The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-11-14
they make such a racket it is next to impossi-
hla IN slann in than


We left Ogden Friday P. NJ. Next morn
ing found ourselves in Nevada. At Elko Sta
ton we took breakfast. This is an important
point Several mining towns and camps draw
their supplies from this town, thus giving en-
ployment to many teams making business for
merchants, &C., &c. Stages run from nearly all
these towns off into the country as far as 200
miles, though the country itself is unproduc-
tive except for mining and raising stock. The
cattle subsist on tufts OF grass that grows luxu
riantly in some localities, and short domestic
sage, which l am told they arc very fond of as
soon as the frost strikes it.
Nearly all these towns are in the hands and
under the control of the gamblers. Money is
plenty. You see $40 gold piece out here
where you see dollar notes in the East. 1t re-
minds one of California in its early day. Moth
ing but coin is current after leaving 0gden.-
AS | said before, the towns along the Central
Pacific, in Nevada, are run by gamblers. At
Elko, where we breakfasted Jack Roach is the
''boss" gambler. Heowns paying saloon near
the depot. He travels up and down the road
with his cappers, aad 81 900 per day is not a
large winning for him. He is the reputed own
er of a fine ranch well plenty of mining
stock and other comforts of life.
At Battle Mountain we took dinner. | was
attracted by crowd Of passengers, collected in
and about the door OF saloon in close proxim
ity to the depot. On going over l witnessed
the game of "three keerds" being dealt. This
is the most fascinating and seductive game for
Mr.. Greonhornit is quickly understood and
the result is soon known. The dealer sits at a
table next tho wall, with half dozen speci-
mems of rich quartz near him, bottle Of ex
pensive wine open, and glass by its side, to
which he invited every body to drink. He ex
hibits handfuls of $40 gold pieces; he shows up
dense rolls OF 500 greenbacks. pile of sew
eral thousand dollars in greenbacks lay on the
table. He has the appearance of fortunate
miner, dressed in light drab coat, large rim
med light colored hat ami top boots decorated
with Mexican spurs. As approached the ta-
bic two $2O-greenbacks lay on the floor near
the table. A capper picks them up and hands
them to the old fellow, and remarks at the
same time:
"He is drunk--just sold gold mine Tor $l7,-
0OO."
"Take drink" says the dealer, who now
makes his talk.
Picking up one of the rich specimens of min
eral wealth, he says: 81 just sold one mine,
and have got twenty acres more of jist sch
stuff"
His only grief seemed to be that he had just
lost considerable sum OF money the day be-
L
he bought the cards from the person who had
won his Toney, and what he had learned at
such disastrous outlay he was willing to take
the chances of dealing himself. lie now picks
up and throws the cards, and offers to bet 1920
nobody can guess the gal" Zone of the cards
is the queen.) One Of the cappers steps up and
wins largely. One ''smart Alec" marks one of
the cards, or thinks he has it spotted; bets $40.
Of course he loses his money. Others venture,
and all lose.
1 was told that a German emigrant the day
before lost 1880 at this station, all the money
he had. No interference by outsiders is per-
mitted; such proceeding would be worth a
mans life.
The train rings to start. All aboard
The next bad gang you meet is at Reno.
They are more desperate, but less fortunate.-
They confine their operations to emgrant
trains. Their tools are simple and few-a six
Ashslter.J Jhs"--e- k q 4s ecz o. 59sras tnd lit
tie counterfeit money. They arc known as
rough gamblers; if they can't induce you to
play, they rob you by force They swarm down
from all the mining towns and camps. When
card-playing gets dull, or the law gets after
them, they take halter and go into the horse
misunderstanding. There are other gamblers,
of more genteel appearance, who ply their vo-
cations on the sleeping cars. They travel in
gangs of three. They are usually well dressed
social, and of pleasing address. Their "racket"
is to play "big hands, BY certain manipula-
tions of the cards they give the victim heavy
hand, but are careful to take one themselves to
beat it. To illustrate: They give the intended
victim ace, deuce, jack and ten spot, with two
other trumps. One of the sharpers has "held
out" hand composed of the balance of the
highest cards of the same suit. He then pro-
poses to bet Mr.. Greeny that he (Mr. Greeny)
can't make four times. Nine times out of ten,
if the victim has gambling proclivties, he will
lose 500 the hand. We reached Sacra-
mento Sunday for dinner, or lunch, rather
You walk up to a sandwich stand, set with cold
meats, hard boiled eggs, picked sheep tongue,
coffee tea, for which you pay seventy five
cents in coin. At eight o'clock we are at Oak
land; we take the ferry boat; nearly an hour
is consumed in getting passengers and baggage
over to the city. All the hotels are represented
by runners, who solicit you to patrorize their
respective houses. If you call a carriage it
costs $3.50 in coin. All the hotels run car
riage free. They are called coach carriages.
B. W. b.