Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-09-16
BIG PLUNGES IN
SPORTING WORLD.
MEN HIRE COMMISSIONERS TO
MAKE THEIR BETS AND ARE
FAR FROM SPORTY" IN
APPEARANCE.

Betting money for other people has
grown to be a business of extensive
profit. The betting commissioner at
race tracks, in pool rooms and at ath-
letic clubs where big glove fights are
held is an important parsonage, and
one who commands both salary and a
percentage of winnings that make it
worth his while to spend the time in
this way. The betting commissioner
has his imitatOrs, and some of these
are worth a study.
In olden times the men who plunged
on sporting events to the extent OF
thousands of dollars made their own
bets by putting up the cash in the
hands of any responsible stakeholder
who received a fee for his pains. Then
it was that anybody could tell how
such and such a bettor was placing
his money, so that his likes or dis
likes could be easily ascertained. Now
adays, however, it is almost impossible
to find out how the plungers Of prom
inence are betting, because their money
is inevitably put out by men Fired for
the purpose and known as commission
ers. Men like "Pittsburg Phil the
Dryers, Dave Gideon, Senator limo
thy D. Sullivan, Steve L'Hommedieu
and others who make heavy wagers at
the track and at fights are seldom seen
handling money rolls. In fact nobody
for an instant would believe from the
quiet demeanor of those men that they
had small fortunes at stake. But with
a whisper or nod they let their COM
missioners know what kind of a bet
they want to make, and then sit back
calmly awaiting results. The commits
sioner goes into the betting ring, fights
with the mob, and when he gets to the
book with which he wishes to do bust
ness he is quickly recognized by the
layer. Even then no cash is shown,
but the commissioner makes known the
name of the horse he cares to back and
also the amount he has been author
lied to wager The commissioner S
employer enjoys unlimited credit, and
if he wins his lbet the bookmaker of
course settles. If the better loses the
commissioner comes round the next
day with the cash or check. At the
fights the same commissioners who do
the betting at the tracks are at work.
But in this case they have to be well
supplied with ready money, as nearly
all the betting on the pugilists is con-
Quoted on a cash basis.
To those who do not know these
commissioners from any other class of
sporting men, they appear 10 be the
real plungers. They are always neat
ly dressed. wear many diamonds and
look like true-blue sports If there is
any new fad in the dressing line pc
culiar to the sporting fraternity, these
individuals are sure to have it. Sew
eral of the leading commissioners were
the first to introduce the little light
canes with crooked silver handles that
are now so universally in use. while
others introduced the pure white felt
hats with rolling brims that are TO be
seen wherever the dead game ones
congregate. Many commissioners do
not like to have it generally nown that
they bet other peoples money In
stead. they seem anxious to be regard
ed as plungers and when they make
big bet they take good care that the
go8ips know of it. And they also in
variably exaggerate the amount OF
money wagered.
Many clever commissioners wager
their own money on the information
they receive from their employers and
several of them have blossomed out as
bookmakers or horse owners.