Morris tribune., 1883-12-15
OCEAN GAMBLING.
Stakes Risked on Board English
Steamships-.The Fascina.
ton of the Thing.

New York World.
''No official" said the clerk at tho White
Star Line office, "from the captain down to
the pettiest sailor, is permitted to participate
either directly or indirectly in any pools go
ing on board of any vessel Of our line. and
any statements to the contrary are utterly
devoid of truth. That passengers will bet
on the run of the ship, on the number of the
pilot boat. on the probability of meeting
another vessel during the day-in fact, on al
most every imaginable event in which there
is an element of uncertainty-is something
which we can neither stop or in anywise in
terfere with. Neither can we prevent poker
playing or any other game of cards, no mat
ter how high the stakes are. Our passengers
would tell us to mind our own business. How
large the sums won or lost are l have no per-
sonal knowledge of. The men who play are,
believe, rich enough to stand any loss. Life
on board ship is different than ON land.
There are no newspapers to read, and one
cannot always be poring over book. 1t is
natural that men should seek relief from
ennui in card-piaying and pools. But it is
regarded merely as pastime and not in any
professional sense"
"Are there not men, skillful players, who
make it habit of crossing the ocean many
times year, readily paying their passage
and making good profit out of their win
nings at play?n
There may be such men, and il they get
on board of our ships it is the duty of the
stewards to look out for them. A face will
become familiar after while and if the per-
son is a blackleg or sharper the steward will
know bow to deal with him. We cannot
-. xr,1av
they pay their fare in advance, for we are
common carriers under the law, but the
| steward can control the gentleman's opera
tions In one case which 1 remember, the
steward at the very outset privately told one
| of these gentry thai if he caught him playing
he would hoist his name, as warning, in the
snoking-roo That was an effectual dam
| per- The sharper did not touch card dur
| ing the whole of the voyage"
! ''It is not our regular voyagers who partici-
| pate in the pools, said a manager at the
| Cunard Office. "They are for the most part
elderly men who travel certain number of
times every year for commercial purposes
and whose sailing we can predict like clock
work. To them the novelty of all this has
worn off a long time since 1t is the young
bloods and theatrical people, making their
first trips, who are the most eager to put up
| their money. There is fascination about it
which attracts people who would not go near
gambling house on shore. It gives them
something to speculate upon and talk about,
and serves to while away the time which
would otherwise hang heavy on their hands.
| Besides, the whole thing is looked upon as
great fun. and the winner of the pool is in.
variably expected to open basket of cham
| pSiign for the crowd"
Mr.. Louis de Bebian, the agent Of the
French Steamers could not say how high the
play ranged on board the vessels of his line.
Pools were indulged in as well as card play
ing.
"What right would have" he said, ito
interfere in any bet which you might make
with any third gentlemans 1t is your owr
money which you lose and you have the right
To do with it what you please You might
MS well have the captains forbid the drinking
/ OF wine. 1t is question of personal liberty
which is dear to every one and any infringe
ment on which would be quickly resented az
| an insult"
The passenger agent of the National line
said there was less pool playing going on or
board the steamers of that line than on any
other Their patrons were steady going
class who did not indulge in such amusements
and men who wanted to win large sums oi
| money on the trip over generally preferred
| to 90 with faster vessels. which attracted d
| larger and richer number of Dassenpers