The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-14

Not a shadow OF a mistake"
We'll. I must say I am pleased, but I
didn't want to congratulate myself too
SOON"
Subsequently talking Of the contest. Mr..
Fisher explained that he had decided en-
terlng from the first. but had been late in
deciding upon his estimates. He made an
eighteen months contract. and. being an
old subscriber. was entitled to twelve
chances.
81 started out at what I thought was the
highes. possible figure said he. and went
down the line to what I thought would be
the lowest reasonable figure. On a dimin-
ishing scale. 1 wrote down whatever figures
came into my head.
MIR. Fishers twelve estimates were as fol-
lows: ss1 eos. 1888. 2ss. 4o4. 2so.s 2ss. 1924,
eis. $50. 21e.so4. 2o1. 2o2. 49, 10. 1ss, EOS. $500.
1o5. co1. The last was the winner and the
only one near correct.
last Sunday" he continued, when I
saw the official announcement. I knew I
had made a pretty good attempt. but had no
evening I told my wife: I think I am going
to win one Of The Republic prizes
WIFE WAS ANXIOUS
AFTER SHE LEARNED GUESS.
.That was the first she heard Of my
entering at all. When she learned my num-
Der, as compared with the correct one, I
thought the anxiety would make her sick.
If I were you.' said she. I'd camp
down at that paper Office while they were
counting over those guesses.."
Mr.. Fisher is 50 years old. He entered
the office in which he now is as an Office
boy twenty-four years ago. and when Hem
~ Hiemenz was the senior partner. Later
he was deputy clerk Of one Of the Circuit
Courts. and after that spent seven years
in Texas.
Since his return to 81. Louis he formed a
connection with Charles F. vogel.
He lives modestly at Maplewood. has a
wife and one child. Though living COM
fortably. he is not wealthy. He lost money
in the panic Of 1888. This recent stroke of
good fortune will do much to retrieve his
losses in 1888.
Mr.. Obear was notified at his downtown
office yeterday morning. He seemed not the
least surprised, except that his estimate
had failed of being first
How much did that fellow Fisher
estimator" he asked. with some asperity.
Upon being told, he laughed and exclaimed:
Only nine more than I! Well, I thought
I was going to hit somewhere near It. and
at that s., 500 isn't bad for a cold days work. |
Some years ago 1 used to be in the militia !
and made up my mind, in judging military |
crowds. that to divide your estimate in
half would land you approximately at the |
correct figure.
This Is what I did In this instance, of |
course. varying my estimate to suit the |
weather. l based them all, however. on
the supposition that the weather would be |
disagreeable. 1 found that all the almanacs /!
promised cold. rainy weather for that day,
and chose that as a guide.
LUCKY ONES DISCUSS
REASONS FOR GUESSING.
81 have never previously been lucky in
any kind of thing where chance figured. I
never won a rattle in my life"
The third highest St. Louis man was A. |
]. Hoenny. a druggist, at No. 1851 North
Grand avenue. When acquainted Of the re-
suits yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Hoenny was
astonished.
o course, L knew" said he. that I was
somewhere near 1t, but did not place any
too much hope in coming out at the top. l
no special system in making my
but my rainy-day figure was the
one which was successful" !
The eleven estimates made BY Hoenny fol-
low: 23SSs2, 224,6ol. 22.345. 201. 099. O.234.
lso,s7. 1881. 175.27s. $50, sol. 257. 2sl. 100, 1eO.
Two of the winners estimated precisely
the same number-103,0 900. They are T. Nc
Donough, Of No. 1924 North Lefingwell ave-
nue.. and E. 7. Brendecke. Of No. 2o1S Chou
teau avenue. Under one Of the provisions
In the rules Of the contest, the award is in
such a case divided. As the estimate quail
fies for the twelfth award. that accordingly /
is divided. Each viii receive .$12.5o.
Two women are included In the list Of the
successful. The one IL Mrs. ]. n. Donovan
Of No. 3S1sA Shenandoah avenue, st. Louis,
gets the fourteenth award Of 80. The
other IL Julia Dexheimer Of Mount Yer
non. Ind. who will be SEQ the richer by
virtue of her accuracy at estimating.
The country entries secure the third.
fourth. sixth. seventh. eighth and ninth
awards. or N,o75 Of the total Nao0.