Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1888 — A Noted Election Ret [ARTICLE]

A Noted Election Ret

St. Louis G 1 obe DeinecratT “ , * Probably, the most noted election bet was that made by RuelGridley, of Austin, Nev., in 1862. He bet that be would beat hi&opponenb The terms of the wager demanded that the loser should carry a sack of flour from Lower to Upper Austin. Gridley lost and the day after election st;»i ted on his trip accompanied by the entire population of Austin. The question arose as to what disposition should be made of the flour, and some ingenious individual suggested that it be sold at auction for the benefit of the Western Sanitary Commission. Gridley was auctioneer, and the bag was knocked down for $250. The purchaser declined to receive it,.and suggested that it be sold again. The idea took like wild fire, and the bag wassold again and again and before night the sum of SB,OOO had been received. Gridley saw fame for him and gold for the sick soldiers opening before him; he entered heart and soul into the idea, and he started with his now famous flour on an expedition which immortalised himself, and brought joy and comfort to thousands of suffering soldiers. His reception everywhere was like a Roman triumph, and the people, infected by the noble work, vied and struggled witheajh other in generous rivalry. Gridley sold his flour all over the West, and finally exhibited it at the great Sanitary fair in St Louis. Afterward the fionr was baked into small cakes and sold at a high price. When the grand total was added np it wsb found that Gridley’s bet had been the means of adding more than $150,000 to the funds of the Western Sanitary Commission. ~ —'