The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-21

men sometimes gather, half dozen old
timers sat one afternoon last week. They
| had talked about everything when one Of
them suddenly asked:
"Say, boys, did I ever tell you about
that game that Jim HYDE and Ike Smith
| put up on Spanish contortionist about
| 10 years ago?p
The others had not heard the story, 90
the speaker resumed
1T was away back In 1884. The theat-
rical season had been very dull. Many
managers were on their uppers, and as for
the ticket speculators, they couldn't make
living. Hyde and Smith were specula.
| tors. Both had families depending upon
them for support and for months they
racked their brains for some scheme by
which To make money. They finally hit
it, but they had to lay low for some time
afterward, as the man they made n vic
tim OF threatened to shoot them on sight.
In 1884 the Arion saloon, on lower
broadway, was quite n resort for sporting
men. Ono night n wiry little Spaniard
walked into the saloon and got In CONVEX
sation with a couple Of sporting mon.
Would either Of you gentlemen like
to make a little money! he asked. Both
remarked that they were not at all averse
to increasing their capital, and then the lit
tie Spaniard unfolded his scheme He
was professional contortionist, he said,
and, In addition TO being able to twist
himself into all sorts OF shapes, he was
also able to wrlggle himself out Of any
ropo with which he might be tied His
scheme was TO have tho two men make
bets on his ability TO do IL. Tho men fell
right into the scheme.
1.-The next night tho Spaninrd went to
tho saloon again and announced that he
would bet Sn5 that no 10 men In the
place could tic him SO securely that he
could not FREQ himself in two minutes.
Jack johnson, u gambler, took him up,
and the two sports succeeded I'm placing
about $500 In bets. The Spaniard let
himself bo tied up with a rope and was
then placed in a big potato bag The
mouth OF the bag was tied securely, and
with watches in hand the crowd watched
the bag. There was ono or two wrigales,
and then the Spaniard shouted to be- let
out. The bag was opened. and out stepped
the Spaniard, carrying the rope In his
hand.
THE scheme proved a veritable mint
for the two men and tho Spaniard Ev-
cry night they visited different saloon
and went through the same game
Jim Hyde and his friend Smith heard
Va Ddiiltfl anu usNlseu n llttle eCnemo
to beat the man at his own game and d.
minish the bank rolls Of his hackers. Both
Hyde and Smith were broke, and as it
needed money 20 put their scheme through
they went TO an old physician who was a
sporting man himself, and who was known
rs DR.. Stitch. Hyde laid the scheme be-
fore him and finally succeeded In getting
something like 81 900 from him. Smith
borrowed several hundred dollars from a
friend and then the two went around to
the Arion and waited for the Spaniard
and his friends TO show up. For three
nights they waited, and on the fourth
night they were rewarded. The Spanard
camo sauntering in and made his usual
offer. He repeated IL several times before
he got any answer, and then Hyde jumped
up and said:
DO you mean to tell me that you can
unite yourself In two minutes If tie you
upf'
Yes, replied the little fellow.
'Betcher can't said Hyde 'Betcher
wine for the house that you can't
"'I'll 60 you and s25 on the outside
returned the Spaniard
Done, said Hyde and then the fun
began. Smith began bawling out that he
didn't believe 10 could be done, and then
money that it could. Hyde bet more and |
more, and finally Smith and Hyde had |
about 81, 300 wagered on the result Those |
who had seen the Spaniard before looked !
In pity on the two men. The Spaniard |
said nothing, but sat quietly in a chair,
while somebody got n rope and somebody |
else procured a big potato bag.
Then he stood up, and Hyde and
Smith began TO tie him. They tied his
hands tightly together behind his back
and then wound the rope securely around
his body. His feet were then tied and
more rope wound around his legs 1t
looked impossible for the man to escape
but he never once stopped smiling, and his
hackers looked equally confident. When
tho tying was through, tho crowd edged
up close to the bag to see the man put in.
mo, you DON'T exclaimed Hyde.
Everybody must stand at least 10 feet
back. i don't propose to have any accom-
plice get in here
1.-The Spaniard and his hackers insisted
that the crowd stand back, and when
every body was at respectful distance
Hyde and Smith picked up the Spaniard
and put him into the bag. 1t was noticed
that Hyde let one hand rest over the mans
face and that he kept one hand i'm the bag
after the Spaniard was In and while Smith
was fooling with the strings 1t seemed
rs though tho two men took more time
han was necessary TO tie the Spaniard up,
but the job was finally done, and then
Hyde and Smith stepped back and waited
"A hundred men had their watches out,
md hundred pair Of eyes watched the
bag Only once did the man inside make
! move. and that was when the bag was
irst laid down. After that there was
leadly stiffness everywhere. One minute
passed and not n sign from the man in the
bag. Tho time heightened into - min
ties, and still no move. Every one in the
oom felt decidedly nervous, and it was a
yreat relief when the two minutes were
lp and Hyde stepped up to the bar and
aid:
~ guess we won.'
Smith followed him, and tho money,
omething over 81, 900 In all, was handed
ver. While the Spanlard's hackers were
e work opening the bag, Hyde and Smith
.4tefly eli .Bf Of bs N