The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-02-25
CROSS-ROAD BULL RAFFLES,
Novel Winter Show for Farmers in tho
Eastern Part of Pennsylvania.

Eastern Part of Pennsylvania.
A concern is running an odd winter
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 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 good crowd each evening and
cards are played for tickets. The
favCTite game is fOur-handed euchre,
two tickets being the prizes for each
game. In this way hundreds of tickets
are played for, over and over again, not
only at the tavern where the rattle is
70 he neld. tut also at other taverns.
the landlords having been supplied
with tickets by the owners of the bulls.
MANY other tickets are also sold direct
- purchasers. Sometimes a 25-cent
ticket is ratified off at five cents a chance.
five chances. In the country districts
there are no amusements for winter
NIGHTS. and this cross-road-rairino, show
is lust the thing. In two weeks as
MANY as 400 tickets are DISPOSED of in
one way or another. The landlord will
accent q ticket in paymeut of drinks or
cigars inst TO keen the ball rolling.
When the day of the rattle arrives
iudges are chosen and thr railing is
done in side room at the tavern. and
only one RATHER is allowed in at q time
Seven old coppers are shaken in =
SLOUGH hat and the number of heads
turned up is counted. Each raffler has
three throws. After a dozen or more
men have tried their Incl, tbe bipb man
i allowed to sit in with the iudoes
When q hiuher throw is made +be new
man takes the chair to watch the
rafting. The THROWING of heads poes
on all day and far into the night The
landlord is busv of course at tbe bar
MANY of the rattle tickets presented ara
dirty and grimv. showing that thew
have nassed through a number Of
hands in a variety of devious WAYS he
fore COMING to the last owner The
biob man closely watches each throw
and counts the heads. If five six or
seven are turned nm the first throw
there is greater attention maid. If the
second throw is also LARGE the atten-
tior increases Rut if the third throw
is low the high man smiles pood-
naturedIv and breathes eosiar as he re-
tains the seat of honor. For hours 16
NAV remain high. Then some one will
throw II. and later another 1S ont of
a possible q. This is 4 coed throw.
Ten dollars is freely offered for 10
heads. but the lucky man rarely sells
out. Once in awhile some man won-
an or child will come in and turn nm
10 heads out of a possible 81. This is
soon known to the outside crowd and if,
creates n buzz of excitement If 16 re-
mains biph the buT owner continues tn
sell tickets but freouentlv if is stinu-
lated in advance that the sale of ticlets
1lust stoD at certain bour NO matter
what number of heads NAV he HIGH
FINALLY when all the ticl,ets have baen