Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-02-07
GAMBLING HOUSES.


"There are certain number ofpersons
called " greeks" or SPIDERS" attached to
the establishment, ostensibly members OF
the club, but without penny in the world,
who are found to be eminenty serviceable
to the concern" 1t is asked Gin what
way" Why, in catching fats-or, to use
their own phraseology, " to bring in pigeons
to be pluckcd." These persons must, of
course, be we'll treated and, as supper
at home is rare thing with them, one at
Crockford's is so much the greater object.
Besides. the work of catching fats is but
half finished when the latter arc brought
into the house.
"Before it can be completed, they must
be made to partake Of a splendid supper,
and to drink literally Of the delicious
wines." When they enter the house they
have not, perhaps, the slightest intention OF
throwing a single die, or, at any rate, OF
risking more than mere trife. They are
pressed by those who "took them in to
partake of the refreshments" as they are
called. Well, it appears to them refresh
ment is not bad thing after all they ac-
cordingly begin with the supper, and end
with the hazard table. The moment they
sit down to the refreshment, but not till
then, the flats are considered rs fairly
caught.-When a pigeon is caught, how.
ever, it is very unusual to pluck him the
first few nights.
"They allow him to 60 on winning for
some nights IN succession. In this, the
heNites have two objects in view; the one
is to give him keener appetite for play,
and the other is, that in the interim, they
continue, by indirect means, either to elicit
from himself, or to obtain information from
some one else, as TO the full extent of his
resources. They regulate their movements
accordingly. 1t matters not, though he be
not well supplied with the ready; if his
prospect Of "by-and.by" succeeding to
large fortune be undenSbly good. Creek
ford's bank is at his service to nearly the
full amount,-supposing it were ESQ, 900,
of what he is understood TO be certain OF
succeeding to. In this way many young
noblemeh plunge themselves over head
and.ears in what are called debts of homer,
before they succeed 10 expectancies; and
consequently when they do succeed, they
are, in point of fact, as poor as they were
before. Some years ago Lord C**** paid
down 100000 on his coming ofage, for
debts Of honor he had contracted at Crock
Eord's."
Again.
"Some idea may be formed of the extent
Of Crockford's establishment, and of the
style in which it is kept up, when | mention
that no fewer that 33 servants are employ
ed in it. There is one set Of walters for
the day, and another for the night. They
are decorated in the richest livery, and live
in excellent style.
"The hour ut which the hazard room is
thrown open is eleven o'clock, and the dice
are in immediate requisition. Croekford
himself at that moment takes his station in
Il corner Of the room, before little desk;
from that he never stirs till the playing is
over. He ac.s on such occasions rs his
own clerk. No person belonging to the es.
tablishment is allowed, in any circumstances,
or under any pretext, to enter the room
while the gamblers are at work. There is
Mr.. Page who acts as an inspector, or
groom-porter, while the games are going
on in the hazard room: but he is in the
confidence of most Of the noblemen who
frequent that part of the house, and though
paid for his services-some say ut the prince
iy rate OF so guineas per week-he can hard
" be said 10 be one of Crockford's ser
wants.
SIN Crockford's very large sums arc
played for with cards; but it is ot the haz-
ard table, when the game is French hazard,
that the work of plunder is carried on on
the most extensive scale. There, to use
the gambling phraseology, the pigeon is
plucked.' And to get the flat prevailed on
to throw down the cards, and repair to the
hazard room, is the great, though concealed
object of those in the interest of the house.
A few hours, most probably, will do the
work in the latter place.-The stakes are
usually high; he loses, perhaps, a fourth
part of his fortune in less than an hour; he
tables another fourth---hc loses again.
lie becomes desperate in the delirium, or
madness, (Eor that is the proper word of
the moment, he determines on risking his
all at one throw. The dice turn up
his all is lost; he who few hours before
was rich man, is now a beggar. The
sums which young, thoughtless noblemen
lose at CrocFford's in one night, are some
times incredibly large.
"Seven years ago one pigeon was pluck
ed in few hours, to the tune Of 100000;
the stakes were 100000. 1t is only three
years since, Lord c., the grandson of
an aged noble Earl, lost 100000 in one
night. The winner was noble Marquis,