The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1877-08-10
Risking Their Gold Dust.

Risking Their Gold Dust. -
Among the most noted of the club
houses at Deadwood are the Cabinet, the
Senate, Morton's Club House, and the
Melodeon. The gaming is carried on
there ONT the ground floor in open view.
The rooms are crowded with hundreds of
men, some waiting for chance to take
hand, some busted and waiting for a
stake, some too drunk to participate in
the games, others too busy getting drunk,
while many are putting up and trying
their luck. I walked into Morton's the
other evening and took few points.
Near the door was. roulette outfit, with
man spinning the wheel around and
asking the "gentlemen' to try their hands
and make their expenses while in the
Hills. He was out of luck that evening,
or the crowd was little off on roulette,
for the wheel spun around without sin
gle bet. At the next table was seated an
old man, hair closely cropped, but with a
long, gray beard, or rather chin whis-
kers. ... ,..... .-s...- ;s.s -.
Before him on the table was an oil
cloth on which were painted star, a dia-
mond, heart, a club, a spade, and an
anchor-representing the four suits of
cards, with the addition of the star and
the anchor. He had three dice-on each
face OF which was one Of these six en-
blcms-and an apparatus shaped like an
hour glass, about six inches high, open at
both ends. Into the top of this he threw
he dice and then called to the players to
make their bets, which they did by plac
ing their chips on any Of the figures on
the oilcloth. He lifted the funnel, and
either paid over the money to the one
who had been So. fortunate as to put his
chip on the winning emblem or emblems,
OF raked in the chips from those that lost
This man is a curiosity, and his speech,
which he repeats over and over again,
made alasting impression on me- aBets
all made, gentlemen? There she is-two
anchors and a spade. Oh, Lord Oh, Lord
Everybody wins and the old man loses"
One young man has good run on the
anchor; doubles his bets and wins again !;
doubles and wins again. 20, Lord! O.,
Lord everybody wins and the old man
loses. That anchor is a serpent: I knew
it-going to cut him off tomorrow" An
other throw and the young man is clean
ed out; but still that monotone. 80 Lord
0, Lord! everybody wins and the old man
loses" noticed, however, that the sold
man. was quietly absorbing the gold dust
of the playe rs. .l5 "
At the next table sad-looking young
man was bossing. He had his hat cooked
over one eye, a cigar in one corner of his
mouth, elevated at an angle of about IS
degrees, and didn't indulge in chin
music, but solemnly he poured the ordi-
nary dice through a funnel, and solemnly
called out, )" Two aces, a deuce, two fives, y
and as solemnly raked in the chips off the
oil-cloth in front of him, on which were
figures from to inclusive, or paid out
chips to those lucky enough to g guess, .
the right number. Solemnly, but surely,
was he, too, getting away with the dust.
Across from this table was the faro Law
out, and around it was the largest crowd
Betting was lively here, and the dealer
was all business. There were no words
a sharp eye for the bets, a speedy raking
in or paying out Of chips, an astonishing
shuttle of the cards, quiet deal, q crowd
free of their bets but also chary of their
words-all business, but slowly and sure
~ was the bank emptying the buckskin
purses. The bar finished out the room,
and the calls for. drinks were frequent,
vet there was no row or fuss; all was or
derby. Faro is the great game for the
miners, and gets most Of their. dust.
The Melodeon is located at the corner
Of Main and Wall streets, brilliant with
kerosene lamps, crowded every evening
almost to sufocation. You enter the
brilliantly lighted room, crowded with at
least a hundred men; your ears are greet
ed with music, and, looking back, YOU see
on a raised platform the orchestra piano,
violin, and cornet. Here on this oil-cloth
are fifty four numbers, and some of those
numbers have prizes, and some don't.
You throw the dice-frst pay half d dol
lar-and you win whatever is put down
on the chart opposite the number you
make. "Try throw, sir?" The last re-
mark to fne-looking fellow about six
feet high, smooth shaved face, rather of
the Beecher type. He says, we'll, he'll
try it, and lays down dollar for two
throws. The first throw is pnlucky, and
he loses, looks around, and asks a strang-
er watching the game whether he won't
throw for him-"just for luck, you
know" Stranger accepts; nice looking