Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-10-12
QUEER ELECTION WAGERS.
PECULIAR BETS ON THE RESULT
OF ELECTION CONTESTS.
"heelbarrOw Wagers-Hair and
Whiskey Bets-How a Bet Aided
the Wounded During the War.


ing upon the outcome of political con
tests been more common than in America.
The tailors do a rushing business after
every Presidential and nun .cipal con
test while the hat dealers trade is al
least ouadruple.
But some bettors, not content with the
ordinary chances of fortune, rack their
brains to discover some strange and I'M
usual methods of wagering, and the
consequence is that at the close of every
election a number of more or less ludi-
crous bets have to be settled, the pay
ment of which occasions not only much
pleasure to the winner, but also great
hiIarity among the public at large.
The ''wheel barrow bet" is one of the
time honored election wagers, and has
been made, probably, in every city in
the country. Bv its terms the loser
agrees to trundle the winner in a wheel
barrow for a certain distance over a
specified route Several such wagers
have been made in st. Louis, one of the
most notorious being that made by
II. Clay Sexton in 1856, when he
wheeled his victorious adversary for sew
eral blocks along Broadway, followed
by a large and enthusiastic crowd.
Next to the wheelOarrow bet, an
agreement to carry some unusual burden
is probably the most common of these
uncommon wagers. Not many years
ago a hod-carrier, in fulfilment of a
wager, carried another up the inclines
from the ground to the top floor of a
fve-story house. Men bearing sacks of
flour or bags of coffee through the streets
are sometimes seen at the close of an
election.
A New Haven Conn., soap manufac-
turer was once compelled to march
through the streets carrying large sign
inscribed with praises of the goods of
rival house, while his partner followed
in the rear in the guise of a sandwich
advertisement, the boards between which
he was confined setting forth in ford
language the inferiority of the product
of his own factory.
Another set of queer bets are those re-
lating to hair. The instances are nu-
merous of those who have agreed not to
cut their hair until the election of a GER
tain candidate, and who are obliged to
carry about with them a wealth Of locks
more conspicuous than comfortable.
During the last Presidential campaign a
fashion arose among the deniZens of
Baden of betting one hirsute adornment
against another. A Democrat would bet
his mustdche against the rich whiskers of
a Republican, or his hair against his
beard. The consequence was that after
the election number of young kepubi-
cans were almost unacceptable by the
removal of much of the hair that deco
rated their faces, and the BARRIERS rea ped
a rich harvest. One gentleman, the
possessor of a fine head of curly hair,
came home on the day after the election
exhibiting to his Mortified wife a poll as
bare as clippers could cut it, while
friend of Democratic proclivltles APP
peared in few days wearing handsome
watch chain of plated hair. A still
more unfortunate individual electrified
the inhabitants of that suburb by walk
ing down the street deprived of one of
his side whiskers, while the other -four
ished in full luxuriance. He was COM
PEELED by the terms of the wager to re-
main in this condition for a month,
shaving the side of his face which had
been bereft of it's decoration every Sat
urday.
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 Gridlea, of Aus
tin, 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 Re
publican opponent. The terms of the
wager were that the defeated party
should carry a sack Of -four on his
shoulder from Lower to Upper Austin.
Gridley was beaten, and on the day fol-
lowing the election set out on his trip,
accompanied by the newly elected Mayor,
a brass band and large crowd. On ar
irving at the public square in Upper
Austin a question arose as to what dispo-
sition should be made of tie sack of
flour ''Sell it for the benefit of the
Western Sanitary Commission" said
some one i'll the crowd. The idea met
with universal approval, and Mr.. Grid
ley was installed as auctioneer on an i'm
provised action block. Competitor for
the -four was very keen, and not until
$3.50 had been bid was it knocked
down.
"Where shall deliverit," said Grid
ley.
Nowhere; sell it again." shouted the
purchaser.
The idea took like widire, the sack of
-four was again and again knocked
down, and when evening came it was
found that the astonishing sum of 5000
had been collected. 1t was during the
flush times" in Nevada and the rivalry
between the mining camps was very
keen. The news was sent by wire to
Virginia City, and before morning tele-
gram was received, saying: send on