The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1915-07-02
TIM HURST WAS AUTHORITY
j. MALL BRANCHES OF SPORT
Veteran Umpire Famous Fights; Managed Sew
eral Track Events Six-Day Bicycle Races; Fight With
Collins Caused His Removal

scraps won by Frank Erne from Jack
Downey and Jack Sicily and refereed
Lavigne's victorious battle with jim
my Handler.
It was Hurst's knowledge of foot
racing that fitted him to referee num-
erous six-day events and the last in
ternational marathon held in Madison
Square Garden. He managed several
six-day bicycle races and acted as
matchmaker for the Garden A. c.
three years ago. His last match was
the 10-round bout between Packey
Mcfarland and Matt Wells.
Was a Good Loser.
Before the Frawley boxing law
went into effect Hurst imported half
dozen English amateur fighters for
tournament in the Garden under the
"club membership" scheme but before
he could start the show he was taken
into custody, much to his disgust as
other clubs held boxing bouts the same
night without police interference.
Hurst once promoted race between
horsemen and bicycle riders in the
Garden, which was pronounced frost,
but he took his medicine without a
grimace.
The racetracks took up Hurst's time
for awhile. He had a System" for
beating the game, playing favorites
"out on the limit" But he was cured
after race at Brighton Beach one
hot summer afternoon. Palmbearer,
a platter owned by E. R. Thomas, was
a 9 to favorite and Hurst played him
to show at to 4. He put up $40O to
win $10O-"supper money!" he called
it. But when Palmbearer was left at
the post, Hurst threw up his hands
and quit the turf forever.
A Practical Joker.
AS a practical joker, Hurst was in
class by himself. His friends in
Ashland, Pa, where he made his home
when not engaged in the sporting
business were generally his victims.
He used to tell story of a saloon
keeper in Ashland which is worth re-
peating.
II brought Pat Egan, the chief
drink dispenser in the old town, to
see New York one day." said Hurst,
land when we arrived on the Bowery
I steered him up against a friend, Bill
Sweeney, who knew what to tell him.
"'Do you know what Tins graft
is?' asked Sweeney as he took Egan
to one side.
"Why, yes; he's a referee and UNI
pire isn't hep replied Egan.
"'That's only bluff says Sweeney
in a whisper. Tim is agent for the
biggest green goods concern in Ameri-
ca. They are getting some of the real
stuff from the Philadelphia mint and
Tim is letting me sell it,
"Sweeney, to prove his story, then
ment later he bought some cigars with
another one, both real money.
"'Don't let Tim know you are wise,'
continued Sweeney, but when you get
back home wire me if you want some
Of the goods!'
The Joke Worked.
"Egan didn't peep word to me and
went back to Ashland. A week later
I showed up there and entered Egan's
ginmill. The place was crowded with
loungers and invited them to drink
with me. The round was 80 cents and
handed Egan new SIS bill.
ms is on me, Inn, SalQ Egan,
who looked worried to death.
"'Take it out of that and don't ar
gue!' I replied sharply. Egan looked
daggers at me for several moments
and then banged the change down on
the bar with all his might. "Give
us another round! l said, peeling off
a new 10-spot from roll of crisp bills.
Egan grabbed his hat, rushed out of
the saloon and hurried to the tele-
graph office, where he sent this wire
to Sweeney:
"'Send me $50 worth of the stuff
quick. l want to beat the Dutchman
who keeps a place across the street,
Egan got no reply, of course, and then
he began to take tumble. He didn't
speak to me again for year,"