Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1879 — WESTON’S SECRET. [ARTICLE]

WESTON’S SECRET.

A Pretty Good Story, Whether It Is True or Sot. [From the New York Mercury.] “It is now generally believed that Weston’s extraordinary feat is the result of a long-cherished determination on his part to regain his lost laurels,” observed a well-known wealthy gentleman of sporting proclivities to a Mercury representative. “In a measure it is. But there is more than that iu it. I know to an absolute certainty that it is one of the best laid and carried out plans to scoop a big winning that was ever concocted. I dare not give you names; but I will tell you a story, for the tr ith of which, in its minutest details, I pledge my honor. “ A friend of mine, a club man and a passionate sportsman, was a heavy backer of O Leary against Rowell in the international match at Gilmore’s Garden. Even when things looked darkest and most desperate for his man, he stuck manfully by him. The consequence was that he came out the loser over SBO,OOO. His bets were private ones in most cases, and, except for a few heavy outside ones, his losses remained unknown to the general public. “My friend went to England on business immediately after the match. He there met Weston, whom he had known before. Weston expressed himself warmly in regard to America’s losing the belt, and said: ‘lf I had a couple of months’ training, I believe I could win it back.’ My friend became convinced by his enthusiasm that he did not overestimate himself, and suggested to him to try it. After some talk Weston agreed to go into training at once. Then the idea struck my friend to recover his losses. Previous to that he had, as he told me himself, been only actuated by a desire to see the belt returned to America.

“Weston’s popularity as a walker was deep iu a decline, and the betting in any match he entered for was sure to be against him. If he was known to have been iu training it might be more favorable; but if his preparations were kept secret betting men would regulate their investments by his old record. Any one backing him under these circumstances could get long odds, and my friend, firmly convineed that the veteran walker could win, determined to indorse his convictions. His losses on O’Leary had seriously crippled him. He deliberately, and at no little sacrifice, raised $150,000 in cash, mortgaging a quantity ot' his real estate in this city to do so. Every dollar of his money he applied to one purpose. The victory of ins man meant a fortune to him or nearly absolute ruin, and he told Weston so without reserve; ‘ I am putting nearly every cent I own on you,’ he said; ‘if you win,’ he said— ‘ if you win, half of what I gain is yours. I only ask two things of you —one is to keep quiet with your training, the other to do your best.’

“Weston did so. No soul outside of the plot knew that the ex-champion was laying himself out for a big victory and fortune by rigorous training. When he went on his pedestrian tour through England people spoke of it as a showman’s dodge. It was really a part of his preparation for the contest on which he and his backer rested their hopes. My friend meanwhile went quietly to work laying out his $150,000 where it would do the most good. He worked so quietly that scarcely any one knew what he was about. Every one thought that Weston went into the match with no preparatory training. It was not until he began to show up in tlie match that people began to think that he had been preparing himself for the task, and to find out that some one had quietly been putting up money on him all along ami held nine-tenths of the bets laid against Weston in the race. I don’t know how much the thing has netted him, but it is safe to say that the scheme has cleared a big profit. There isn’t a sporting gen leman in London who is not bit to a greater or less extent, for my friend is hand-in-glove with all of them and had bets booked with all. Ho has called twice with his brother, each time giving the amounts of his books.” “Half of this money, of course, goes to Weston?” “My friend has promised it. He is well known as a man who never breaks his word.”