. O'Brien, OF New York, Bets MIR.
Geoghegan That IIo Can't Eat Thirty
Pigs Heads I'm Thirty Days-The Gorg-
Ing Begun.
Nep York World.
sullivan's hotel at the corner Of Grand and
Clinton streets was crowded last night by the
members Of the Pigs Head club and others,
who had gathered to witness the beginning of
William Geoghegan's attempt to eat pigs
head every night for thirty consecutive nights,
in accordance with a wager of 5000 made with
Daniel OBrien, ex-city marshal, at the recent
Pigs Head club banquet Mr.. Sullivan had
two pigs heads, weighing about FIVE pounds
each, ready to be served on the appearance
of Mcssrs. Geoghegan and O'Brien, for it
seems that since the bet was made its terms
have been so altered that the $400 wagered is
to be awarded to the man who shall eat the
greatest number of pigs heads in thirty days.
There was much discussion during the even
| ing on the nutritious and astronomical vir-
| tues of pigs head and several bets were made,
with the odds largely in favor of Mr.. 0'Brien.
| At o'clock neither Of the pigs head caters
| had appeared and IL began to be whispered
| that there was some hitch in the carrying out
of the wager. 1t was said that Mr.. Geoghegan
had made overtures for a compromise stating
| that, being O strict Roman Catholic and a
/
would be contrary to his conscience to eat
thirty pigs heads in Lent, and offering TO for
felt half the deposit Of $50 held by Mr.. Sulli-
van. The World reporter left Sullivan's to
find the contestants Mr.. 0'Brien was found
| in q cigar store on Grand street, and said in
reply TO the reporters inquiries:
| " No, the wager has not fallen through. !
| declined to accept Mr.. Geoghegan's offer and
we ate q pigs head each at Mr.. Geoghegan's
house this afternoon. When Mr.. Geoghegan
| told me about his religious scruples thought
they deserved some consideration, so agreed
| that instead of eating one pigs head every
| day for thirty consecutive days we should be
| at liberty TO eat as many pigs heads as we
| pleased on any days we pleased within the
| thirty days. As there are throe days In each
week on which meat is allowed at one meal
by the regulations of Lent in this diocese, Mr..
Geoghegan can observe the fast days and
make up for them by eating two or three pigs
heads on the days Of grace. am not bound
by the regulations of Lent and can therefore
eat rs many pigs heads as l like every day.
Is pigs heads good eating2 Well, l should
say sol It's not only delicacy but Is also q
very nutritious diet. Give mo nicely smoked
and corned pigs head well boiled with a
dish of saurkraut and you can have all
tho quails. Why, the picking of pigs
check bone is perfectly delicious. / first
began to eat pigs heads when l was
in the coast wrecking service, when pigs
heads were our staple food supply. We had
to work hard, often from eighteen to twenty
hours in the water, and needed strengthening
food, and we lived on pigs heads. take a
Jog of ten or fifteen miles every day, cross
ing Grand street oferry, walking out to
Howards hotel in cast New York and back
down Atlantic avenue to the south ferry, NJ
Broadway to Grand street, and then across
town again. / took this walk before eating
the pigs head to-day and / am just about
gta far nila iOU N n uul
the Central park and back. My weight II
220 pounds. have eaten thirty-fVe pigs
heads in thirty days on wager before this
and enjoyed it, so i have no fear of my
, ability to beat Mr.. Geoghegan."
Mr.. Geoghegan, better known as the "Pil
, grim of Knock" and the Irish Bard o
, , Grand street." keeps liquor store on tn,
: : corner of Grand and Broome streets, but wa
not there when the reporter first called
Later he was found in a little snuggery il
his inn seated at his desk, and in the agony
of lyrical composition. His bright eye
twinkled. and his Milesan features broad
ened into q smile when the World reporte
mentioned his errand
, "Where is the World man who has mad,
, my life a burden by reporting that bet" hi
, asked. at was all done on the impulse Of
( the moment. did not desire to emulate Mr.
Walcott or to eat thirty pigs heads. In fact
I, don't want to eat any more pigs heads, fol
year up iosiob' why my puotVAt upuS
Brennan, came to me the other day with tn
!, World in his hand and exclaimed in surprised
' and indignant tones: what can you b
y dreaming Of man alive2 Is it possible tina
o you intend to deliberately commit q morta
4, sin by eating pigs head every day in Lent
% Well that was q sumner. Of course had no
u remembered about Lent when made the bet
U and although ate the first pigs head to-da.
/ suppose / must give up and forfeit my $50
\ \ for cannot attempt to keep up with O'Briel
u and give him three more days in the weel
y than can eat meat on"
!, Mr.. Sullivan seemed very much disap
. pointed at the turn of affairs, and insiste
that the pigs head should have been eaten a
= ! his hotel and in his presence. He was some
v what consoled, however, when Mr.. O'Brel
= came in about midnight after his ten-mil
i. tramp and asked for the pigs head. When
u was put before him he set to work quickl
;, and in less than twenty minutes reduced
u to pile of well picked bones. He was the
anxious to attack the second pigs head whIc
Mr.. Geoghegan did not appear to claim, bu
Baron Feuchtwanger and Sergeant Dora
succeeded in securing 1t for themselves an
-. disposed Of it with much relish Until tn
close of the contest the pigs heads will
eaten without publicity and the numbe
% eaten by each contestant kept profoun
\ secret, so that any betting will be made in tn
g dark 80 to speak. But it is generally admit
u ted by the interested population of the cas-
N side that Mr.. OBrien will have o "wal
:, over"