The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-21
The Famous Plunger Sought to
Beat the Price on Scotch Plaid
in Hot Springs Rooms.
MADE SEVERAL BIG WAGERS.
But the Horse Failed to Win
Riley Grammar Was Lucky at
the Napor City-GOssip
of the Gamblers.

| HEPURI.IC SPECIAL
| Hot Springs AK. Dec. 20.-Turf specll-
! lation in Hot Springs never brisk i'll
| the history of this modern Monte Carlo AS
| now.
| But the present is only a forerunner of
what is to be expected when the holidays
have passed and the influx of visitors swells
| the population to thrice its present proper
| tions
| With several hi: boolmakers operating,
| with :, limit too lofty to be reached except
| when fortunes are to be waged, the fancy
| that often grows from wasers will be nearer
! fact than the result cf pipe" fanciers.
| Every club has made extensive improve
ment to accommodate the players while one
man has been forced to enlarge his quar-
ters and through the entire night force Is
kept cutting away walls and doubling the
capacity of the room he opened In.
Steve L'Hommedieu came from Chicago
at the opening of the season and began
brisk operations. but few of his favorites
made good" and he played heavily one
day on Scotch Plaid when he thought he
was beating the rooms on the price. and
the next day dropped from view. steve
had the scratches in from the New Orleans
track before the rooms. He fancied Scotch
Plaid for a plunge but stepped into the
rooms about IL o'clock. looked over the
board saw that they had not scratched
Andes in the same race, and went in 20
beat the price on Scotch Plaid. First he
wagered $500 on Andes at threes. and about
that time stranger walked in with thou
sand on Scotch Plaid. Steve bet another
$500 on Andes and the unknown set in an
other thousand on Scotch Plaid. Then
L'Hommedieu wagered s2.0V0 on Andes and
the stranger set in another thousand on his
favorite.
One wager offsetting the other, both were
getting a good price. Finally Steve forced
Il ttn tI,n
the floor was setting on Scotch Plaid. When
the coup was perfected and a large wager
had been made on Scotch Plaid at a liberal
price, the telegraph operator announced the
scratches. Andes was out, Steve pulled
down his money and turned to the man who
had backed Scotch Plaid for his tickets.
They were handed TO him, for the stranger
had been none other than Steve's commits
sioner But Scotch Plaid lost. and Steve
played several more like him the same day.
RILEY GRAMMAR DID WELL.
Different entirely was the fate of Riley
Grammar. He came here with small bank
roll that he had accumulated from the La
tonia meet. and left this week for New Or
leans to bank a book with the result of his
winning speculations.
AS an example of now wagers are made
Bessie Mccarthy was posted at even. Her
owner waited for the trace. betting. the
horse going to for D. He bet Sl.Oo1 on his
thoroughbred and was asked If he wanted
more. .-I
BET ten thousand more" replied the
bookmaker. The wager was called but he
made no money on that speculation.
Fred Walbaum. formerly proprietor Of the
week and will remain through the season
When the police of New York raided his
place along with Cantield's he was indis,,
nant, but never was he more convinced
than now that he will secure damages for
the destruction of his Faro Club property
on Thirty-third street. .'S
BALL PLAYER AlcGRAW4 ON DECK.
Johnny McGraw arrived with Jockey
Wonderly. John Carrs hfgh-priced pilot.
and took up quarters for the winter. Nc
Graw stated that he came merely for the
baths and the early work he might do per
coming baseball season. He regrets that
the Giants arranged other quarters for
practice. saying that he expected to appear
next season. and that he believed his pres
ent company would be able to turn the
trick for the Gotham fans.
Joe Walcott spent one month running
took his departure he looked like he might
go in any class and company and prove j
tough nut to crack. He appeared in Tommy
won a decisive victory from Peter Pareira
the Louisville bantam. Bat" Masterson
and others posted at the game stated after
the battle that it was Walcott's advice to
Gilfeather to play waiting game with the
little Italian that was responsible for the
victory. r"
r. c. Chambers of Canadian circuit fame
horse race or prize fight. and has departed
with his interest in the bookmaking game |
to make wasers from the floor. He has
been very successful. A.
Dick Dwyer has taken his departure for |
the Frisco tracks after 1aunting over the |
and reducing somewhat in over |
weight He regarded the Chicago incident, |
cized by a Windy City paper. as closed |
when the Jockey Club refused to entertain |
the charges presented.