New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-19
The Gambler Prince.

| Nv nat IS the reason OF his wonderful sue
cess in his profession ;" Gentle reader, i,
is to his indOmitabie energy, brazen impu
dence and two card faro box. His frs,
appearance in public life was made as q bal
Il tender on one Of the numerous steamb boats
running from the port Of St Louis. While
in this capacity he learned the rudimentt
OF short card sharping from those thieves
some of whom never failed to travel or
every river steamer, and made himself use
full to them in their search for suckers. He
assisted them in making up their games
from among TIE passengers. and then
running in their marked cards for them
keeping them in his bar until wanted for
use. AS he became farther advanced he
| insisted on equal share OF the spOils, and
exacted the same from all three-card monte
throwers who came aboard his boat TO ply
| their calling
| He followed NJ this business successfully
for three or four years. and being thrifty,
accumulated considerable capital, and in
the meantime obtained az insight into the
immense profits 10 he derived from ropin G
suckers TO brace games Being gifted with
| happy faculty Of commencing himself to
strangers, and willingness TO spend his
money freely, whenever he thought he
could make ten dollars for one, by so doing;
and, being well acquainted with all the
haunts OF pleasure and vice in the city of
St Louis. he made capital 'roper-in' for
q twocard box establishment. In the
| minds eye he marked out each passenger
| OH the boat, during her trip to st. Louis,
whom he thought likely to prove protita-
Bile subject to hin, and after showing him
the sights Of the city, would bring him
| up standing before a brace game" have
hum robbed. and afuerward receive half
| the plumber.
Johnny ChambeIlin shortly became known
among sharpers as the best ''roper-in" in
| the city of St. Louis, and, in fact, the best
In all the West. Partly through the induce
ment OF these, but probably much more
| through his own knowledge of the benefits
and advantages OF a SHINING house, he
| threw up steamooatiDg and opened one OF
these establishments for himself He was
| Obliged TO take with him an operator, be-
! cause he was totally unable TO exercise
| twOeard box himself; nor do believe he
| can cheat at any OF the games played for
money. Even could lie do so, his functions
were on the outside to lure customers into
his den. This business he diligently fol-
| lowed up, until the spring of 1864. having
| increased his store Of wealth thereby up to
| $4,000, and by his aadacity and energy as
| a roper" gained the envy # all the sharp
| ers throughout the West. Meanwhile, how
| ever. LIE had become pretty well played-out
| in st. Louis; so much SO. in fact, that any
..brace-dealer," having any respect for bis
future bread and butter. would not be seen
with him in public.
Johnny was now DESTROYS of taking the
money he had accumulated with him to
New York, and there opening an aristo-
cratic SHINING house. Heretofore he had
mixed only among second class sharpers;
he was now anxious to be ranked in the
first division of that honorable fraternity,
and more especially among those OF New
York city, where a wider field was open for
fhn g l. l.
goal within reach of his unbounded am bi-
ton. To accomplish his desire it was neces-
sary to have the countenance of first class
gambler. 1t must be understood that not
even the Brahmns themselves, nor those of
England's aristocracv who claim their de-
scent from the heroes of the field of Hast
lngs, are greater stlcklers for caste than
the American gamblers. Powerful as is
money-and its influence is not less among
this than other classes of mankind-it has
in many cases failed in launching the keeper
OF second class skinning house within the
magic Gordon which separates them from
those OF their tribe who have never been
interested in any but frat class house OF
the sort.
Johnny found Che individual he wa.
seeking IN the person OF worthy gentle
man from the bluegrass country in Ken
lucky, who for mans years previous TO
the REBEL was principal proprietor Of
one of the most fashionable Of these places |
in the city Of New Orleans. When Gen.
eral Butler was placed in command, after |
the capture Of the city by the federal |
forces, lie allowed no gaming houses within !
his dominiOus. in con sequence of which the |
aristOcratic Clearinghouse at No. IA Caron. |
Gelet street, belonging TO Mr.. McGrath. |
was closed. When General Butler was |!
superseded in command of the city. Mr.. !
McGrath left his home in the bluegrass
country, and went again to New Orleans |
with the intention OF again opening his !
house there; but his frs, attempt at doing |
SO caused his arrest and Incarceration ID
the prison. where he was kept for more
than year by the federal authorities.
On regaining his liberty he made the
best of his way to s.. Louis, where he ar
rived without dollar. Being one of She
best gamblers in the country and a man of
distinguished parts in fashionable gaming
house, which meant that he would black
guard his victims into playing whether they
wished TO OF not, besides being acquainted
with many Of The border States men who
had focked 20 New York 20 speculate in
gold and stocks. McGrath was the 'cpen
sesame that Cnamoe.lin ceGuireG. To.
gethe. they started for New York. where
they arrived IN the winter OF 1864. .neJ
soon discovered that 90 obtain a desirable
house in a suitable location, and fit it Up
and furnish 1t III manner tit to enable
them to hold their own among first class es-
of the sort, would require
more money than Chamberlin could eoM.
nand.
McGrath now induced TWO of the veal.
thiest gamblers in New York to enter into
with them. They bought q
splendid residence near the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, and fitted it up ia SO gorgeous and
ma gnifcent a style that it's equal had never
oeen seen in the city. and l doubt in any
,ther. 1t is said that the furnishing and
lifting up alone cost over 100000. It is re
ported that within four months after the
of 81 900 600, and it is more
han probable that such was the case.
Among its patrons were wealthy contract
DTS, high city officials, stockholders. and
,ther speculators, many OF whom were |
making their thousands per day in the eX.
citing period of speculation, and some Of
hem at sitting lost as high as $4,000.
The firm did not get along tarmoniOusly
ogether. and q dissolution took place.
IcGrath and Chamberlin withdrew from It,
md the former returned to the blue grass =
.ountry in Kentucky, where he invested {
lis money in large stock farm. Johnny
low opened an establishment on his own
look, fitting it up in the most extravagant
lyle. This place. for which he paid an an {
lual rent Of $4,000. was located On TWEEN.
y-tourth street, near Broadway. one of the t
most fashionable localities in the city. The
Monthly expenses of running this establish. ]
nent averaged $4,000. On every night. ex.
ept SUNDAY. sable might be found there
which. for the rarity. diversity and choice.
less Of its viands, wines and liquors, the {
legance of its appearance. and the excel t
ence of It's cuisine, could not be surpassed
" any in the world.
This luxurious establishment and its re-
renchments were kept up on the strength S
two card box. The best any one ever | i