Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-05-17
WALTON, NOTED
PLUNGER, is DEAD
Famous as Track Winner Two
Decades Ago.
He BELIEVED IN FASTING.
Began Career as Colonel on Staff Of
PennsyIvsnia's War Governor-tost
Fortune In tho Labor Troubles of ~
and Then Bet on Horses.

Colonel Francis Theodore Walton,
who was known two decades ago as |
"Plunger Walton" because OF his op-
erations on the race tracks Of this |
country and England, died recently in
New York. He had just as much right
to the title of colonel as that Of plum
ger, because he was on the staff Of
Governor Curtin, the war governor of
Pennsylvania, fifty years ago. After
that be was a large holder Of mining
and railroad stocks, but lost that prop
erty at the time Of the mine riots in
Pennsylvania In 1877. 1t was then
that he took to the game Of horse rae
ing. and for many years his successes
at the track were sensational
In 1881 he went to England and
made a series of raids on the bookmak-
ers which gave him his international
fame. 1t was not unusual for Walton
to win 100000 in one day or lose that
amount on one race. He backed the
Keene and Lorillard colts Foxhall and
IroQuois for amounts which made the
English bookmakers gasp.
After he gave up. the racing game
Walton settled In New York and man
aged several hotels, but several years
ago dropped out Of active business af
fairs. His latest hobby was fasting
; TASTED Twenty ono Days.
For twenty-five years." he told a
friend, 81 suffered from rheumatism.
Then one day in 1899 a doctor who
| 40 -Io-
| was staying said to me: Walton, do
|. as l say. and you will cure your rheu-
; matism. Don't eat till you feel like it
I THAT sounded easy, and | didn't eat
G anything for twenty-one days. Not q
T solitary morsel OF food passed my lips
d l just drank n glass of water every
hour that l was awake. and l was
comfortable and happy. l once weigh
ed 2S5 pounds. | weighed DAG when
began the fast, and at the end OF TWEEN
It ty-one days. when l broke the spell,
D. weighed just 200. l didn't quit fasting
lie because | was hungry, for never wal
n hungry once during the whole time.
, only quit because my wife felt that
was losing weight too fast.
The first thing l ate was toast
ie that diet once day for three months
and then l got along on two meals
day for six months. l didn't get rea
~ hungry for a year after l stopped tn
l fast, and then l could have eaten
jackass. Fasting Is the only remed
for all diseases. Doctors and patient
80 alike take medicine. and they &c
sick Just the same and die. That
because they don't fast. l think 1t
disgrace TO be sick. When your
5 sick you're practically in hell. aren
you?
He'll and Heaven.
or What IS hell? Alcohol, tobacco, ca
ON Ing corpseS of hens and cows and fisl
hate. revenge. envy, malice. Jealous.
gluttony and unappreciation. Nov
Ia what is heaven? Good air, good waite
- eight hours sleep, a heart full or d
=, vine love, hope, faith. charity, col
tentment. the simple life and the Col
en- Rule. I'm out for perpetual lif
perpetual happiness, perpetual healt
III | have four great assets-a clear brai
Up a clear conscience. healthy body ar
heart full Of divine love. Here's
be joke"
He pulled a wallet out OF his pock
Ih' and drew out clipping from Phi
adelphia newspaper. 1t told Of the a
nouncement of the engagement OF Mi
Emily Jewell Walton, daughter
mo Mrs Caroline Elliot Walton aud gran
rc daughter of the late Theodore WI
ST ton"
II keep that to remember that 1
officially dead" Mr.. Walton aide
with a chuckle, as he folded the ell
are ping back in his wallet.