Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-22
BIG PLUNGERs IN THE SPORTING
WORLD.

Betting money for other people has
grown to be a business Of extensive prof
II. Ihe betting commissioner at race
tracks, in pool rooms and at athletic
clubs where big glove fights are held ia
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 bet
ting 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 re-
ceived a fee for his pains. Then it was
that anybody could tell how such and
such a bettor was placing his money, SO
thai his likes or dislikes could be easily
ascertained. Nowadays, however, it is
almost impossible to find out how the
plungers of prominence are betting, be-
cause their money is inevitably put out
by men hired for the purpose and known
as commissioners. Men like "Pittsburg
Phil the Dryers, Dave Gideon, senator
Timothy d. Sullivan, Steve L'Homme-
dieu and others who make heavy wagers
at the track and at fights are seldom
seen handling money rolls. In fact, no.
body for an instant would believe from
the quiet demeanor of these men that
they had small fortunes at stake. But
with a whisper or a nod they let their
commissioners know what kind of a bet
they want to make and then sit back
awaiting results. The commissioneraoi
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 business
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 authorized to wager.
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limited credit. and If he wins his bet
the ~bookmaker of course settles. If the
bettor loses the COMMISSIONS comes
round the next day with the cash or a
check. At the fights the same commits
sioners who do the bettings 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 conducted on a cash basis.
To those who do not know these cons
missioners from any other class of SPORT
ing men, they appear to be the real
plungers. They are alwas neatly dressed,
wear many diamonds and look like true
lue sports. If there is any new fad in
the dressing line peculiar to the sporting
fraternity, these individuals are sure to
have it. Several of the leading commits
sioners We're 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 eongregate. Many commissioners do
not like to have it generally known that
they bet other peoples money. Instead.
they seem anxious to be regarded as plum
gers, and when they make big bet they
take care that the gossips know of it.
And they also invariably eXaggerate the
amount of money wagered.
Many clever commissioners wager their
own none on the information they re-
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of them have blOssomed out as book
makers or horse owners.