A REMARKABLE WAGER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3904, 24 January 1884, Page 4

A REMARKABLE WAGER.

A-wager of it, remarkable character was recently decided in the shooting park at Newark, United States, between Henry O'Brien, an inhabitant of that town, and Patrick Fitzgerald, of New York. A bet of 250 dollars had been made as to which of them would kill and dress 10 sheep in tho shortest time, the winner to receive twothirds of the money paid for admission, as well as the stakes. An area of 50 square fenfchad been railed off, and outside this stood 500 spectators, about a fourth ladies, each of whom paid half a dollar for admi.sHiou. There was loud eheeriug when the two competitors wearing red shirts with sleeves tucked up, with a long Icnifo in one hand, entered the arena, each accompanied by two umpires and a referee. Upon the aignal being given 20 sheep wero brought in, each man killing hi* 10 with equal rapidity; the earcnsoH were then suspended to hooks which had been driven into trees/ outside the arena, and tho process of dressing commenced. Fitzgerald took a •slight lead after the first .sheep had been <lrcssed, whereupon tho partisans of O'Brieji, complained that he was scamping liis work. He retained his lead throughout, completing ihiß tenth sheep in 31 minutes, or four less than O'Brien, who found some consolation •for defeat in the assurances of his friends ihat he had done hie work <iv much better fityle than liis successful rival.