The evening times., 1898-11-10

able I'm the history of American political
campaigns. First of all. more money was
wagered than had ever been at stake in
any campaign, not even excepting Presi-
dental elections.
Here in this city alone from s., 900 600 To
sl,JGO,00O was bet on the result Never
had anything like that vast sum been
staked on a State election. AS in this
city, so in equal proportion in the other
cities throughout the State was the bet
ting fever unprecedented, and in al quar-
ters big sums were won and lost.
While the amount Of money thus in
Nolved was remarkable, a still moe s;riA-
ing feature OF the betting was the way
the odds changed. These fluctuations
were frequent and varied until toward
the end the odds shifted several times in
a day, producing bewilderment and con-
sternation such as had never been known
in like times.
In sporting circles yesterday and
throughout a large part of Wall Street
the whole talk was OF the amazing b-t-
ting record of the campaign and the
scenes among the bettors on election
night al the Hoffman House.
OF these Hoffman House stories the
leading one related TO George Whgelock.
and showed how panic had seized upon
some Of the supporters of Roosevelt, if
not on the campaign managers them
selves.
AIr Wheelock had handled the b Uting
money from Republican headquarters.
and had staked from S25000 TO S3JuC0 On
Roosevelt At the beginning, right after
the nomination, he had offered two TO one
on Roosevelt, but gradually reduc his
odds until at length he accepted even
money.
Thus il stood with him between AID
s o'clock on Tuesday evening, when eyen
the Democratic bulletins began co..c, ding
a weakness Tor Van Wyck and the prob
ability VI RooseVelts election
The HOFFMAN House AZ that hour was
filled with bettors among them Matte
Curbett. who had been d strong RepubH-
can supporter one thousand dollars TO
SSpV was being offered on Van Wyck.
Curbett took one bel and then went for
d walk.
He was passing the Hoffman House At
10 o'clock, when friend, pale and agi-
taxed, rushed out and seized him.
.'Wheelock is in there, gasped the
friend, greatly excited, betting on Van
Wyck"
You are mistaken, replied CoTbett;
hes betting on Roosevelt"
NO, / am moi" was the positive re-
joinder; he is betting even money on
Nan Wyck."
Such was the fact. Wheelock had rush
ed into the hotel with eager offers OF
even money on Van Wyck. 1t was said
that he had come direct from Republic
can headquarters Therefore the impress
sion went forth that he was acting ia be-
half Of the Roosevelt campaign manag-
ers, who, having become fearful OF de-
feat, sought TO hedge on the bets made
on their candidate.
From $1,000 even money on Van Wyck
Wheelock dropped from $1,000 10 $500.
Next he offered 81 900 to 500, then went
from 81 900 TO $500. and at this figure bet
all his money, total of $4,000. As IL
Illustrating the great state Of excitement
he was in, II is related how, as he was
making his proposals, man offered TO
bet him TO ! that Van Wyck would be
elected, but Wheelock passed him unno
tiCed
He declared yesterday that the money
W
ncan friends and admirers of Roosevelt
who had become nervous over their bets
and wished to protect them. IL was fur
ther asserted that this hedging was not
done by the campaign managers. II was
positively declared that Mr.. Odell stood
by every dollar he had wagered on ROose-
welt with confidence mistaken for a sin
gle moment BE this as il may, there
was a wide belief yesterday, as there
Was on Tuesday night. that the Repubii-
can campaign managers We're the merry
Gus ones for the hour.
Accepting this supposed exhibition of
Republican panic as an assurance OF Dem
UCIatic success, the Van Wyck bettors in
the Hoffman House rose eXultant and
forthwith proceeded to celebrate their vic
tory. With the big winnings they al
ready faucied in their pockets they fell
TO rejoicing and making merry. Cham
pagne corks popped and loud laughter and
congratulations mingled with the sounds
OF reVelTy.
Amid this e3atod company appeared Mr.
Gates, Of Chicago. one Of the biggest iron
and steel manufacturers west of Pittsburg.
He offered to bet 81 gl5 against $7,c50 that
Van Wyck would win. Everybody was so
sure Of IL that his big offer tempted no
body. Not one would accept it, and sor-
rowful yesterday was the telling Of its re-
fusal
Next came Harry Wild. willing TO wager
Ss9.csg to sl0.oee that Van Wyck would be
the victor. There was not a taker and
many who missed this chance were almost
moved to tears at the thought of it yes
tordsy.
''Bennie" Cohen made the next proposal.
His cffer was 500 TO so that Van Wyck
would be the winner and SOL Lichten-
stein took the bet.
Some Of the bookmakers and stake
holders We're paying bets yesterday
Others withheld the money in their hands
and said they would not pay until the
soldier vote had been counted.
Altogether IL Is estimated that fully
$500 on changed hands in Wall Street on
the result Of the election. OF this sum Bell
& Co handled about half. They were the
OF the big Tammany bet
tors. Edward Bell. the senior member
OF the firm. and Edward Talcott. also a
member wagered large sums on their own
account, Mr.. Bell declined yesterday to
say how much he had lost but persons
who ought to know declared that Roose-
velts election would cost Mr. Bell and
Mr. Talcott something like SEQ 600
Bell q Co. are not paying bets yet
We are unwilling said Mr. Bell. ito
pay any bets, unless with the consent Of
''h Adi ties, unln the result Is definitely
known. Mr.. Bell intmated that he was
waiting 10 hear from the Democratic State
committee.
Some Of the biggest winners in Wall
Street are Jacob Field, new member of
the stock exchange. who Is said 10 he
about S55.eo0 ahead; Alfred De Cordova.
whose winnings are estimated at from $40
e9 10 $4,000: Wasserman Brothers 500 =
COO; Washington Seigman. SO. 600; Richard
III Halstead, $1,000: H. p Frothingbam
5000; +. 7. Adams 5000. Then there Is
the $4,000 bet made by Chairman odeu
last Saturday
Richard Croker's loss. Wall Street heard
would be more than $50 600 while Jobn y