MEN I HAVE MET 



of his revolvers one day, and all the time even till now 

 I have had a longing for rifles, sporting guns, Mausers, 

 and have even tried my hand — quite recently — with 

 some success with the latest quick-firer. 



Others with whom I came in close touch were Frank 

 James, the brother of Jesse James. They were both 

 among the notorious bandits of America ; the latter 

 was killed by a pal, but Frank, after he received a 

 pardon, used to hold the forward flag on several race- 

 tracks. However, there is no need to give a list, for 

 they will come up in due order as the story of my 

 life progresses. 



Little did I dream when I saw one of the Valkyries 

 compete for the America Cup that I should meet and 

 ride for Lord Dunraven. Lord William Beresford, 

 one of the greatest of friends to me, had only been 

 heard of : there will be such a lot to say of him. 

 There was my acquaintance with John L. Sullivan 

 and James Corbett. I shall recall how I referee-ed 

 one of the first matches the great French billiard expert, 

 Fournier, played in America. Then reference must 

 be made to the well-known Riley Grannan, who came 

 near bringing off one of the greatest betting coups at 

 Newmarket. I have played bridge and talked till 

 I was tired to the late John W. Gates, the Chicago 

 millionaire — " bet-you-a-million Gates." George E. 

 Smith, at one time a simple cork cutter, and who 

 as a millionaire backer was known to the world 

 as " Pittsburg Phil," was a constant companion of 

 mine. He made a huge fortune backing horses in 

 America. I have never known two men more alike 

 in their living and character than " Pittsburg Phil " 

 and Charlie Hannam, who has had much the same kind 

 of success in England. 



There are scores of others too to write of. 



