The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-05-14
OLD HAYsEED.
How He Humfliated the Champion Sport
OF Proud Michigan Town.

How He Humfliated the Champion Sport
Of = Proud Michigan Town.
Talking about sports" said Goth
amite to Daily Nes0s man few DAYS
ago, ''reminds me of an experience
once had. It occurred in Michigan.
and it happened several years ago, but
the boys Haven't got through talking
about it yet. There was great rivalry
between the town in which resided and
one few miles distant in all lines Of
sport. In the athletic line I was con-
sidered the best, and SO whenever any
running, jumping or wrestling event
was to come off l was the one to make
the trial against all corners. 1 had no
trouble in defeating my opponents in q
majority of the events, and as a conse-
quence the sports of the neighbOring
town lost heavily. 1t worried them
more than a little, and in order to get
even with us they put up a job on us in
the following manner: While a man
who had lost the most money by my
successes, supporter of mine and my
self were lounging about the only re-
u
driven up in front of the place. A long,
lank specimen of humanity. dressed in
. blue-checked shirt, overalls tucked in
his boots, and wearing on his head a
straw hat minus a crown, slid off the
load and entered the store. The new
conner pretended to have a severe pain
in the region of his stomach, and sought
remedy as an excuse to gel into the
place. When he came in Dan, the man
who had lost money by betting against
me. was handling pair of thirteen
pound dumb-bells, which attracted the
attention of the farmer. Dan asked
him if he knew what they were, and he
said no. He was told they were used in
jumping. when the granger volunteered
the information that he could beat his
paw jumpin'. Dan at once offered to
bet the drinks that the farmer couldn't
beat any one of the three in
the room. Hayseed objected, say
ing he didn't have but ten cents. He
was forced into the trial, however,
despite his protests that if he lost his
was beaten two feet by the poorest
jumper. Then he began to cry. Dan
wouldn't let up on him and asked him
if he could do any thing else in the way
of athletics. Through. his tears he re-
piled that he could run, when Dan Of
fered to bet twenty dollars against the
load of hay. which the farmer held at
the same price, that he couldn't beat me
running one hundred and fifty yards.
just then q liveryman came in and,
after giving us all blOwing-up for
abusing a green farmer boy, gave the
price asked for the hay to the granger.
and went out. Dan snatched the money
out of his hand and told him that he'd
got to run, whether he wanted to or
not, and finally coaxed him to do SO.
The report that match had been made
spread through the usually quiet street
like wildfire, and it was not many min
utes before several men from the ad.
joining town were eagerly taking all
the bets they could get, and they were
many, for my friends rallied around me,
and after glance at the Hayseed read
lily offered odds of four to one on MY
success. The distance was measured of,
but when 1 went to the starting point
was nowhere to be seen. Fl
nally discovered him sitting in cor
ner of q field some distance away, and
on getting to him found him blubbering
away at the loss of his money. Sud-
denly he checked himself, and, looking
up, asked if we would have scratch
start. A greenhorn never would have
asked such question. and then l knew
Dan had run in ringer on us. While
| was thus thinking the farmer slipped
off his suit of blue and displayed a beau
tiful racing suit. We ran. and was
beaten easily fifteen feet. The alleged
farmer found out was McFaul, noted
from Canada, who had been inn
ported purposely to down our gang. and
he did it beautifully to the tune of
S2,5O0.-ChicagO NeUs.