The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07
DECIDING A BET.

as the editor IMP" inquired one of
the two callers.
(Which editorp" said the man in the
chair.
"The one that answers questions"
What kind of questionsP"
"Why, it's this way: We've got
decide it. We want to know whether
there was ever regular United States
ship of war that came up the Missis-
sippi River"
Cruiser, you remember" put in the
other man. "Ocean vessel. Belong
ing to the regular United States navy.
That's what we were betting on"
Certainly. Straight United States
naval vessel. Ship of war. That's
the bet. say there was"
"And say there wasn't. Regular
United States cruiser, now. That's the
point we want settled"
They had raised their voices to
high pitch already, and the man in the
chair referred them to the files, and
said that if they wonld consult the
papers printed about the middle of
last May, when the great Memphis
bridge was dedicated, they would see
that some kind of naval vessel had
gone up the Mississippi River as far as
Memphis, anyhow.
They pounced upon the files with
the eagerness of boy digging fish
worms.
"Here it isl" exclaimed after some
search the one who had spoken first.
"It's in the paper of May 13. Mem
phis' Great Bridge That's the head
line. Um-let's see. Here it is! I
knew it! The Concord, gayly be-
decked with stars and stripes, moved
down the stream That's the name
of the ship. The Concord! I remem-
Der it perfectly. Satisfied nowp I'll
trouble you for that S."
Hold on!" exclaimed the other, be-
ginning now an investigation on his
own account. "Let's look little fur
ther. Ahl Here is little more about
it in the paper of May 10. The United
States steamship Concord'-that does
not say it was an ocean cruiser, does
it?-'may visit Cairo and St. Louis.
Let's see-sdraws seventeen feet'-do
you call that great war steamship?
This will be the first naval vessel of
any description that has visited the
Upper Mississippi since the war; See?
Nothing but an old tub! Do you sup
pose"
"Going to get out of it that way are
youp"
"Get out of whatP Didn't we agree
to abide by"
"Do you mean to say I haven't
proved that United States war vessel
came up the Mississippi? Hand over
that"
"Hand it over yourself! Didn't
"Isn't a cruiser war vessel?"
"Yes, but war vessel is not neces-
sarily cruiser. Just you stick to the
bet!"
"You bet that no regular United
States ship of war ever came"
"And it draws seventeen feeti Call
that regular United States ship of
WARP 1 tell you no great ocean cruiser
could get over the bar at the mouth of
the Mississippi. There's less than
twenty-five feet of water"
"If I'd lost bet I'd own it."
$50 would I. If I had bet that a
government cruiser came up the river
and it turned out to be an old mud
scow think I'd"
"WeH, I'll leave it to this man
here"
$50 will I. Only I want him to un-
derstand that l bet it was a."
"And I want him to remember that
Gentlemen" said the man in the
chair, 81 think I understand fully the
terms of your wager. VIII you abide
by what have to say?"
"We will"
"Wen, one of the rules of this office
is never to answer question in order
to decide betP"
And they left the room and went
down the elevator, still wranging.-
Chicago Tribune.