Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-07
INTERIOR OF A ssTIGER,s,' DEN.


of sale which took place in that city, at the late
residence of well-known faro-dealer, who has re-
Gently died The house herein described was, du-
ring the war, the great resort Of Commissarles,
Quartermasters, and other gentry who were wont
to travel with trunks full of 'Confed," Of which
they wished to be relieved:
The demise of gentleman lin the fancy line
resulted on yesterday in the invasion OF one OF the
most elegantly furnished and extensive gambling
establishments of this city by vast throng OF men
and women of every grade, calling and position
The rooms of this famous establishment from their
central and fashionable location, afforded easy ac
cess to the largest and most fashionable assembly
which we have seen in this city for months; On
the day previous to the sale hundreds OF we'll
dressed fashionable people were strolling through
the different apartments, examining the unusually
chamber furniture All through the war this es-
tablishment did a roaring business, and was night
ly thronged by the elite of the civil and military
circles Of the Capital of the Confederacy. When
famine prevailed elsewhere the tables Of this es-
tablishment always groaned beneath the luxuries
of every cline Countless millions changed hands
over the green tables which excited so much curl
Gus examination from the judiciary and clergy on
Yesterday. Of its class, the Tigers Den in ques-
ton was always the best, and at the end Of the
war, the proprietor refurnshed it in the most cost
ly and substantial manner. He was man Of good
TASTE and while there were evidences OF reckless
ness of cost in every his establishment,
it was furnished with grave, dccorous taste which
would have reflected credit upon the refined tastes
of the most cultivated man of wealth. Carpets,
bookcases chairs, tables, paintings chandeliers,
mirrors chamber furniture table china, plates &C.,
&C., were all in the best taste, and the servants
connected with tn, establishment were all quiet,
grave and well-behaved men, the rare types Of the
now almost extinct race of family servants. The
paintings were not numerous, but they were ex-
ceedingy appropriate, and strictly in keeping with
the character Of the place. Immediately IN rear,
for instance, of large and myseriously shaped ia
bles covered with the inevitable green cloth, there
were suspended capital paintings two grim stern
remorseless-looking tigers and lions. s'Ye tiger
looked down upon the faro-table, while the lion
frowned ominously upon the victims Of roulette -
Both of these tutear divinities Of the temple look
ed plethoric cruel and truculent, as they had de-
voured many thousand pigeons, greenhorns and
boobies, and rather liked their diet.
Long before that most eloquent, popular and
veracious of auctioneers, Mr.. Cook, commenced
the sale, on yesterday, vast throng of people
crowded the large rooms and blocked up the stair
cases of the tigers elegant jungle. The church
was superbly represented by bishop of great emf
nence and distinguished learning and eloquence of
priests, elders deacons and lesser church lights we
can make no enumeration but curiosity to see the
haunts of ye terrible tiger" attracted vast num-
Der of them, now that the place was harmless and
the owner gone to his long account Judges pros
ecuting attorneys and editors-the lights Of the
three professions-took solemn note Of what they
beheld, and were rudey ostled, pressed into corn
ers jammed into door-ways and hustled by surg
ing and irrepressible crowd Locomotion was al
most impossible, so dense was the throng, and the
bidding was so spirited that the auoneer was spar
ed all supertluous lamentations over unheard Of
Sacrifices " Everything was Of the best descrip-
ton, and the prices paid were, we imagine, greatly
in advance of those usually paid for secondhand
furniture. The auctioneer had comparatively
easy time, of it, as the crowd bid for the contents
of the Tigers Den, as if they were contending for
the possession of holy relics The crowd was so
great that the ladies had rather hard time of it ;
but their curiosity must have been amply gratlhed,
for they explored every portion of the establish
ment We noticed group of pretty women puz-
zlng their brains over roulette table; and they
were about leaving the mysterious article Of furni
ture in despair, when it was explained to them in a
remarkably lucid and eloquent manner by an intel
ligent deacon, who had not forgotten the now alb
]ureQ WcdhHesSeS VI carly youIL. AslOIVS!iesI lai
files, &c., are fast becoming religious institutions,
the the study of this splendid Tigers Den must have
been instructive to those pious persons who are
embarking in such things.
The auctioneer made speedy work of the contents
of this large gambling establishment, and by this
time mirrors chandeliers, paintings, &C., which
have looked down in their day upon many scene
of wild excitement and desperate hazard, have been
transferred to quiet and orderly christian house
holds, whereno worse kinds Of gambling than char
liable raes and pous lotteries are ever tolerated
gambler exhibits wise although epicurean phi
losophy, for he does not precisely know what sort
of Quarters will be provided for him in that great
and mysterious land Of shadows and spirits to
which all of us are Fastening; 1t may be that
there are other things than costly mirrors, soft car
pets luxurious BEDS brilliant chandeliers, rich vi
ands and voluptuous paintings and couches in store
for him there.