Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-09
WIRES DID NOT TICK
SPORTS WHO WENT TO WILDWOOD
DISAPPOINTED.
Cause of the Failure to Receive the
Returns Not Yet Definitely
Ascertained.

Wildwood sports were sorely disappointed
yesterday when they went to the pool room
to wager their money on the ponies. There
was nothing the matter with the ponies.
but the Western Union wires refused to do
the ticking necessary to give the odds and
results. 1t has been announced by the
managers Of the resort that the room would
open yesterday without fail. as the trouble
with the telegraph company had been set
tied. When the sports assembled at the
pool room yesterday after an intermission
of about two weeks and the ticker failed to
give the results of the races on the several
tracks II was limited that somebody had
tampered with the wires or that the West
ern Union company had reconsidered the
matter and decided unfavorably to the
Prince Georges county sporting fraternity.
Another rumOr had II that a representative
Of the good people of Takoma Park had cut
the wires. This was soon denied however,
and the managers of the game could only
conclude that the trouble with the
telegraph company.
Severe Disappointment.
Whatever the difficulty was. there was
trouble experienced which caused severe
disappointment both to the managers and
patrons of the place. The long distance
telephone was brought into play and the
results of several races were received in
this way. Mr. Turner. one of the man
ayers assured the sports that he would get
the results of the track events if the tele-
phone had to be used at an enormous ex-
penditure of money every day. There was
a large crowd of Washingtonians in at
tendance yesterday, and most of them
blamed the st. Asaph's gambling combina-
ton for the trouble Others attributed the
trouble to Sheriff Hardisty. 1t was stated
that the sheriff had seen officials of the
Western Union Telegraph Company and
placed the matter before them in a way to
indicate that the transmission of the mes
Sages would constitute a violation Of the
Maryland gambling law. 1t is also stated
that the sheriff threatened to have a posse
of officers on guard in event of the
opening of the resort. So far as could be
ascertained today there was no evidence
at Wildwood yesterday of such posse.
During the time the law has been so open
ly violated only one prosecution has been
instituted. and that was done by private
citizen. Takoma Park residents think the
county sheriff and constables should do
something toward breaking up the resort
Manager Taff's Statement.
Mr.. Frank H. Taft. manager of the local
office of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, said to a Star reporter this
morning that he knows nothing of the
trouble that is being experienced by the
ing news, he said. goes direct to that office
the same as 1t does to the room at st.
Asaphs and other similar places. Any ar
rangement the company might have made
with the promoters Of the resort would not
come through him as manager OF the office
in this city. He thought there had been
no wire cutting engaged in. for such trouble
would in all probability be reported to him.
Thus far, Ell stated. he had received no
such complaint Rumor has 1t that the
fight between the rival gambling establish
ments Is likely to result in trouble for the
Virginia as well as the Maryland concern.
and that IL will be a case of the law-abid-
ing people getting their dues when the
end of the struggle comes. The trouble
promises to be a fight to finish, and. 1t
the law in other sections Of the country
may become involved
A man who has watched the fight since
the opening of the Wildwood resort says
lished in The Star few days ago. in which
1t was made to appear that with such
gamblers 1t is usually a case of dog eat
dog"
Interest in the Outcome.
Prince Georges county politicians and
"grafters'' are watching the proceedings
with more than ordinary interest, as the
outcome means something to them. The
''grafters" are particularly anxious con-
corning the result of the trouble, as the
breaking up of the pool room might great
ly Inconvenience them financially. On the
streets this morning the alleged sports
discussed the affair. and the belief was ex-
pressed that both Wildwood and ST. Asaphs
will have to close their doors in the near
future A number of those who were dis
Amounted Yesterday at Wildwood returned
there today to patronize the orlslnators OF
the straight track prices.