St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-27
BUYING POOLS.
ihe stroller INDUCES in an Ex-
citing Pastime.

eAoACf AhuU rs In an EX-
citing Pastime.
1t is only few days since the Stroller
mad his sanguine desires to be a ..thor.
ougnDred" nlpped in the bud by dron-
Ialr-Slzed roll Oh the races. The
speculation occurred at the Columbia
pool room on Third street south. and TO
say there is excitement betting on blind
races is putting it mildly. The mode
OF betting Is bookmaking only. although
combinations on ball games and odds
Tor naming two or more winning teams
are posted. The place the Otner day
was as hot as foundry. There was
little or no ventilation, and the large
room was well filled with representa-
tlves of nearly every profession. The
crown OF sports is nearly composed of
the same men, and they can be seen
here day after day. How thev stand
the intense heat is past finding ont. and
where they get their finances to carry
on Dettlng IS gleater question. They
make the raise somehow, and alWays
come around with smile the next day
If they lose.
The. crowd of employees of the pool
room is curious one, and doubtless If
fortune teller could reveal the history
OF these men 1t would make a very in
terestlng novel, second only to some of
HaWkshaw'S detective stories.
Inc gathering that pays the expenses
OF the establishment looked. on the
whole, more like workingmen than
class OF spectators. There were
numbers of young men, barely
passed the teens, who were
neatly attired in fashionable suits
and to all appearances were clerks.
There was also few dressed in almost
tramp attire, inclined to be tough. and
without doubt crooks, who are noted
gamblers, and invariably elbow in'' all
they steal. In another portion of the
room was class of midde-aged men
VINO VINO carry on business within a few
9lochs OF the rendezvous, and had just
dropped In to pick out winner. Just
before each race was called a number of
young clerks would flock into the room.
place bet and go out again. One mid
dle-aged colored man, with
stature that resembled Duteh-
man. was evidently authority on racing
matters by his companions and num-
Der OF questions asked were so irrele.
want that it was plain that his cues.
TONERS were not thoroughly conversant
with turf matters, The Brighton
beach Handlcap was about to be run
when the Stroller entered the room.
The place in front of the board where
the names of the horses and drivers
were posted was completely jammed by
those who wanted to finally decide
what horse to pick for winner.
Eeveryone was talking loudly. dicuss-
ing the races and purchasing tickets.
A little fellow with law
betokening the festive fakir
Sald to companion who
had handed him $40, to which he added
another bill of the same denomination.
Nina W."
II don't care. Place it according to
your own Judgment. l have lost all my
luck" was the answer.
We'll, I'll place 1T on Nina w,
although Young Duke or STRIPPING
might VIM
A few more bets were placed and the
auctloneer announced in falsetto tone:
Deere at the post, gents" A few more
wagers were made and he called out:
Deere Off. Nina w takes the lead,
Young Duke second. Duke leads at the
quarter, STRIPPING runnin' second. Same
at the three-Quarters." The most breath
less silence prevailed and pin could
have been heard if dropped.
''PASSIN' DE GRAND STAND
STRIPPING leads. Young Duke second
and Nina w. third,'' shouted the yonng
man. Here the men began to nudge
each other and make remarks: Il told
you So" etc.
Young Duke coming up; he'll be
there at the finish" announced an out
slider. Ten seconds passed, when the
man at the telegraph wire settled all
dispute by announcing: young Duke
wins, Stripping second.n The cruWye was
disappointed, as they nearly all had
played Nina W.
The better of whom the pool room
boOkmaker stands in dread. however,
is the race horse owner or some friend
Of the telegraph operator. OF the latter
the pool room men are III constant fear,
as they can clip the wires and send in
wrong horses. During one of the
Jerome park races, few years ago,
over 100000 was lost in this way, and
as most of the bets are from 81 up
wards, it will be seen that heavy loss
cannot easily be made up.