New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-17
BETTING ON THE PILOTS.
THE SPORT OF YOUNG MEN WHO CROSS THE
OoRrr.AHnT-sT FERRYy

THE SPORT OF YOUNG MEN WHO CROSS THE
coRTLANDT-sT. FERRY!
sThcre arc men with whom the gambling instinct
is 20 strong that they viii bet on the most trivial
cIrcumst anoes of daily life the5 can get any one
to bet with them sad Pennsylvania Raroad
commuter to another while crossing the Coraanot-
st. ferry one morning recently.
The suburban resident gave several illustrations
in explanation Of his remark, and said that he had
frequently been much amused while listening 70 the
wageCs Of two young men whom he often me- on
tho trains and boats coming to the city during pusl
ness hours Every morning, he said, these young
fellows would bet each other cigars for the days
smoking their MONDAY luncheons. boxes Of candy
for their sweethears oyster suppers, tickets 10 the
theatre and even Communication railway tickets, or
some other small stake the ability OF the pilot OF
tho fcrryboat 20 run his craft within certain Gus
lance Of the bridge without touching either SIDE
of tho slip. Standing the bow near the gates me
bettors would carefully consider the swing OF the
boat as she approached the slip, her headwaJ and
the run of the tide in order to take away every pos
sble adv autage Of prevailing conditions.
sIeps 20 forward said the narrator, "perhaps
We will see our gamblers this morning.
Sure enough there they were, leaning on the gates
and eagerly watching the course Of the boat as she
nesred the Manhattan shore Two bells had Just
runs whom one Of the young men exclaimed, IN
bet you cigars We touch tAas 9t0e OF nAt WHO
board N indicating board the northern SIDE OF
the slip which for part Of its length bore the oppo-
site color to that Of its neighbors
srn go you," was tho prompt reply, and tho In
teest in the progress of tho vessel at once increased
Several Of the surrounding passengers had heard tho
wager, and they, too, became considerably inter
ested Probably two scores Of necks were eraned as
an equal number OF heads bent forward In eager
ness 10 note the result The betors themselves kept
their eyes on a line with the white board The marx
was oeaTcd almost breathlessy, and passed without
touch. The sense Of relief from tension was sue
eeedod by feeling Of wondermeut quite as powerful,
for TIE boat heading straight for the bridge with
out touching either side little cheer was raised
when the convex bow OF the boat camo with pump
exactly into the concave front OF tho bridge while
the khder-rail had touched neither side OF the slip
Many OF the witnesses exclaimed that they had never
sters laughngy called the bet draw, because OF the
remarkable result. . 4,
LAtor ono of the commuters asked the pilot II II
required much skin 70 bring a boat IN that way.
H0h, yes he said. It's almost impossible 20 DO
30 when tho tide Is running either way, although we
can generally get boat vol into the slip at slack
water. The object In trying 70 prevent contact VITA
quent strain to tho boat and machinery from the
greater or less concusbon.D
Since attention was 1rst called 10 the move! method
OF wagering several other parties have been observed
70 be fnteny engaged In specializing IN similar mar
ner, and II tho practice increases sufficiently has
been suggested that 1t may pay the booksellers TO ooh
into 1t With view TO their own pecuniary adv anage