The morning call., 1894-08-23
AROUND THE CORRIDORS

"Hoss" Merrill. a character who is wei
known 10 all horsemen and the sporting fra
ternity generally throughout Central OhiO is IN
the city, and last night was entertaining a
party of gentlemen In the Palace with ales OF
early days racing In the Buckeye State. He told
of the first big stake" he ever wou and while
he deprecated he means employed he thought
that the surrounding circumstances justified
his action. Along in the sos, he said, cOun-
try fairs were the principal attractions for race
gOers and that annually held at Springfield
was usually very attractive affair. In
the fall of 80 a Dayton man named Buck Mel
son brought trotter TO Springfield which he
entered III the , 40 class, and which was looked
upon as ringer by those who knew Nell
sons reputation. Nelson was known TO be an
INSCRIPTIONS fellow who had accumulated large
wealth through slippery practices, and Merril!
resolved 10 put IN job on him. He and a
friend posted of 10 Xena, where remarkably
fast trotter Damed POcabontas was owned.
They secured the use of the mare, and painted
her four white feet and bald face black color.
cropped her name and disguised her 80 that her
owner would not have known her. Merrill
said that he pulled out over $4,000 on the race,
principally Nelson's money. but that the latter
gave him a souvenir of the race in the shape of
a couple Of ounces OF lead, which he has carried
in his body ever since.
Governor Markham is at the Palace. He Is
making yearly inspection OF the various
public institutions, and he has within the
past, few days visited the San Quentin
prison, the Glen Ellen Home for Feeble
minded and the asylum in Napa. A week
ago he was at the stockton asylum. The
Governor says that ali the institutions he has
visited are in good condition. He expects 10
present his annual message to the public before
long and 1t was for the purpose of securing all
the data possible regarding these institutions
that he made the visit. He will receive copies
Of The reports of all the different officials In a
few days. which will materially aId him IN The
preparation OF his message. General DimUnd
presented his report yesterday. The document
Is sealed, and The Governor said that it would
not be opened until he returned 10 the capital.
The members OF The party Of conductors
from the East came back from Monterey last
evening ana left on their special train at IL 80
last night for Salt Lake. While at Del Monte
the president OF the association, w. o. Beck.
| ley, was presented with an elegant gold watch
by his fellow members. The train in which the
eXcuTsionists travel consists of six Pullmans
and Wabash bagg age-car which they TOOK
with them on their former trip to the CITY OF
Mexico. Prior 10 their departure East last
night their train was thrown open to visItO rs
| from until 10 o'clock. The party will stop al
salt Lake and Denver on their way back
| j. II. Wade and wife, OF Cleveland, Ohio, ac-
companIed by several friends, are at the Pal
| ace. Mr.. Wade is the owner of the largest and
! finest office building in the city named. He is
| at present in Ill health. and visits this coast in
the hope that the trip may prove beneficial.
Admiral Skerertt, wife and two children
started East last night. They Will make sew
| eTal quite lengthy stops along the road be.
tween here and Washington.
Admiral Walker arrived on the flagship
| Philadelphia from Honolulu yesterday and Will
| be guest at the Occidental as soon as he re-
| turns from Mare Island.