The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-22
lATLBRYlA ODDS LOWER.
LLOYDS WE'RE PRACTICALLY
OFFERING 3 no AGAINST
HIM.

This "Good Thing" Snapped Up
Then Odds Are Backed Down to 6
% Finally-Insurance Against
Loss 10 Bryan Wins.
| New York. July l7.-Gamblers,
race track men and others who are
always eager to make what they be-
lieve to be good bet swooped down
today upon the officers Of several in
surance brokers. who. as representa-
tives of the Lloyds Of London. had
been writing insurance against a Bry-
an victory at what amounted to bet
ting odds Of to \ against the Me-
brasken. t"
As q result the odds shortened
quickly TO 8 to 4. then to and finally
to Q to 1. All Of the Insurance the
Lloyds would write at that figure was
snapped up instantly. and II was pre-
dicted that tomorrow will see the odds
shortened to 4 to 1. =
Publication OF the fact that the
Lloyds were Issuing policies against
loss Of business In the event Of Bry-
ans election drew a whirlwind of Of
ficers from the West and Middle West.
Business men and politicians all
| through the country wanted to snap
up as much as they could Of the in
surance et the published odds Of 9 to1.
Before 10 A. NJ. today a score or
more well.known sporting men ap-
peared at the office Of one of the big
gest insurance brokerage firms In the
South William street region and
wanted to take all the insurance the
firm would write at the published Ag-
ures. 1t was this demand that sent
the odds down.
Thursday two or three Of the big
firms who handle business for the
L'oyds wrote thousands Of dollars of
Bryan insurance on a basis Of 10 per
cent. which Is the same as odds OF
to 1. When they cabled this morn
ing to know how much more the
Lloyds would taHe at the same figure
they were told that no more would
be written on 10 per cent. basis.
These Gobbled Up Quickly.
A few thousand were offered on
basfs OF 1g per cent. which were
quickly gobbied up. Then there war
a quick jump to IA, and all the offer,
at that figure were snapped up in
stantly. Early In the day word came
that the Lloyds would take small
lump on. 1s per cent. basis. and
that was Immediately subscribed.
From the number OF kilograms re-
ceived from men In the Middle West
II Is evident that Democrats out there
think Stool bet against Bryan is q
good one to pick up.
First OF the bets placed was
made through the frm Of Bertsch-
mann & Maloy. A member Of the
nrm. In talking with friend about
the unusual risks the Lloyds take,
said he saw no reason why they
should not. for q proper percentage
would guarantee brokers and business
men against loss in their investments
In the event that Bryan IL elected. A
cable to the other side brought the re-
ply that the Lloyds would take such
risk on the 10 per cent. basis.
May Havc Written $1,000, 900.
Just how much insurance was writ
ten at this price could not be learned.
II was rumored that the amount was
In, the neighborhood Of 3l.00o.0
but leading brokers declared that II
was less than half that sum. They
asserted that the total amount would
be much less than 3l.000,ooo.
'Tt Is true" said Mr.. Bertschmann,
"that We wrote considerable insurance
today and the day before. but we are
not writing any more today. As soon
as the word spread through the dis
trict that the Lloyds were guarantee
Ing against loss on a basis OF what
amounted to odds Of 8 to against
Bryan they swamped us. The per-
centage went right up until 1t was 16
or Is Ia"
"Are YOU still issuing policies at
that figure. which Is the same as odds
of to II" was asked.
I'VE have written all that the
Lloyds will take at the present time"
Contrary To New Law.
| Under the new antibetting law In
this state recording bets on an cleo
ton Is as great crime and may be
visited with as dire punishment as