Thomas Yean de Bruyne – “Penang Clerk’s Luck”

This blog prompt “Lucky” is about my husband’s grand father Thomas Yean de Bruyne, who was born about 1890 we think in Sumatra, Indonesia, one of two sons of a Dutch man and a Burmese woman.

Thomas married Annie Irving on 20 March 1923 at Farquhar Street Mission House and Chapel, 35 Lebuh Farquhar, Penang. They lived in her father’s house on Cantonment Road, George Town, Penang. James Irving (Irvine) of Penang (and Scotland)

In 1935 Thomas won a horse racing sweepstake and the tale of his “Luck”, was reported in the Malay Tribune of 20 June 1935.

Transcribed story.

PENANG CLERK’S LUCK
Wins First Prize In Race Sweepstake

The luckiest man in Penang to-day is Mr. T Y de Bruyne, Chief Taily Clerk of Messrs. Islay Kerr and Company, Penang. who was has won the first prize in the Penang Buddhist Association Sweep drawn on the Kuala Lumpur races on Saturday, says Penang gazette of June 17.

The number of the lucky ticket is 3839, which drew Pantoi securing for Mr. de Bruyne the prize of $44,000.

FORCED TO BUY IT

Approached by a “Penang Gazette” reporter this morning Mr. de Bruyne who was surrounded by his friends, said that he was forced by the ticket which had brought him the windfall. “I was buying oil for my motor-cycle when a friend accosted me and thrust two tickets in my hands. I told him I had no money with me but my friend insisted on my having one. It was sheer luck”.

A few days before the drawing took place the black dog belong in Mr. and Mrs. de Bruyne climbed up the steep tiled roof of the house Mrs. de Bruyne made the remark that it was a sign of luck and promised to buy a silver chain for the dog if they were fortunate in winning a prize.

HOW TICKET CHANGED HANDS

How the lucky ticket changed hands also makes interesting reading.
It appears that the member who bought some tickets handed two to a Siamese who tried to form a syndicate among a number of school boys.

He was unable to raise the $2 and had to return the tickets. Mr. de Bruyne’s friend was the next holder of the tickets and, as related, Mr. de Bruyne became possessor of the lucky ticket.

Mr. de Bruyne has been in the service Messrs. Islay Kerr for nearly 23 years “I have no intention of leaving my employment,” Mr. de Bruyne added.

The number of the residence of Mr de Bruyne at Cantonment road is 13!

Post script
This report makes me want to ask several questions: What is a Pantoi, what was the dogs name? and did Annie buy the dog a silver chain ?
The money stated in the report is in Malaysian dollars.