The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-16
In a Gambling Den.

The San Francisco Bulletin relates
The following:
"The demolition of the Mead House,
at the corner of Montgomery and Pine
streets, has developed some facts of
startling interest. The Mead House was
a rendezvous for the gambling frater-
nifty from early in 1865 to December,
1871, when the police raided upon it
and disturbed operations. Until this
raid the game of faro was conducted in
the building in quiet and orderly
manner and with profit, the net earn
ings reaching $3.50 for single year.
This was in reality a workingman's
bank. Here the working classes de.
posted large sums of money and were
not troubled with bank books. A few
days ago, while the workmen were TAX
ing down the walls a number of sus-
picious characters were observed hang
ing about the spot and Watching the
proceedings with great interest. While
knocking away the wall of one of the
lower rooms the workmen were some
what puzzled by the manner of the
strangers. Three of them suddenly
walked up to the spot and watched
every blow of the ak with the keenest
scrutiny. Suddenly gap was made in
the wall, and the next blow of the ak
caused peculiar sound as if musical
instrument had been struck. On ex-
animation it was discovered that three
wires were running up through the wall
from floor to ceiling. In few minutes
no less than half dozen were about the
place examining the wire, the three
strangers looking at each other signif-
cantly. An investigation of the walls
of the whole house was now commenced,
and the revelations were, indeed, of the
most startling character. In one of the
rooms on the upper floor was an ar
rangement which enabled player to
know exactly what his opponent held.
Directly over the table in the centre of
the room was small hole in the ceiling,
through which the confederate watched
the game. Wires ran along the ceiling
to the floor, and terminated in levers
beneath the carpet, upon which the
cheating gambler placed his foot; as
these wires were pulled, the number of
taps telegraphed the course of action to
pursue. The faro room was the most
ingeniously contrived thing in the
house. In the first place, wires ran fron
the door SO that signal was given
when it opened, and in an instant every
thing was in readiness for the drop.
This was accomplished by two levers
and space beneath let into the floor.
In second the gamblers withdrew from
the table, each man of course grabbing
his checks and money, and by motion
of the levers the yawning floor opened,
and down went the whole lay out
The carpet was then drawn over the
spot, and when the officers hove in
sight there was nothing in the shape of
gamblers implements to be seen. In
the house there were taken out no less
than $50 wires and several contrivances
for suddenly hiding gambling imple-
ments. After the discovery an endeavor
was made by the three strangers to hush
the matter up, but the affair had become
noised abroad, and already goodmany
strangers we're about the place, drawn
thither by curiosity. The developments
are creating some stir with the gambling
fraternity, but the leading sports Of the
city denied all knowledge of the exist
ence of the peculiar arrangements by
which the unwary were feeced.