It is not (yet) clear from what Alonzo Wheeler Jerome received his inspiration to create the Jerome Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ but the following legendary game must have gotten his creativity stirred up.
From the British Chess Magazine, November 1899
We take the score of the following extraordinary game from the Glasgow Herald, which was indebted for it to Capt. Mackenzie. It is said to have been played about 20 years ago in the Vienna Club, and was first published, we find, by Turf, Field, and Farm, and afterwards reprinted in the Chess-Player's Quarterly Chronicle of 1872.
Notes by C.E. Ranken [translated from descriptive to algebraic notation]
Hamppe - Meitner
Vienna Club, 1872
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Na4 Bxf2+
We cannot believe this sacrifice to be sound. The simple retreat of the B to e7 is sufficient answer to White's bizarre third move, since it leaves his N out of play.
4.Kxf2 Qh4+ 5.Ke3
A feasible course seems to be as follows: 5.g3 Qxe4 6.Qe2! Qxh1 (If 6...Qxa4 White at once recovers his two pawns, with the better position) 7.Nf3 Nf6 (This or 7...Nh6 is obviously the only move to save the Queen) 8.h3 (Better than 8.Qxe5+ ) 8...e4 (If 8...Ng4+ 9.hxg4 d6 10.d4 Bxg4 11.Bg2 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 and wins) 9.Bg2 Ng4+ 10.hxg4 Qh6 11.Qxe4+ Qe6 12.Nc5 Qxe4 13.Nxe4 d5 14.Nc3 c6 15.g5 and Black has only Rook and Pawn against the two minor pieces
5...Qf4+ 6.Kd3 d5 7.Kc3
7.Nc3 might perhaps be ventured, and if 7...dxe4+ 8.Kc4; Or White could play 7.Qe2 and if 7...dxe4+ 8.Kc3
7...Qxe4 8.Kb3
A pretty variation would arise here from 8.d4 exd4+ 9.Qxd4 Qe1+ 10.Bd2 Qxa1 11.Nf3! Qxa2 (if 11...Kf8 12.Qxd5 Nc6 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Qc5+ and wins) 12.Qxg7 Qxa4 13.Qxh8 Qc6+ There appears nothing better. 14.Kb3 Qg6 15.Bd3 with a winning attack.
8...Na6 9.a3 Qxa4+
An exhibition of fireworks worthy of Morphy or Blackburne. This brilliant sacrifice will, as far as we can see, stand the test of analysis, and but for White's able defence it might have won.
10.Kxa4 Nc5+ 11.Kb4
Best; if 11.Kb5 the reply would be 11...b6
11...a5+ 12.Kxc5
If 12.Kc3 then 12...d4+ 13.Kc4 b6 and still White would have no escape.
12...Ne7 13.Bb5+
The only way to escape mate.
13...Kd8 14.Bc6 b6+ 15.Kb5 Nxc6 16.Kxc6
If 16.Ka4 Nd4 and mates next move. If 16.c3 then 16...Bd7 with the same result
16...Bb7+ 17.Kb5
Should 17.Kxb7 then 17...Kd7 18.Qg4+ Kd6 and White has no resource
17...Ba6+ and draws by perpetual check
