The San Francisco call., 1896-02-03

the wire from the telegr aph company, and
the interior rooms were obliged to cl ose
up shop.
Now, this was o serious blow to the City
commission plan" Their crafty pro-
prietors held council of war. 1t was d e.
cided to invade the enemv's camp. Many
clever devices were resorted 10 for obtain
ing the results of the different events run
off. Men inside the grounds signaled to
confedsrates on the surrounding nils,
women passed out through the gates with
the desired Information secreted about
their person, carrier pigeons were called
into requisition, and in one instance
wire of the Postal Telegraph Company
was tapped. The latter occurrence, how
ever, it is said, was with the full knowl-
edge of the local management.
But the Ingleside people were not slum-
bering and the different clever plans were
after one or two occurrences frustrated.
Nonplused and in despair the owners OF
the smaller joints quit the business, while
the biz dens temporarily suspended, await
ing the reopening of the Bay District.
Next Thursday Ingleslde track will re-
open for the spellAef two weeks running.
Once repulsed and in desperate straits the
men engaged in the Defarious poolroom
traffic resolved to get the required lnfor-
nation at all hazards.
Men whose past records were shrouded
in darkness were called into requisition
and asked to submit plans. At last one
was hit upon, and that is the reason the
keepers of three downtown holes have
been telling their dupes 1--WE will get the
Ingfeside races"
For some time the management of the
new track has been cognizant of the fact
that an underground wire had been run
into the track. and yesterday the story
leaked out. Fearing something OF this
sort, the Pacific Coast Jockey Club has
had in it's employ for some time a skilled
electrician, whose duty it was to inspect
the buildings for hidden wires.
Not many days ago the inspector
became aware Of the fact that there was
Something in the air" and very soon he
made startling discovery. Entering the
grand stand below the arched passage-way
was an underground wire that had its
egress in the toilet-room, which is located
at one end of the betting ring. In three
different locations in the room, cunningly
concealed, we'll ont OF the range of the
human eye, We're stations to be operated
upon the push-button principle. The work
was that of an expert, showing that the
stealthy hand whose labor had been for
naught, was old in experience.
The course of the wire was then followed.
In one instance the long iron rod extend
Ing DeLW66H bile ullCuluR posts Was uLli-
ized as conductor. The wire then passed
along under the ground, making its exit
under the fence at point south of the
main entrance. Just before passing under
the fence was fourth station that could
be used if the operator thought himself
watched at the other points. Out
side of the race course the wire followed
along the fences and trees for some dis
tance. Connection with main wire had
not yet been made.
This expose only shows to the public
what the men engaged in this illegal pool
selling business will resort to. Time and
again their many sharp practices have
been shown up in print, yet still they
thrive and appeal for law licensing their
business. Had the California Jockey Club
put forth the same commendabie efforts to
, prevent the rninous dens from getting the
results as did the new racing organization
there would be no need of calling upon the
police to close the Illegal resorts up, nor of
enacting any new prohibitory measure, for
these parasites, that threaten this grand
sport with destruction, take the hard
earned pennies of the newsboys and fill