San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-26

and he had a winning streak on
that night. He induced the house
to take the bride off, that is, to re-
move the limit, and inside OF half
an hour stood $4,000 ahead. Every
play he made brought him more
money, his luck being truly mirac-
ulous. Pat was in mighty fine
humor, and whenever he made a
bet he would say to the players
about him, Nov, boys, all get
aboard and we'll copper the ace"
Men who were just in the place
sightseeing, were so impressed
by his luck that they risked
goodly sums playing just as
he played. All the regulars
were in his wake, and soon the
whole house were playing his
cards. This made the proprietor
mad. They gave Sheedy a very
hard call down, and told him to
take his winnings and leave. AL
most tearfully they said to him ::
"You're not satisfied to win your
self, but you want to see every one
else win too" AS soon as Sheedy
left, the bank began to get back
some of its money from the other
players who were all at sea with
out their leader.
All the big betting OF the world
has not been confined to the pres
ent generation. Hundreds OF years
ago many old wagers were made,
as hunt through number OF old
books showed.
BET ON NAPOLEON's LIFE.
The old English law forced bet
tors to pay their debts. A remark
able action was brought in 1872 by
the Rev. B. Gilbert against Sir
Mark NJ. Sykes. The Baronet at
a dinner party in his own house,
in the course of conversation on
the hazard to which the life of
Bonaparte was exposed, offered, on
receiving hundred guineas, to
pay one guinea day as long as
Napoleon should remain alive.
Mr.. Gilbert closed with Sir Mark,
and sent the hundred guineas, and
the latter continued to pay the
guinea a day for nearly three years.
At last he declined to pay any
longer, and an action was brought
to enforce the payment. 1t was
contended by the defendant that
he had been surprised into the bet
by the clergyman's hasty accep-
lance OF it, and that the transac-
ton was an illegal one, seeing that
Mr.. Gilbert, having a beneficial
interest in the life of Bonaparte,
might, in the event of an invasion,
use all means for the preservation
of the life of an enemy OF his coun-
try. The jury loyalty brought in
a verdict for the defendant.
ON THE WEIGHT OF TOBACCO SMOKE.
Another queer wager is said to
have been won by Sir Walter Ra-
leigh from Queen Elizabeth, on the
debatable question Of how much
smoke is contained in pound of
tobacco. A pound of the article
was weighed, burned, and then
weighed again in ashes, and the
question was held to be satisfac.
torily settled by determining the
weight Of the smoke as exactly
that of the tobacco before being
burned, minus the ashes. The fact
Of the ashes having received an
additional weight by combination
with the oxygen OF the atmosphere
was unthought Of by Elizabeth
and the knight.
An amusing bet, for the small
sum of five shillings, was laid in
1906, in the castle yard, York, be-
tween Thomas Hodgson and Sam
uel Whitehead, as to which should
succeed in assuming the most
original character. Hodgson APP
peared decorated with ten guinea,
five guinea and guinea notes all
over his coat and waistcoat, and
row OF five-guinea notes around his
hat, whilst to his back was fastened
the words, "John Bull"
Whitehead appeared like
woman on one side, One-half OF his
face painted, one silk stocking and
slipper, while the other side re-
presented a negro in a mans dress
with boot and spurs.
For some reason, loyalty it may
be, John Bull won the wager.
A WORLD FAMOUS BET.
A gentleman of the last century
laid a wager to a great amount
that he could stand for whole
day on London bridge with a tray
full of sovereigns fresh from the
mint and be unable to find a pur-
chaser for them at a penny apiece
Not one was disposed Of.
The subject matter of wagers
has sometimes taken rather grim
form. 1t is credibly recorded that
in the last century a wager was
laid for one of party of gay revel.
lers to enter Westminster Abbey
at the hour Of midnight. He was
to enter one of the vaults beneath
the Abbey, and in proof Of his hav'
ing been there he was to stick g
fork into a coffin which had beer
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