The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-10-10
Vagaries Of Winners and Losers.


clcctlOn ncld that there we're not bets
made on the result.
The largest cash bet so far made
public is the one Of so, 900 on the
election &C Bryan, made hy Richard
Croker, the Tammany leader, against
$4,000 by Louis w. Wormscr, a New
York banker. Mr.. Croker lost $50, 900
which he bet in 1898 OIL the election
Of VanWyck for Governor of New
York, and he is determined to get his
money back in November. Mr.. Worm
ser has made many other bets on Nc
Kinlcy, the total SO far reported being
in the ncighborhood Of quarter Of a
million dollars. He gives odds Of 5
to 2, and there are plenty Of Demo
Gratis with money to take him up.
In St. Louis there have not so far
been any important bets recorded.
One gentleman, connected with a
wholesale iron firm, confesscs that he
has sixteen hats and four suits Of
clothes at stake; and as he is betting
on Mckinley, he is beginning to feel
shaky. He is so uncertain, in fact,
that the last bet he made was at
evens-a SIS hat against a s5 hat
instead Of odds of z to "a 81 hat
against So hat, which had been his
offer before. This gentleman is not
as bad off as was the New Yorker
who, in 1892, had 302 hats at stake.
He was betting on Harrison, and it
cost him more than 81 500 to pay off.
One bet that was made in St. Louis
in 1896 has not, so far as known, been
repeated this year. 1t was between
two Franklin avcnuo residents, and
the terms Of it were that the loser was
to eat live cockroach. And he did
without salt, pepper or any con-
dimcnts.
Recently the Sunday Republic told
of an election bet out of the ordinary
that had been made in New Mexico.
The stake is bride; if Bryan is elect
ed, James Howard is to marry Mary
Johnson; if Mckinley is elected, the
terms Of the wagcr-which are with
the father Of the girl-call for the
cessation of the young mans court
ship. This case is, Of course, very
different from the first recorded cleo
tion bet, but still there are points
that suggest resemblance. In the
time Of Pliny, ever so many years be-
fore time began to be counted A. D.,
a rich partrician bet one of his favor
ite wives with a grandee on the re-
suit Of an election. Whether the bet
was at evens-cne wife against an
other wife, or at odds, one wife
against two or three wives, or whether
real estate, cash or a cask Of perfume,
was the other end of the wager, his
tory does not record. At any rate,
the partrician lost, and the grandee
collected the wife. It so happened
that the grandee already had all the
wives he wanted, and he did not see
his way clear to add another one to
his household. Rut hs had friend
who, having recently moved in lar
ger fat, was short few wives, and
bcthought him that it would be gen
crous thing to present him with his
winning. And he did so, much to his
political profit.
Coming on down to the early days
Of the American Republic, it is re-
corded that in campaign between
Federalists and Democrats, a cask of
ale was wagercd on the result by two
prominent men of Philadelphia. The
terms were that the ale was to be
drunk at the Blue Anchor Tavern in
Dock street, then widely patronizcd
inn. A fortnight after the election
was held enough returns had come in
to show the result, and the bet was
paid. There was good, old fashion
cd iamboree at the ale drinking, and
before the night was ended the whole
party was in the hands Of the night
watch. The newspapers of the day
got hold Of the story and printed it,
but, after the fashion of those days,
no names were given. And, also after
the fashion Of the day, the little affair
referred to as ga brawl and ARRAY"
when in these days it would be called
case Of "drunk and disorderly."
Following the course of time and
the election bet, it is found that about
twenty years ago Jay Gould put up a
steamboat as q stake on an election.
Whether the other party to the wager
put up another steamboat, or an
equivalent in cash, real estate or rail-
road stocks and bonds, is not record
ed; but at any rate Mr.. Gould won.
Later he sold the steamboat he had