Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-07-29
Fortunes Lost end Won.

Virginia City, Nevada, has sixteen
faro games. all situated in @ street, at
the rear of the principal saloons. The
proprietor of one of the most flourish
ing faro banks says that the expenses of
running the games, exclusive of license,
foot up at $27, 400 year. From the
first to the fifteenth of the month, the
time at which the miners arc flush, most
Of the games run three shifts of eight
hours each, thus employing six dealers
and three case keepers. After the mid
die of the month the business slackens,
and only one or two of the games runs
more than two shifts. Every bank pays
yearly license of $1,000, making che
comfortable total of $25, 600.
A popular delusion prevails that faro
is conducted on the square" in Vir-
ginia. The fact that the owners Of the
games live, as general thing, in about
as handso ne houses as can be seen in
the city, and that they are themselves
behind fast horses in G street, counts for
nothing with the gambling Comstocker,
who invariably has his "system" nearly
perfected, and is sure to "bust the
game before long. This ardsntly
longed for triumph is occasionally
achieved. Within the last six monthsno
less than four games have been cleaned
out. They were, however, comparative
ly poverty stricken concerns, having
only 1000 or $1,000 capital. Most Of
the banks now running have backing
of from $4,000 to 100000, and one
institution has $4OO, 900 as a founda-
tion.
The largest winning reported 80 far
this year was made by a teamster, who
got away with. over $4,000, and left
the bank wreck. On the other hand,
the losses have been extremely heavy.
One we'll known gambler here, who
would pass anywhere for the father of a
prosperous family, has lost $3.50 at
faro within the last four months. Apro-
pos of this gentleman, I heard good
little story the other day. He and some
other professionals had been losing
frightfully, and some desperate step was
necessary to raise the wind. A neat
plot was hatched. Free drinks are
feature of every gambling room. A
waiter takes the orders from the play
ers and brings in the liquors and cigars
on tray. Tho waiter of the game
which this wrecked gambler and his
companion had resolved to victimize was
heavily bribed to join the scheme.
Drinks were called for, the dealer among
the rest asking for refreshment. The
uniaithful waiter passed the tray to the
dealer in such manner as to cover the
cards, and the gambler deftly removed
the box and substituted another with o
cold deck in it under cover Of tho tray.
In about ten minutes the conspirators
won 81, 400, knowing what cards would
come up. After about wo-thirds of the
deck had been dealt the dealer smiled
and said:
We'll, boys. You may as we'll hand
over my box; I see you've got me thi
time"
There was neither anger nor hard
words. Anything to beat the game"
is considered allowable, and the gamblers
walk off with their spoils in peace.
The profits of the faro banks are
large and certain. A seasoned gamester
said the other day that game that he
and one partner conducted for eleven
years cleared in that time over $500, 900.
One of the two banks with which Gold
Hill is blessed clears regularly every
month $4,000.