The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-20
AL Smith HAD
VARIED CAREER

Al Smith, the sporting man, who
died in New York recently. was an in
teresting figure in the sporting world.
OF late years Mr.. Smith was known
as a stake-h In many important
prizefights, and as a keen follower Of
the race tracks and the stock market.
His health had been failing for some
time, however, and his gambling ven
lures were not generally successful.
Born in 1910, near Cleveland. he was
associated with the venturesome activ-
ity of gold fever and civil war days.
He was an athlete of no mean ability
when he was a young man. and once
ran a foot race with Dan OIeary and
defeated him. After this he took
O'Leary to England for the famous
Ashley cup contest.
At the age Of Fl Smith was lieu
tenant in the union army, and fought
through the war, taking part In the
battles of Wilson's creek, Carthage and
other fights. After the war he resigned
from the army and went across the
plains to the gold fields. He told of
many encounters with Indians and OF
foot races he ran with the redskins
for various prizes.
On his return from the mines he
opened a gambling house in Chicago,
which for some time was the largest
place of it's kind there. He eventually
came to New York and managed the
walking matches here, and made a large
sum from them. In John l.. Sullivan's
halcyou days Smith managed him on
a trip OF the country and as his share
Of the venture received $4,000.
In wide open tenderloin days Smith.
with Butch Thompson, the bookmaker.
ran the famous White Elephant at
Thirty first street and Broadway. This
was known as an "open poolroom,"
and conductors of the old green horse
cars always halted I'm front of the place
and shouted: "AIl out for the White
Elephantt" Smith took as his share
of this enterprise, s15O.0O0, when he
parted company with Thompson.
Lost Heavily in Panic.
In the industrial panic Of 1898 Smith
lost heavily in the stock market. He
had become known as quite a heavy
operator on margins. and on going to
the Worlds Fair he was long Of 10000
shares or so Of stock. The crash fol-
lowed, and his fortune was depleted.
Since that time he has lost large sums
on the bear side of the market.
1t was recalled that Smith once ref
creed a fight between John L. Sullivan
and John Flood, which was held ON
barge, anchored off Yonkers. Flood
was a big favorite, but Sullivan, an UNI
known then, proved a whirlwind and
quickly mad Food beaten. A great
many In the crowd had bet on Flood
and many swarmed into the ring in a
threatening manner. Smith, however
was unmoved and declared Sullivan the
winner
For thirty-four years Smith had
been a guest at the GiIsey house. In
ais room there were many sporting
prints and souvenirs Of historic value.
He was a member OF the "old guard"
which came into prominence there
about four years ago. The hotel was
CLOSED" but the old guard sent on
for water and candles and lived in
their rooms until a new manager ap-
peared, Besides his management of
Sullivan and O'Leary Smith took
George Slosson, the billiard player, to
Paris, where he backed him against
Vignaux.
AS a stakeholder, 1t was said that
managers handed large sums to AL
Smith with as much confidence as IL
the money was going into a bank He
was a man Of large build six feet tall
and weighed over two hundred pounds
before he was confined to the hotel.
AS a type of the old school sporting
man Smith was a stanch and gentle
manly example His friends were le-
gion here, but he was also well known
in England. English fighters coming
here were generally armed with a let
ter to AL Smith which assured them
good treatment.
A few years ago the government
found out that Smith had Civil war
pension coming to him. 1t amounted
to only $12 month. but Smith was
proud of the fact that he could prove
he had been in the war.
In the old Gilsey house cafe Al
Smiths table was generally the center
of an interesting crowd.