Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-01-03
THIMBLERIG BENNETT.
A Man Who Painted His Horse to Fool the
Indians.
@,


Indians.
SO. Louis Republic.
Who In the South has never heard OF
'Thimblerig" Bennett, a man who had
developed an inordinate propensity TO
bet on any and everything from faro
game to church lottery and from a
horse race TO the tenor of the next
Presidential message? Bennett, some
years ago, went from track TO track
throughout the South with a valuable
piece of racing flesh, and was uniform
ly successful. Painting for fresh fields,
he took his horse up into the
Indian nation, where all the
noble red men were inveterate sports
aud where races were held constantly.
Their "plugs" were no match for Ben
nett's equine, so that worthy resorted
to strategy. He allowed his horses
name and tail to grow, and gave his
jockey particular instructions never TO
curry him above the knees. Then he
painted the horse, and the disguise was
perfect. He won several races, but, to
his CONSERVATION, the lynX-eyed red
men "got onto" his game and discov-
cred the imposition practised upon
them. Thenceforth there was no rest
for Bennett. He hurriedly shipped his
horse to Memphis and left between two
days In order TO save his scalp, being
fearful that the half-Civilized and not
wholly enlightened talent" whom he
had been fleeing meant TO do him great
bodily harm. Bennett stayed not upon
the order Of his going, aud never
stopped until he reached Washington,
Ark,
He put up at the leading and only no
tel in the place, and for few days found
his life burden because he could not
register wager. His opportunity came,
however, with the arrival OF a number
of the genus drummer from Missouri.
One afternoon, as the party sat pom
the veranda In front OF the hotel, sta
tistically inclined gentleman boldly as
serted that large rock which lay out
in the middle street weighed "steen''
pounds. T'll bet you"-this from the
ever-ready Bennett-"that it weighs
- pounds" One by one the others
came in with their estimates,
and Bennett, selling the ad.
vantage OF shadow OF rock
in weary land, bet high and low, TAX
ing everything offered, until his risks
footed up into the hundreds. II was
decided that the stone should be dug
up on the following day and weighed,
after which all wagers were to be set
tied. Bennett could not sleep that
night, so he sat by his window, com
handing a view OF the rock. About 3
o'clock in the morning his weary vigil
was rewarded by the antics of ST.
Louis drummer-One Of the Lords
chosen people-who slipped out Of the
house in an abbreviated costume, care
fully measured the stone, then seized
an axe from the wood pile and
then deliberately Clipped OF a
considerable fragment from the
bow!der, which be proceeded to
carry to the rear of the hotel. $50
that's your game" grunted Bennett.
Ont came his book, followed by intense
reflection. Then he concluded to pro-
tect his own interests, and down he
went and knocked of 8 second chunk.
Just "a he turned 70 sneak back 10 his
room whom should be meet but the
shrewd Israelite. who had witnessed the
performance. Mutual promises and ex-
plantations were made, but all to u
purpose, for when the rest Of the crowd
saw the condition OF the rock they az
once declared all bets of.
''Thimblerig" Bennett sat disconsol-
atoly upon the porch late tina, after
noon. being severely Jet alone 0y his
compositions. al at once be frightened
UP. 'D'Jc sec that 10y coming down
the hill yonder?" be SAID. They saT.
well. I'll Just 20 you ten 10 one ihst
he's got 20 more sense than 70 walk
right through that mud puddle" mol
eating one that graced the middle OF