The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-12

now THEY OPERATE BETWEEN NEW HAVEN
AND NEW YORK.
From the Springfield Ecening Neaes, December 26.
A brief description of some of the princi-
pal gamblers whose faces have become famil-
lar to the experienced traveller on the railroad
from this city to New York, and especially
from New Haven to the metropolis, seems al
most demanded. Gamblers and pickpockets
are reaping rich harvest on this route, de-
spite the very persistent efforts of the rail-
ROAD corporations to GUST them; and nothing
Will make them shrink back so quickly as see
ing their portraits in pint.
The traveller by the afternoon train, bound
let us say, for New York, will notice, if he en-
ter the smoking car-which naturally is a
business mans resort ON long journey
shortly after the train leaves New Haven,
medium sized, fair-looking man, about thirty
eight years old, wearing short, black whiskers
reaching under the chin, and curling round
tue lace lie generally wears silk hat and
dark brown broadcloth clothes. He is nei-
theI brilliant nor stupid-looking individu-
al; his eyes alone are quite keen. He might
be taken for country schoolmasteror village
lawyer, were it not for the searching glances
of suspicion he gives before he proceeds to
business. He is the "stoo pigeon" or gam
bier number one of the party.
This man steps quickly through the car,
% generally at New Haven, stopsa few moments
at the door, quietly and modestly SURVEYS the
passengers. He then selects vacant seat. if
possible, in the immediate vicinity of several
gentlemen who are talking together, and gen.
orally mingles in the conversation.
Ere long the car door opens again, and an
entirely different specimen appears. This is
gambler number two, has Something of the
''B0wery" air about him. He has red full
face, trnSed about with short, red hair; wears
round-top SLOUGH hat, is dressed with gen.
erai air OF carelessneSs, is between twenty
i've and thirty years of age, under medium
size, probably weighs one hundred and forty
lie usually selects seat some little distance
from his comrade, and interests himself with
the country boys and confident young men.
Gambler number three is not long now in
making his appearance. AS he swings open
the car door with nervous energy he would
almost be taken for banking or insurance
clerk, or some downtown book-keeper who
lives fast. lie wears this season a wide band
soft hat, short cutaway coat, tight pants,
bit OF Jewelry; is about thirty years old,
weighs perhaps one hundred and thirty, short
lii stature, fair face, with no especial distin-
gushing characteristic. He takes in the Sit
uation, whatever it may be, at glance, and
gets seat if possible, in the front end OF the
car, facing the passengers. He looks about a
few minutes, then passes through in an in
inquirng way. Finally he arrives near " stool
pigeon and careessly asks him if he will
play game of euchre. Stool pigeon "feplies
that he does not care to play, but turning
TO the victim he had selected) perhaps this
gentleman may" and generally one or two
will be coaxed into trying hand. So gam
blers two and three take down euchre table
and "stool pigeon, loafs negligently be-
hind. Thus the party is made up of
two professional gamblers and two green
men. The play begins. "Stool pigeon"
standing in the aisle becomes interested. As
they are sitting and he is standing, he
can see every mans hand" Presently the
euchre game is ended, and gambler No. two
says, :" have splendid bluff hand;" then
number three bursts out with, $50 have 1
and l will bet S. that one or the other takes
the money" Stool pigeon" now becomes
interested in one of the green men, and saws
privately, "Pshaw you've got hand you
can so 'em hundred on, if you whip
Green man bets, and is, of course, "cleaned
out" he party breaks up soon after, and
stool pigeon" goes on to the next car.
1t must be remembered that this trio of
gamblers and others do not confne their op-
erations to the smoking car, where card tables
are placed, and where a man is rather more
on his guard, but in the regular passenger cars.
where the conductor is continually passing
and repassing. You may see them almost
any day-the red-haired, red-faced man, num- |
Der three, and the modest stool-pigeon"