The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-10-10
NH
PECULIAR WAGER; $4,000 BET on SOCIETY
q. s I. LEADERS, ABILITY 10 ROLL THREE MILES
From: the ST.; Louis POST Dispatch:

:.
From: the ST.. Louis POST Dispatch:s =;
&, u; 4 ristophanes. according to the. We
/ symposium In Athens that man was
originally globular being, who &C
complished locomotion by the process
of rolling like ball. That he still re
tains some vestiges Of his primeval
method Of progress was recently
proved by S.. Howell Parr, wealthy
clubman and turfman of BaltimOrA
who became victorious in one of the
oldest Wagers on record by rolling
three miles in is hours, and "a min
utes. -
!. At the conclusion Of the feat Parr
cashed in $4,000. on his bets, and
friends who backed him are said to
have won as much more, His father
inlay of Philadelphia expressed con-
fidence in PARIS physical proves to
the extent Of wagering $4,000. $50
that, in all, $4,000 was staked on
the sporting event. The eccentric
wager attracted national attention,
and PARIS exploit was witnessed by a.
corps, OF newspaper correspondents,
Photographers and moving picture
men, as well as by a gallery of men
and women of Balt1mOres most eX-
elusive society.
=. 1t all started with a conversation
at the Maryland club, where Parr
was chatting with several friends a
number Of weeks ago. One Of them
locked at his watch. and said he had
was then s o'clock. -. -, il.
What time does the train go?"
asked HAL" Parr, as he is known to
his friends.
AT 1915" was the reply.
: '"Say, /, could roll to Union station
in that ttne,,'''f said Parr. derlsively. :;
bet you couldn't!' Impossible"
came a chorus of protests. Parr. in
the heat Of the argument, asserted
easiest thing in the world. One claim
led to another, the friend became so
interested that he. missed his train,
and before the discussion was over
Parr found himself, pledged in the
sum Of $500 to roll from the Elkridge
Kennels to the beginning of Charles
. street boulevard. a distance Of three
miles.
Other men, In the next few days
heard of the wager and after secretly
trying for themselves how difficult
rolling really is, fastened to Parr to
get a! slice of what they expected to
be :"easy money" He accepted bets
Of $4,000 more. =. - -.
In the meantime the story of the
wager became public and was spread
by the newspapers from one end Of
the country to another. Parr was dis
concerted by the publicity and for q
bets off. His antagonists, filled with
glee at this sign: Of weakening, cheer
fully accused him Of being a>''bluffer''
Now, HAL Parr has the reputation,
as his father had before him, of be-
ing a. game sport" willing to bet and
stick on any proposition. So he went
into training at the Baltimore Athle-
tic club and announced the evening OF
May Is for the start.
He attempted to keep the exact
starting time a secret, but when he
arrived at the Elkridge - Kennels
shortly before o'clock he found a
large gathering on hand, including
not a few women, who amused them
selves by crying sarcastic pleasantrieA
at the popular young society man.
But it. was too late to back out, and
promptly at 1885 O'Clock he dropped
to the ground: for the start of the
unique marathon. Among the skep-
tics present was PARIS own wife.
7 The spectators jeered at the garh
he had chosen for the feat. His
khaki knickerbockers were padded a!
the knees more unanimously than
those of q football player. His hands
wore S"dlueO III 1AdAy lu1ChueSSSS *V1
linen bandages. He wore thick-soled
| shoes, ribbed stockings, heav,
| sweater and a plaid cap. One of hi:
+ PACKERS attended him, carrying q
small mattress, such as are used in
sleeping, cars, which was the subjec
of many SCOTS.
| Those who expected him to roll
| like a barrel were doomed to disap.
| pointment. The terms of the wager
/ 10f Al ~c36 la tv11 =.
the species of revolutions he woull