Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-09-02
QUEER ELECTION BETS
PECULIAR wAGBRS ON THE RESULT OF
ELECTION CONTESTS.


Tailor and the Halter.
In no country, in spite Of the fact that
disfrapchisemeut is generally imposed rs o
penalty upon election bets, has wagering
upon the outcome Of political contests
been more common than in America The
tailors do rushing business after every
Presidential and municipal contest, while
the hat dealers trade is ut least quadru-
pied.
But come betters, not content with the
ordinary chances of fortune, rack their
brains to discover some strange and un.
usual methods of wagering, and the con-
sequence is that at the close of every cleo.
ton number Of more or less ludicrous
bets have to be settled, the payment Of
which occasions not only much pleasure to
the winner, but also great hilarity among
the public at large.
The "wheelbsrrow bet" is one of the
time-honored election wagers, and has
been made probably in every city in the
country. By its terms the loser agrees to
trundle the winner in q wheelbarrow for
certain defiance over q specified route.
Several such wagers have been made in st.
Louis. one of the most noted being that
made by Fl. Clay Sexton in 1856, when he
wheeled his victorious adversary for
several blocks along Broadway,
followed by large and enthu-
siastic crowd. The election of Mayor
Francis, in 1884, caused one rather ema-
c;ated Republican of Carondelet to wheel
ponderous and triumphant Democrat
for nearly mile, compromising
himself for his temporary meta
morphosis into q beast of bur-
burden by humping his passenger most
severely by reckless crossing Of curbs, and
in several instances depositing him unex-
pectedly into covenient cutters, alleging his
inexperience in this line of industry as the
cause of the cstsstrophes.
Next to the wheelbsrrow bet, an agree
ment to carry some unusual burden
through the city is probably the most COM
mon of these uncommon wagers. 1t is one
of the traditions of st. Louis that Henry
S. Geyer, one OF the leading Wing leaders,
in 1892 perambulated Main street from
Vine to Chestnut street, bearing upon bis
shoulder a long hickory pole which had
been used during the campaign by Jack
son adherent Not many years ago hod
carrier in fulfllment of a wager carried
another mp the inclines from the ground to
the top floor of five-story house. Men
bearing sacks of flour or bags OF coffee
through the streets are sometimes seen OF
the close of an election.
A New Haven, Conn.,, sosp manufacturer
was once compelled to march through the
streets carrying a large sign inscribed with
high praises of the goods of a rival house,
while his partner followed in the rear in
the guise of sandwich advertisement, the
boards between which he was confined set
ting forth in horid language the inferiority
of the product of his own factory.
In the bluegrass region of Kentucky
liquor often was the article wagered, a
favorite bet among the inhabitants of the
smaller villages being that the loser should
treat the town" For this purpose a
large room was obtained. in which num-
Der of chairs were placed and key Of the
best bourbon, at which all corners were
welcome to quench their thirst on the
evening of election day, the sdherents Of
the unsuccessful candidate settling the |
bill and acting az master of ceremonies,
which were OF the most free and easy de- |
scription.
Another set of queer bets are those relst. |
ing to hair. The instances are numerous
of those who have agreed not to cut their
hair until the election OF certain caIdi- |
date. and who are obliged to carry about
with them wealth Of locks more conspic- |
nous than comfortable. During the last
Presidential campaign fashion arose
smong the denizens Of Baden OF betting one
hirsute adornment against another. A
Democrat would bet his moustsche against
the rich whiskers of Republican, or his
hair against his beard. The consequence
WAS that after the election q number OF
Young Republicans were almost unrecog-
nizable by the removal of much of the hair
that decorated their faces, and the BARRIERS
reaped q rich harvest. One gentleman, the
poseessOr of q fine head Of curly hair, came
home on the day after the election exhib-
ting to his Mortified wife poll IA
bare az clippers could cut it, while
friend of Democratic proclivities appeared
in few DAYS wearing handsome watch
chain of plated hair. A still more unfor. |
tunate individual electrified the inhsb.
itants of that suburb by walking down
the street deprived Of one OF his side
whiskers, while the other flourished in full
luxuriance. He was compelled by the
terms of the wager TO remain in this con-
dition for month, shaving the side OF his
face which had been bereft of its decOra-
ton every Saturday.
The wager Of this irregular kind which
attracted more attention than any other,
and which led to the greatest results, was
that made by Reul Gridley, OF Austen,
New. in 1862. In the fall Of that year
Mr.. Gridley, who was candidate for Mayor
of Austin on the Democratic ticket, bet
that he would beat his Republican oppo-
nent. The terms of the wager were that
the defeated party should carry sack OF
-four on his shoulder from Lower 10 Upper
Austin. Gridley was beaten at the polls,
and on the day following the election
get ont on his trip, accompanied by
the newly elected Mayor, brass
band and large crowd. On arriving at
the public square in Upper Austin ques-
ton arose az to what disposition should be
made of the sack of -four. "Sell ii for the
benefit of the Western Sanitary Commis-
sior," said some one in the crowd. The
idea met with universal approval and Mr..
Gridley was installed as auctioneer on an
improyised auction block. Composition
for the -four was very keen, and not until
$3.50 had been bid was it knocked down.
Where shall / deliver it?" asked Grid
ley.
Nowhere; sell il again." shouted the
purchaser. =,
The idea took like wildfre, the sack OF
-four was again and again knocked down,
and when evening came it was found that
the astonishing sum Of s., 600 had been
collected. II was during the flush times"
in Nevada, and the rivalry between the
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