Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-13
ARTHUR LION. THE PLUNGER
Death of the Most Noted of Western Book
makers-

In the burial Of Arthur Lion the noted west
ern bookmaker, yesterday at st LOUIS the earth
closed over the remains of one Of the weirdeet
Characters that ever adorned the pages Of
American turf history. He was, undoubtedly.
the greatest and most daring pluuger in the
western country, and there have been very few
in the east who have won and lost ar much on
horses as Lion did, day in and day out Arthur
Lion, as he was Familiarity known among book
makers owners, trainers and turfnen generally
throughout the land, entered into the book.
making business in ST. Louis about twelve
years ago. For several wears he and Dick
Roche we're the only bookies in the city. and
the latter moving TO New York q couple of
years ago made Lion, at the tiIae Of his death,
the pioneer in the bookmaking business here.
Like many in his vocation, Lion was prone
to speculate on the horses on the outside, and
during the last few years his plunges reached
into the tens of Thousands. At enc time during
the last twelve months he accumulated some
thing like $500. 900 as the result of his success
in picking winners. Dame Fortune then went
against him, and his losses would foot up 10 be-
tween SO, 600 and go, 600 in q single day.
For long time previous to his death Arthur
was laid up with rheumatic govt, SO painful
that even the pressure Of bed sheet on his
foot gave him pain, and he was compelled to
lie abed In his room, where he did all has bet
ting by proxy. HE runners went TO his room
after every race, and there they found him
propped mp on pillows. with the bed Uttered
with kilograms from the different race tracks
giving him information about every conceiv-
able point of interest TO a player-ths state Of
the weather, the condition Of the horses. the
condition of the tracks, the gossip Of the stable
toys and of the betting stand. There are daily
newspapers that do not receive much mail as
did Arthur Lion.
He told his runners Just what TO do in every
race. at what state of the odds TO begin and
when TO leave of. He instructed them not TO
bet on a certain horse if the rider is changed or
the weather Is bad, or II q bit oi stable gossip
has been wired tending 10 show that there
might be something wrong, He talked about
the betting just Ms q commission man tells his
men about buying wheat or oats corn or
pork. His friends sat around on the sides of
his bed or on chairs aud listened TO him 90
an oracle. A black servant brought him in
notes. Some he read, tore mp and said simply:
Il can't do it." Others he would read turn
around. put his hand under his pillow and
draw forth a roll big enough TO choke dog"
..skin off some money and hand il to the ser
want, who then disappeared The notes were
appeals for loans, and an appeal TO Arthur by
any one half way straight was never made in vain
Several times he has severely crippled HIS
rivals in pool alley by his heavy piunRins on
winners in their books. Day after day he
would study the authorities on horse racing
He kept posted on every event about TO come
of and had in his mind the records Of those
that had come of. He was perhaps the most
singular betting man in the country, and while
it is true that there considerable luck in his
winnings, his main power was his scientific
study of betting. Any ''chump" may strike .
streak of luck and win big money for awhile,
but il is the science Of gambling 10 win - Lioa
did.
After plunging with more or lees success
during the first four months OF the year. the
tide Of fortune rolled decidedly against him n
May and June. when he lost in bets betvses
$4,000 and 100000. 1t il not known how
we're financially associated with him thas
S25, 900 Is fair estimate