The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-09-22

pAO OOSsd6Uo 1110 dOA!k o1lASC OOCA e3AOA.
The fbalmy air, the sight Of magnificent
~equipages, handsome, well dressed Itch
and beautiful women all conspired to
drive away care, no matter what ones
Etrouble might be.
So I thought as, comfortably seated
lin a huge rocking chair, / looked about
me from the piazza ,of the Grand Union
hotel one glorious morning i'll July,
1873. All the people near me seemed
intent Oh discussing only IL subject
viz, racing. I remember distinctly to
have caugh. several times the express
sion: He's sure winner. Nothing can
beat him. Then again some n would
say: The Black Whirlwind is a won
der. He will win in a walk and va
rious other like opinions. Not being ia
miliar with race horses and racing
slang, | was unable to make heads or
tails out of all l had heard, and reaiiz-
ing that / was out Of my element l con-
cluded to take q stroll and indulge in a
quiet smoke. After having traversed
two or three blocks | found myself just
behind two gentlemen walking leisure
ly along, who seemed to be talking
about something i'll a very serious man
ner. The walk being narrow, | made
no effort to pass them and lazily follow
ed behind. enjoying my beloved pipe.
Very soon | again heard the word
"Whirlwind," aid | confess that my
curiosity was greatly excited. Just at
this moment & rather stiff summer
breeze came up, and bearing directly
toward US waited distinctly to me their
conversation. The larger of the two
(whom / will designate as Mr.. Al said
to the other, $50 you are surely going
to start him in the -- stakes today,
are y Il"
The smaller man (whom I will desig-
nate as Mr.. D. replied: why, certain
ly. I'm sure to win. There is nothing
eligible to start that can make my colt
even extend himself. Of course he will
start and win too"
We'll" said Mr.. H., "Ihave a prop
osition to make, OF rather, / should say,
a bet to propose"
Lets hear it," said Mr.. D.
In very cold and measured TOTES Mr..
Fl. then said, 'Mr. D., l will bet you
S., 900 that if your colt crosses the wire
first today the race will not be given to
him and s., 900 additional that if you
do start him he will never again run in
another race"
By this time I was trembling with
excitement, but something beyond my
control forced me to continue being an
unwilling eavesdropper.
Mr.. D. quickly replied: why, what
is the matter with you? Has anything
unusual happened that has caused your
good sense to forsake you9 Your propo-
sition is too foolish to be thought of for
a moment"
WELL" replied Mr.. H, "a little
bird brought me some extremely inter
esting news about your colt, and I do
not believe that my mental faculties
have forsaken me. / repeat that I am
willing to make the wager, and I know
full we'll that / thoroughly understand
what l anu saying and doing. Do you
accept the wager or not, Mr.. d."
All this time I was only a few feet
behind them, regulating my pace by
theirs and trying to appear very preoc-
cupied.
After some hesitation Mr.. D. replied
that be would consider the matter and
would give an ans wer before l O'Clock.
Somehow I did not feel as if l had
committed a very great offense in listen
ing, but at any rate / thought that /
had heard enough, SO / turned and re-
traced my footsteps, thinking there was
something very peculiar in what / had
overheard. worried over it so much
that I concluded to go out to the race
course. / N.lled a cab and was soon
there. In the betting pavilion I ap-
preached a mar who seemed ''to the
manner born" and politely asked if he
knew anything about a horse called
1.-The Black Whirlwind." He under
stood at II and told me the roper
name was fremont, and went on to say
THAT in all America there was not a
3-year old who could outrun him"
After thanking him for his informa-
ton | went up to the grand stand and
there purchased a programme. Sure
enough, fremont was entered in the
fourth race. Very impatiently l sat
there and waited. Finally the first race
was run, which I watched with little
OF no interest, and after the jockeys had
dlsmoCEted again made NY way to the
betting rins. | stood on the outskirts
OF the crowd, quite interested in what l
saw and heard, though l could not I'M
derstand the mcdus operandi of the
booknakers. Suddenly | heard a loud
shout from the end of the ring. | tried
to ascertain what was tho matte, but