The sun., 1910-02-20
MAN WHO KNOWS EVERYBODY
RRIEF SKETCHES Of PEOPLE
MET IN BROADUAY.
Ips and Downs OT q GambIer-HOw q
Billiard Player Recovered HIS Nerve
Former Baseball Players--ITncer-
taIntieS OF Horse Racing Illustrated.

'po you know that feeble old fellow
moving along over there?" asked the
man who knows everybody OF his friends
as they were taking their usual stroll
along Broadway the other afternoon.
-No? Well. he deserves a happier life,
for he's been one of the biggest hearted.
most generous fellows in the sporting
world.
Many years ago he was a successful
gambler in St. Louis. where he cleaned
mp more than half million. He ran pool
rooms, ba clxed bookmakers and conducted
innumerable fsro games. His hobby was
prizehghting and billiards. and he hacked
some famous pugilists and cue wielders.
There was no limit to his wagers in those
days and he was seldom in wrong.
He travelled many miles to be at the
rngsde when John L. Sullivan, Jack
McAuliffe and Jack Dempsey had fights
on. and in many instances he acted as
stakeholder and referee. Drifting to
this part Of the country he got mixed up
in the racing game and also became part
owner OF several palaces OF chance. Some
Of the biggest plungers borrowed large
sums from him without giving so much as
the scratch of a pen and few OF them
never settled.
"In time the old fellow found that he
couldn't do a thing right. and little by
little his money slipped away until year
ago he became seriously i'll. only to find
himself without a dollar. Several friends
realized his condition when he tainted at
a racetrack one afternoon and sent him
to a quiet place in the country to rest.
> lie recovered his strength soon and got
a job as door tender in a poolroom which
A0
he's doing for livelihood now. but I do
know there are several rich sporting men
he can go to when in need. for they have
not forgotten the days when he helped
them out Of tight places.
The other day this youthful looking
chap with the sharp feat and trim
figure got married He's morS than
fifty. although he looks at least twenty
wears younger. That is probably bacause
he's spent the greater part OF his life
around the racetracks training horses
Tor many notable owners.
Some time ago he handled the stable
Of Brooklyn politician. now dead. and
together they operated on a large scale;
but as luck would have it every time
the politician put down a plunge bet he
lost. The climax was reached when
this chap saddled a crack filly to start
in rich stake event. The filly had
shown such remarkable speed in her
private trials that il was believed she
couldn't lose barring an accident. so
the politician wagered enough money on
her at the track and elsewhere to win
10000.
The finish was one Of the closest ever
seen in this vicinity. II looked to many
eve witnesses as If the Ally won by nose.
but after some delay the judges decided
that another fiIly had earned the verdict
This hard blow resulted in the sale of
the politicians stable and his trainer
looked elsewhere for a job.
"Along came a sensational plunger
who had won nearly 5000, 600 in Cairo,
Egypt playing bank and the wheel d.
He picked up this trainer and proceeded
to bay a famous horse for SIS 600 spot
clsh; but the combination had no luck
a. all. for inside OF a year the soldier OF
fortune was stone broke and had to sell
everything. The trainer somehow man
aged to save money all this time and
to-day they tell me he is well OF. He's
always been an athlete and is one Of the
best eyponents Of the manly art in town.
The man with him has had lively
career. He began it as a tumber in
Barnums circus and WAS particularly
expert St turning somersaults over the
e'eph"utc. He was a natural lover Of
hprseAesh and soon found his way TO the
racetracks, where he became a book
maker.
An influential member OF the Jockey
Club took e fsncy TO him and got him into
the clubhouse rs betting commissioner
Then he made money rapidly and was
able 70 take all kinds OF wEgers. In fact
he was the pioneer in this particular line
Of business. He bought some great
horses finally. and one OF them hung I'D a
worlds record for a mile and a furlong
which still stands.
The game was too soft to last and
after while everything broke badly
for him Several big bettors ran out,
owing him IN the ighborhood Of $50, 900,
which he could never collect. He had
IN anchor to windwArd, however, In the
ownership OF valuable mining property
u Mexico. 80 that he isn't worrying about
where he is going to sleep or get his next
neal.
There's one of the greatest billiard
players In the world Perhaps I should
say he used 70 be. Yes, the little nervous
man with the fur lined overcoat and soft
hat. He's conducted a famous billiard
room here for a long time and Is still
rizard with the cue.
I remember the time he had At OF
sickness end his physician told him to
drink nothing but water. When he got
veil he stuck TO this advice, but found that
big skill es a billiardist had completely
left him. He couldn't understand IL at
all He practised day after day. but
Couldn't make even en- ordinary shot,
and as a result he became so nervous
that his friends feared breakdown.
One day he met another crack player
Who said he'd been through q similar
experience but had found q remedy.
BE explained that whenever he started
- play a game OF billiards he took a stiff
drink Of whiskey. The little fellow took
this tip on the instant and also indulged
p iu nip. Then he took up his cue and
discovered to his delight that he could
rlay as well as ever.
Tho six footer with the red mustache
'sed 70 be police captain on the lower
last Side. Tue refoImers put the bee
MI him and when things got too hot he