Daily camera., 1897-02-23
QUEER WINTER SPORT.
Pennsylvania Farmers Hold Cross
Roads Bull RafHea
A Source of Great Amusement During
the Dull Season-Some Interesting
Features Of the Novel
Scheme. -

concern Is running dH ouu "lhIei
cross-road show in eastern Pennsyl-
vania. Its chief attraction consists OF
big bulls. The owners are conducting
a series of rafting matches at taverns
with the bulls. They give cash instead
of the animals to the prize winners,
and then go on to the next stand.
The owners have a regular route laid
out, and advertise Literally with posters
and handbills. One bull is put up at
one tavern, and the other at another
tavern about five miles away. They
rattle one bull each week, which gives
two weeks time to get out the tickets
and make preparations. The landlord
generally welcomes the advance man,
ard charges very little for his board.
The rattle tickets at 25 cents each are
put up at the tavern, and the farmer
boys very soon get to hear of it. This
attracts a good crowd each evening and
cards are played for tickets. The
favOrite game is four-handed euchre,
two tickets being the prizes for each
game. In this way hundreds Of tickets
Ire played for, over and over again, not
only at the tavern WI IRE the rattle is
to be held, but also at other taverns,
The landlords having been supplied
with tickets by the owners of the bulls.
Many other tickets are also sold direct
70 purchasers. Sometimes 257cent
ticket is ratified off at five cents chance,
five chances. In the country districts
there are no amusements for winter
nights, and this rosS-rOad-raifling show
is Just the thing. In two weeks as
many as 400 tickets are disposed of in
one way or another. The landlord will
accept ticket in payment OF drinks or
cigars just to keep the ball rolling.
When the day of the rattle arrives
Judges are chosen and the ratfling is
done in a side room at the tavern, and
only one rattier is allowed in at time.
Seven old coppers are shaken in
slOuch hat and the number of heads
turned up is counted. Each ratfler has
three throws. After a dozen or more
men have tried their luck, the high man
is allowed to sit in with the judges.
When a higher throw is made the new
man takes the chair to watch the
raffling. The throwing of heads goes
on all day and far into the night. The
landlord is busy, of course, at the bar.
Many of the rattle tickets presented are
dirty and grimy, showing that they
have passed through a number of
hands, in a variety of devious ways, be-
fore coming to the last owner The
high man closely watches each throw
and counts the heads. If five, six or
seven are turned up the first throw
there is greater attention paid. If the
second throw is also large the atten-
non increases. But if the third throw
is low the high man smiles good
naturedly and breathes easier as he re-
taius the seat of honor. For hours 16
may remain high. Then some one will
throw II, and later another IS out of
Il possible q. This is a good throw.
Ten dollars is freely offered for IS
heads, but the lucky man rarely sells
out. Once in awhile some man, wom-
an or child will come in and turn up
10 heads out of possible 21. This IS
soon known to the outside crowd and it
creates a buzz of excitement. If 16 re
mains high the bull owner continues to
sell tickets. but frequently it is stipu-
lated in advance that the sale Of tickets
Iuust stop at a certain hour no matter
what number of heads may be high.
oil q = inly hDT Tp hnaro
ratified the high man takes the bull, and
the low throw also gets prize, such as
4 fat hog, a, set of harness, a set of
dishes, or something Of equal value.
The bull owner is soon negotiating
with the lucky man, and for $40 or $50
the winner is satisfied and the big bull
is driven to the next stand.
The landlord has made out very well,
the boys have had lot of fun, the bull
owner may have taken in $125 cash or
more, and may leave the tavern with
about $50 clear. At times there is
trouble in settling with the winner,
and he puts. up the bull at auc-
ton and makes the owner pay high
for it. Still, generally speaking, peo-
pie have no use for a show bull, and
the owner succeeds in getting it to the
next stand. If he can't settle and must
sell, he'll go elsewhere and soon try an
other animal A bull is more attractive
for a rattle than horse. Frequently a
fox-chase is sandwiched in to make a
rattle more attractive. and the festivities
Iaay end with 2 froEc or dance.-N. Y.
Sun