The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-05-19
THURMAN WAS LIKED
VIRGINIA" CARROLL POPULAR
AMONG ASSOCIATES.
Horseman, Recently Dead, Had Many
Idiosyncrasies, but Few Faults
Shafts Of Humor Always at His
Command.

IL is strange thlnS- that virginia
Carroll should die from cancer of the
tongue" said horseman, speaking
of the death of the bookmaker. "On
the western turf he was probably
known to every man who ever elbow.
ed his way into betting ring in Chi
cago, St. Louis, Memphis or New Or
leans. He was known from coast to
coast. When the odds were posted in
the ring Carroll's disposition changed
entirely. Odds on horses affected him
as raw meat does a hungry tiger. He
was always quarreling with his
patrons, and more than once vicious
fights have been narrowly averted. No
one can ever remember when Virginia
Carroll won fight. When it reached
the fighting point he invariably wig
gled out. He was natura!born come
dian and scores of stories are told of
him"
Il remember one incident at Mem
phis when Carroll was booking some
years ago. said an old-timer. "A
well-dressed man walked up to Car
rolls book and with an umbrella
pointed up to a horses name on Car
rolls blackboard.
Il want to bet on that one, said
the well-dressed man.
Quick as cat Carroll grabbed the
umbrella. threw it in the betting booth
and turning to his sheet writer cried
out:
1.-Two dollars against an umbrella
on So and So The horse lost and
Carroll kept the umbrella.
Another story is told of Carroll
which occurred at ST. Louis. A big,
raw-boned iceman walked up to Car:
rolls book one day at the Fair
grounds and handed the bookmaker a
dollar bin. Only So wagcrs were TAX.
en- and Carroll abused the iceman
dreadfully. Finally the husky Irish
man reached in his pocket and drew
forth an immense knife. Carroll saw
it as soon as the iceman got it out of
his pocket. Snatching the dollar bill
from the iceman's hand, Carroll laid
WIZ IN hthh I'LL &C pOIAIS pCilCI Iudu
the odds posted on his slate. and as
he handed the ticket to the man Car.
roll said:
Say, old pal, you can always bet
anything with me from shoestring
to cake of ice If yon have any
pants buttons in your pocket now you
can bet me those
This so amused the iceman that he
put his knife in his pocket and laugh.
ed with Carroll and everybody else
within the hearing of their voices.
At another time on one of the south
ern tracks Carroll insulted we'll
known turfman. This horse owner
had a habit of walking through the
betting ring shutting silver dollars. He
invariably carried a dozen or more in
his hand. When Carroll angered him
he drew back to throw the twelve sill
YER dollars at the big bookmaker
Suddenly he stopped to think it was
money he was throwing. Thereupon
he took $50 pair of field glasses from
his pocket and threw them at Carroll
They missed the bookmaker and
struck an iron support to the grand
stand and were shattered. He saved
$12 and wasted $50.
You lose another bet" cried Car.
roll, as he saw the glasses smashed.
Carroll was we'll educated and on
the race track was gentlemanly. quiet
and made scores Of friends. He was
always liberal to the poor and seldom
passed cripple or a beggar without
throwing him coin. Sisters of Char
ity never passed him without receiv-
ing handsome contribution.
Carroll had a great habit of chew.
ing chalk or cigarettes, and doctors
say this may have caused the cancer
on his tongue. which it us said ate
that organ away and was fast eating
ont his throat when he died