The Washington times., 1905-05-05
BUSINESS IS BRISK
At NEW POOLROOM
System Complicated by
M0ney-Order Scheme.
FAMILIAR FACES ARE SEEN
Maryland Telegraph Company Rents
Buildings, Says President Wali-No
Apprehension of Trouble.

They're off at Belmont. Sysonby il
the lead by a neck; Race King second
by length; Santa Catalina third
Once more the familiar announcement
thrilled a great crowd OF Washington
sports who, gathered in the new pool
room at kenilworth yesterday, had
moment before been united in one OF
the maddest struggles ever seen about
Z bookmaker's stand.
1t was the running OF the metropolitan
Handicap. Every eye was strained on
the blackboard to pick out the prices
of the various horses as their progress
around the track. sc many miles away,
was noted.
''Sysonby at the three-quarters, by a
length" the announcer continued; Race
King. second: Beldame. third.
Excited Race Watchers.
..Sysonby and Race King in the
stretch. Colonial Girl third.
And the crowd which filled the stuffy
little room TO overlooking, forget the
eat-everything-for the moment, in
waiting for the final announcement.
..Come on, Beldar1le. Come on Bel
dame cried a young man. as he snap
ped his fingers in the vain hope that
they would soon be clutching roll of
ereenb a cks, won by playing the Octagon
mare, at 8 TO /. But his cry passed IN
noticed, as all interest again centered
in the announcer Shout-"cioSe fin
ish," followed a moment later by the
cry Of Dead hea1Sysonby and Race
King; Colonial Girl, third First money
was divided among the hackers, as it
was by the owners of the horses in New
York.
If yesterday can be taken as an indi-
cation of the future, the new poolroom
will enjoy the greatest prosperity. Near
" all the old familiar faces were there.
and many new ones. In every point,
save that women were not allowed with
In the enclosure and that colored men
were told to hit only the high places
in getting back TO town. the Kensl-
worth poolroom was a miniature st.
Hard to Place Bets.
In fact not more than half the men
who wanted TO bet on the Metropolitan
could get their money down, because
there were only two clerks to receive
bets. The system was so complicated
that not d few. after putting their
money through one window and receiv-
ing blue ticket, thought they had done
all that was necessary.
Just twenty minutes elapsed between
the time the odds were posted on the
biggest race of the day and the time
the announcer cried They're OF. In
that time the 800 men in the enclosure
were united in headlong rush TO the
window where money orders" We're
sold, and thence to the telegraph office
70 wire the money TO r. P. Lee & Co.
Harper's Ferry. w Va"
Il r Lee q Co were prompt in sending
the money back again, for the second
message, in cipher, confirming the pre-
HIninary announcement of the winters
was paPeiy entered on the blackboard
s Wi3en al winners were paid off, the face
winnings, as indicated by the number
which answered the same purpOse az
etc.
Fee Not Collected.
On their money orders" the MARY
land Telegraph Company state that a
charge of % cents will be made for for
warding all moneys up to SIS, and
Charge of. per cent on all amounts
aver that sum. If anyone paid % cents
for having his money sent TO or. p
Fec & Co. Harper's Ferry" then it was
a separate transaction, and done in Sc
ret. Not one of a dozen mon whose
placing of bets was carefully watched
was even asked for the 25-eent fee thf
sheet writer's seemingly making void
tickets. 'i'e
Not a few who were bewildered bv Tho
system were heard to mutter maiedin
A4Sl-H Lk1ot4 II anu 10 swear that Thesr
would never enter such q rush again 70
would never enter such a rush again II,
oct on the races Others were seen "a
plunge into the vortex OF the whirlfnp
aaob twice and thrice before the after
1oon was oYer-sucI $ the fascination
of playing the ponies
arthur Wall. who figures as ''presi
cent OF the Maryland TELEGRAPH
company, and who stood near the
: marker all Of yesterday, instrilcting
INN on the odds on each horse ew
planned that thu pooIroon was nothing
more lhan a telegraph office, and thai
the Maryland Telegraph C0mnarv
merely received the money. 10 he sent
py wire 70 Harper's Ferry He also
SAID that the Maryland Telegraph Com
pany dld not own the building in which
Is principal office Is located. but that
II leased the premises from another
party
Apprehend No Trouble.
From ". II. Mohler, a member of the
special committee appointed bv the
Citizens Association 10 go TO Timer
Marlboro and protest against the pooi-
room, IL was learned that Road S'Iper-
visor Magruder had notified the pnoI-
room management on Wednesday that
their poles must be removed within
sorty-eight hours on pain of having
them cut down. If this threat Should