The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
PITTSBURG PHIES FIRST BET.
showing the same self-Control That
Wrecked Nike Dwyer.

The man who was selling pools when
pittsburg Phil was cork cutter in the
Smoky City and who took tho first bet ever
made by the famous plunger says Of that
incident:
Il have often wondered what ould have
become OF Phil if he had not won that dollar
combination from me. which Melted s73
Phil was was only boy when he came 10
me one day and put up his dollar. He
looked to me then, as | recall It, AZ II IN
was ready TO quit If encouraged to do 80
He did not seem 10 have his heart in his bet
and have often thought that had he lost
that dollar he might have gone back TO the
cork works instead Of becoming one of the
great plungers Of the turf. But he won
the combination. and / shall never forget
his face when he received the m oney. He
never changed muscle. Next day ho
started book of his own on that so. He
ran a 80 cent book among the employees Of
the cork works. and did 80 well that il was
not long before he was able 10 compete
with the best Of us You could not beat
Phil at the horse game. Even when M
made that little handbook he would tell you
that You were trying 10 take his bet if you
wanted a certain horse, but he would be-
you just the same. His Judgment was the
best
Those who know pittsburg Phil best saw
that his nervous system hns hecn shattered
because OF the intense strain and worry
caused by his extensive operations on the
turf, The noted punger has never given
vent 20 his feelings, whether winner or loser
at the racetrack He has never beer
demonstrative but has always possessed
,,l,t OF. IauNaannr xrbfnh 4
singular Characteristic Of some of the biggest
turf spectators. The case of Pittsburs
Phil. in some ways resembles that Of an
other famous plunger in his day. Mchae
+ Dryer. Both Of these men have won and
lost thousands without showing outward
y anE of excitement.
The story has often been told how Dwver
once made wager OF $4,000 on one Of his
famous racehorses and lost; how he 50
his horse beaten In the last jump and
looking at his split second watch. coollv
remarked
THAT was fast run race
To-day Dwyer il q physical wreck, Fe
has been practically hslplnss for o nun
Ser Of years vet lie still c!ings 70 his Old
love, One dav last summer, when he had
been driven all the way from Graveseno
10 Morris Park the veteran suddenly fel'
a desire TO see the big betting ring.
take me down so that I can sec the
books he said 10 his faithful attendants
and forthwith they literally carried him
TO the scene OF bustling speculation under
the big grandstand. Dwyer looked at thf
big crowd for several moments, listened O.
the cries of the layers and their runners
and then, turning 10 his attendants. said IN
n husky voice.
-Tye seen enough, Take me back les tho
last time | shall ever 90 20 the betting
Tingl'
Pittsburg Phil has suffered fully as
great a strain a. Dryer But he has been
more fortunate than the veteran horse
man in that he made n fortune Phil -
Gel we'd a hard blow when the Jockey Clur
refused mis- entries two years ago and al
revoked the licenSe OF his Jockey, Willie
Shaw. Be protested his innocence v1gor
ously, hut all to no purpose until one da'
last summer the stewards relented. The
plunger then was in poor health and Ia
practically given up heavy betting. n
visited the track now and then for an or
ing and put down a small wager ONT -
mere force Of habit. but that was all he
said he could not stand the strain
Men who have watched the career ~
these two plungers say now that n 'he'
had given vent to their feelings thew vou.-
probably have escaped III health
1t was the inward suffering hat buy
them. said leading booRmaker recent
They lost without grimace and y VI
without a smile. Other men let out roc
when they drop bet and dance for 'o'
when they cash and all Of ;hem are r
robust health. They simply ef ~ 'n'
steam which does them good. Il is tcl-
ful strain on the nerves 20 keep under con-
troll all the time.