The Wheeling Daily Register

The International Race Excitement—News Too Good to be True—"A Betting Dodge."

A telegram was received in Pittsburg yesterday afternoon from the city of New York to the effect that James Hamill, the American Champion, had won both of the sculling matches which took place between him and James Kelley, the English champion, on the river Tyne, on the 4th instant. This intelligence was so decidedly contrary to that received per steamer "Nova Scotia," on the 7th inst., that thousands hailed the news with demonstrations of the wildest joy. This was to be expected for the reason that Hamill not only represented this country, but he is a citizen of Pittsburg and is held in high esteem by those who enjoy his acquaintance, and is regarded generally as a straight-forward business man, of indomitable and unquestionable pluck. The dispatch referred to read as follows:

To John W. Pittock, Fifth Street:

LATEST BY STEAMER "PREMIER."

Hamill won both races. Purser of "Nova Scotian" bribed to give a contrary report—betting dodge.

The foregoing was received by Mr. Pittock in good faith, from a source he deemed perfectly reliable, and with commendable zeal he gave the public the benefit of it by placing a copy thereof upon his bulletin board, which was instantly surrounded by hundreds of persons who gobbled up the news with a single breath, and then scattered in every conceivable direction to circulate the welcome intelligence to their friends. Those who had bets pending upon the result—and their name is Legion—became greatly excited The friends of the Englishman dropped their feathers, while those of Hamill gave vent to most positive declarations of their confidence in the certainty of his having won the races, and won their bets for them in the bargain. The neighborhood of Fifth and Smithfield streets was crowded with an overjoyed multitude who sounded the praise of the bold American with every breath. Fresh bets are said to have been made by several parties before the news became generally known, but to what extent we have not learned. But a change suddenly and unexpectedly came over the spirit of their anticipations. Somebody who entertained a high regard for strict punctuation and the probable meaning of language, revealed the fact that the intention of the dispatch given above, though nearly as plain as the nose of a man's face, had been generally misconstrued. By placing a period after the word report, and beginning the next brief sentence of two words with a capital letter, the truth of the matter was made apparent at once "Betting dodge" and so the word flew in every direction. "Betting dodge!" The community were "sold." and many of their number to the tune of their "greenbacks," if what we have heard be true. This was confirmed by a telegraphic dispatch posted upon the bulletin boards of the Commercial office, as follows:

Nothing further of the race.

It is proper to say that no one was more deceived by the telegram than the gentleman to whom it was sent. He believed in its authenticity, and with the best motive gave it to the public. He issued no "extra" of his sprightly Leader, being content to take the lead in a quiet way, so that since the whole story has turned out to be a fabrication on the part of those who sent it to Pittsburgh, it will, of course, be treated as a huge joke, and those who failed to bet on the strength of it will have to bear good humoredly the significant smiles and allusions of their friends for a few days to come—Commercial.