New-York tribune., 1905-02-02

Ashevie. n. c., Feb 1-Ceorge E Smith the rac.
track plunger, better known as ''Pfttsbure Phil"
died this morning at sanatoriu-a here from cor
sumption. He had beer aing for three years with
bronchial and pulmona1y troubles. In November
he came here and seemed to be improving but he
was taken suddenly i'll last night
George e. Smiths name OF "Pittsburg Phil" bv
which he known on the turf was given 70
him by William Riley the well known pool seIIe-
who in the early sos managed the largest DoOl-
room in the United States at Chicago He re-
ceived the on account of the large nurnbe- OF
Smiths that patronized the poolroom "P1ttsburS
Smith would not do, for there another Smith
from Pittsburg consequently Mr. Riley said AZ
will call you 'Pittsburg Phil and the name cI1,nz
the plunger until the day of his death He was
educated in the public schools of Allegheny City
Penn, reaching the grammar grade, when he was
forced to 60 70 work TO assist the support OF
his mother and younger brothers He chose the oc-
cupation Of a cork cutter, at which he worked
until he eighteen years old. when he began his
career bettor his first effort being on the base
ball game. Betting horse races ir the pool
rooms of those days In conjunction with base
ball and other sports. Smith turned mis- attention
TO the horses, and was most assiduous student Of
form. or to use the expression of the day was
Of the pioneer handicappers of horses for bet
ting purposes.
His success from the start was phenomenal He
rapidly acquired wealth. and with the sum Of
1000 TO his credit he invaded the pooIroorns of
Chicago in 1855. From that year until the present
time he had been one of the most important
in the betting ring in this country. Although he
had witnessed running race in his life
until he reached Chicago. no had accumulated q
comfortable fortune by betting On them He at
tended the meetings at Washington Park ana
studied the methods of the different owners train
ers and jockeys with the result that in two years
he had S2500O0 TO his credit.
He paid a flying visit the Eastern raoetraoxs
in 1889 and decided that there was larger nAld
for his operations in the East. He bet heavily
IL
lie purchased King Cadmus and a few other horses
which he placed IN charge OF his brother William
Smith. trainer. few convinced him
an owner did have a chance without a Jockey
lie selected Tod Sloan in 1885 to ride for him
Under Smiths guidance and management Sloan be-
the premier jockey of the world. ana In
1885, went to England. where he made reputa don
never equalled by any Jockey.
winnings some races were enormous he raced
the gray horse BelmaT with remarkable success
the Brooklyn Handicap with Howard Afaua
and the horses that wore his coiors the means
OF msay staggering blows TO the betting ring Vie
picked up William Shaw in New-Orleans in 1s0
American turf through the advice of his mentor
The plunging propensittes OF 'Pittsburg PhIl''
Incurred the ciEpleasure of the Jockey C,iuh
Snaws license taken away from him after h
questionable ride Father BIl' Days IIyria
early in ,sJ5. Snith's entries refused shaw
and Smith restored to favor last year bv
the stewards, and Smith had looked forward to a
successful season IN 1905
George E Smith, personally rather attrac-
tive. He was a fluent taiker and a thorough stu