The Washington times., 1905-08-20
DRAKE IS NOT
A BIG BETTOR?
At Least His Wife SAYS He
Is Not.
GENERAL SPORTING GOSSIP
Artful-sysonby Match Attracts Inter
est in Racing World-Death
of Joe Cotton.

NEW YORK. Aug. 19.-Drake, Gates.
plunges. Bet you a million.' Bah!
The lid is off! One or two dollars
once in a while and thank you.
While everybody was considering Mr.
Drake a real betting sod, a money de-
vourer. the terror of boollnlakers etc.
Mrs. Drake steps forward and buries US
under a heap of bitter disappointment
'-All the reports printed about my
husband being a plunger, said she.
are incorrect IN fact. Mr. Drake is
a very moderate bettor. and never risks
more than a few dollars on a race.
People can now explain themselves
how Mr., Gates associate could afford
to see his horse run m last without
showing the slightest emotion.
Wonder what an interview on the
same subject with one of Mr.. Gates
relatives would disclose?
Another Of the ''old guard" has passed
away.
Old Joe Cotton, one OF the best
known figures of the American turf. ex-
rired Tuesday last at the Bellevue Hos
r{tal. where he had been for some time
suffering from kidney trouble. He was
ssxty-six years old. and his loss will be
mourned by all those who had the good
fortune of knowing him.
On Tuesday last Col. John Jacob As
tcr's big steam yacht Nourmahal suf-
fered a new mishap while on her way
t. Brenton's reef iightship to follow the
racing yachts over the course in the
contest for the Astor cups OFF Newport,
and yachtsn1en are now talking OF the
strange hoodoo that seems 10 pursue
The floating palace OF the millionaire
sportsman.
Some years ago she went on the reefs
in the Hudson river off New Hamburg.
while on her way TO New York TO so
out 10 the races between the Valkyrie
and Defender. and instead of going to
the races she had 70 go into drydock- A
few days later while on her way out TO
the Hook. with Colonel Astor at the
wheel, she was run into by ferry
boat The latter was badly damaged.
but the Nourmahal went outside just
the same.
Colonel Astor has assured his many
friends that in spite of all the acct
dents suffered by the Nourmahal he
does not intend to quit yachting just
now
have just received a letter from Rs-
mon Fonst, the champion fencer of the
world. in which he tells me OF his in
tention TO visit the United States next
fail.
Mr. Fonst is only twenty-one years Of
age and in spite OF his youth has had
the distinction Of vanquishing the most
famous masters of two continents.
a few years ago he won the sword
championship of France after beating
the most renowned fencers of France
and Italy. His record then was a won
derful one, having touched his adver-
saries eighty times and being touched
himself only once. in the last bout.
From Paris Fonst went 10 Spain where
he took part in the King tournament.
and ne vanquished all his opponents.
sixteen in number. touching them sew
eral times. and not being touched him
self once.
After this wonderful victory the young
champion returned TO France, where he
repeated his previous performance, and
after a brief rest in Havana (his native
ctty) ne entered the Olympic Fencing
Championship. at the ST. Louis Worlds
Fair.
There Mr.. Fonst met the best fence-s
of the United States, including AIr. Post
Mr.. Casemere. and others, and defeated
them. both with swords and foiis. in
a most decisive manner. thus winning
the title Of champion Of the world.
In the racing world the chief topic Of
= interest is the meeting between ArtfuI
and Sysonby. which has been shifted
from Saratoga TO sheepshead Bay,