118 SPORTING STORIES 



earn the applause of his electorate, and for ever get rid of 

 those troublesome " leetle bills." 



Yet this was the man who was fleeced by every thimble- 

 rigger he came across. One can only say with Hudibras, 



" Doubtless the pleasure is as great 

 Of being cheated as to cheat." 



But when people who should have known better made 

 such fools of themselves, it was not surprising that the 

 thimble-men became bold and defiant, and that their 

 impudence increased in proportion to their success. 



At last, however, things reached such a pass that the 

 Stewards of the Doncaster Meeting resolved to put down 

 the thimble-men with a strong hand, and, if possible, rid 

 the Northern Meetings at any rate of the pest which had 

 so long infested them. Accordingly, the Stewards and 

 the public authorities of the borough entered into an 

 alliance to join their forces for the suppression of the 

 thimble-riggers. By some means or other the thimble- 

 men became aware that mischief was brewing, and they 

 assembled in unusual numbers. So far from being dis- 

 mayed, they had the audacity to contemplate meeting force 

 with force. There was every prospect of an exciting fight, 

 and those who were " in the know " anticipated some very 

 lively proceedings. 



On the Monday of the race week some four or five 

 hundred of the thimble-men took possession of a portion 

 of the Town Field just behind the rubbing-house, set up 

 their tables, and assumed a very menacing attitude. The 

 police force, though doubled, was no match for such a 

 compact array of desperate scoundrels ; and, besides, the 

 Stewards and the borough authorities had not quite 

 matured their plans ; so the thimble-men were left un- 

 molested for that day. Meanwhile the Magistrates took 

 fresh precautions. A troop of the 3rd Dragoons was 

 ordered up from Sheffield, and directed, on its arrival, to 

 take up a concealed position near the race-course ; a 

 company of the 3rd West York Militia were placed under 

 arms ; and the Doncaster troop of Yeomanry were ordered 

 to hold themselves in immediate readiness. 



