The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-10
A SAD OBJECT-LESSON.
Fate of n Washington Man Who
Followed the Races"

EIOul the w dSnl0StOn star.
There could scarcely be a more motley
throng of men than that which flows over
on the trolley trains every afternoon to
the horse racing pool room on the grounds
of the abandoned outlaw race track at
st. Asaph. The men belong to every sta
ton in life. On Wednesday last one of
the racing events of the season, the Cres-
cent City Derby was run off In New
Orleans. The st. Asaph pool room was
damned with infatuated Washington men,
who went over there on that day to place
their bets on the big entry, but who all
most to man, got tangled up in the gen.
eral vortex of mud races all over thA
Countrywide pool room at st. Asaph gets
the reports from all of the tracks and
takes bets on the events-with the result
that deep dismalness pervaded the return
ing trains after darkness had settled over
the city. Warnings or approximations do
not avail with the man who has got the
horse-racing fever. Bitter experience
alone can teach him that the ponies is
a game that cannot be beaten But there
was one man at the pool room on Wednes-
day last who needs to have his case told
about. Everybody in the pool room
from the prominent WashingtonIan who
came near holding high office in the dis
trlct at ono time down to the negro tout
knew about this man, and pitied him for
being a fool.
The man was dirty unkempt, shaggy
headed unshaven, and in general very
figure of unceanliness and Wretchedness.
Two years ago he was a prosperous Wash
ington contractor, an industrious man, in
a fair way of becoming more than com
fortably fixed, and with a happy family.
including two pretty daughters Then he
got the pony fever" At first he follow
ed the racing circuit-lald down his money
where he could see the runs made for IT.
and for a few months was something of
high-roling figure at Brighton, Sleeps
head Bay, Morris Park and the other big
race courses. But he didn't know any
thing whatsoever about racing and he
was a stubborn man besides. He lost
steadily. He permitted his business to 90
to rot. He went broke on the Southern
circuit, and came back to Washington TO
do a bit of mortgaging. His business
passed out of his hands. His friends tried
to talk some sense into him, but he would
have none of it, He owned four good
houses, that brought in enough rental to
keep his family comfortably. They all
went over to ST. ASaph His family NOV
ed to a little tumbledown rented house.
The man kept hammering away at the ST.
Asaph game, and he has been getting right
down toward the ditch for the last few
months. Even the proprietors of the st.
Asaph institution tried to induce this man
to take tumble TO himself, but he was
too far gone.
On Wednesday this man was one of the
first arrivals at the pool room, and, as
said. he was the filthiest and most woful
spectacle Imaginable. Before the first race
was run he sided over to one of the sheet
writers and pulled a dirty piece Of paper
out of hiss pocket. 1t was a dispossess
document.
My furniture's on the street" said the
crazy man. but I've got So. Do you know
of anything good? Want to win out enough
to pay my rent
The sheet writer told the man he'd bet
ter keep his s. But the advice was moi
taken. The man laid down his 81 on a
long shot. horse that was never heard
of in race. and, of course, lost. As he
shuffied out Of the pool room in the d.
rection of the station. this man surely
presented an indispensable object lesson,