The morning call., 1893-02-06
BET ON THE DANCE
A Sailors Horrpipe and a
Butchers Jig.
The Residents of the POtrero EnIiyen
Sundays Dizziness With
Dancing Match.

A dancing contest was the diversion of
the residents Of the Potrero yesterday
afternoon.
An Italian was picking on harp in a
saloon just over the creek at the Fourth
street bridge and a few young fellows were
keeping time to the music on the we'll
sanded floor when an old sailor dropped in.
He watched the young men for while,
then turned away in disgust.
You fellers can't dance a little Bit
can do better than that on the tip of the
topgallant in gale of wind" said the old
salt.
Gene on. daddy" shouted one of the
dancers In a scorniuI way. Let's see what
you can do"
I'm bet you s. l can dance a hornpipe
better and longer than you can. if am
close on to 60 years old" responded the
sailor. as he slapped a gold piece down on
the counter with bang. Come on. now,
II you dare"
The young fellow hesitated for while.
but the jeers of his companions goaded him
on and he covered the old mans money
after borrowing from his friends, and The
bartender was made stakeholder and he
also acted in the capacity Of timekeeper.
! Three judges were appointed from disinter-
| ested spectators and alter a collection had
| been taken up for the musician time was
| called.
The old sailor took up q reef In his
| belt and stood in the middle OF the floor,
neryousiy hltching up his trousers in a
manner only known to a salt, while the
| Young man, who is employed al the abat-
| tors, appeared devoid of his coat, vest and
| collar and with his trousers rolled up above
! bis shoe tops.
Some dispute then arose as TO the music.
Daddy Thompson, the sailor. wanted no
| other music than the genuine sailors horn
pipe, while the butcher insisted on al Irish
| JIG The referees decided that hoTnpipe
| should be played for the first five minutes,
| then q jig for the same time, and they
| should alternate without inteTmisSlOn until
the end OF the contest
| This arrangement was satisfactory and
| the dance commenced.
| For the first FIVE inmates the old man
| capered around the room as light as kit
| ten and was right at homo with the music.
! n lot so with the young man. HIS jig steps
/ would not work with the hOrnpipe music
| and he could not get his feet TO agree. One
would insist on the hOTnpipe and the other
! favored the jig until compromise was
| reached. and the butcher jumped up and
| down on one foot and endeayored TO keep
| time with the other
| "A dollar even on Daddy" shouted q
sport, and his offer was taken and the
stakes deposited with the drink dis eDser.
Several more such bets were made, but
! when the jig music was reached the ODDS
| turned IN favor Of the young man.
The jig was success for the butcher, but
| the sailor could not understand it and kept
! right on with the dance OF his calling.
Five TO four on the butcher" was then
| offered, and several such bets were taken.
| After half an hour the sailor began to feel
| the effects Of his eXerti0ns and his bat was
! discarded. Ten minutes atterward his coat
was off, and great drops of perspiralion be-
gan 10 drop from his nose and clean-shaven
| chin. He stuck 20 the dance, however, and
! In five minutes more his vest had Joined his
! coat and hat and another reef was taken in
| his leather belt.
AT the end of an hour both men were
| pretty we'll tagged out but they did not lag
! In the least in their dance. Bets by this
| time were 3 to 3 against the sailor, and
| takers were numerous. The dancers took
up positions IN opposite corners and glared
at each other in dogged determination 10
| win
Fifteen minutes more. and the old mans
! feet were not as light as they were an hour
AID q quarter before. while the butcher
| danced with one foot alternately.
| At the end Of an hour aud twenty min
utes the old mans feet refused 10 leave the
| floor, and the young butcher shuffled in the
| sand as II ton of lead was at the extrem-
| ty of each leg The referees were about
| TO call the contest a draw, when old Daddy
sank into d chair and gasped that he would
| give up.
Age made grand struggle but it had TO
| give way 10 youth.