The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-07-05
NO. IA.
Gambling in Kentucky.
HOW THE DARING BLUEGRASS GAMEsTERs
PILE UP THEIR MONEY.


PILE UP THEIR MONEY.
louisville (Ky) letter to Philadelphia Press
Probably there is no State in the Union
where gambling of all kinds is carried on
as openly and as generally as it Is in Ken
lucky, and in no city has the mania for
gaming such a hold on the public mind as
1t has in Louisville. Everybody CANDLES
here. The central part of the city is one
vast faro-bank. For three squares on
Fifth street and for four squares on Jeffer-
son street nearly every house is filled with
kenO-rooms and faro-ban The law is a
dead letter, for the gamblers are greater
than the law; they make the law. This
city has now become the horse centre of
the State, and here are collected all the big
sports" Of Kentucky. From February
until October and November pools are sold
III half dozen places for sums ranging
from % cents to $1,000 and $4,000.
The vast amount of money that changes
hands in single year is appalling. 1 was
talking the other day with Fat Dick''
Watts, one of the proprietors of the Turf
Exchange, and the figures he gave of the
llrm's dealings, including orders by tele-
graph, French mutuals and pool selling,
were for last year between $6,0OOOOO and
$7,0OO,0O0. Compare this with the dealings
OF any OF the national banks OF any of the
great mercantile houses of the country and
see how few surpass it. The amount of bet
ting going on at the races each day is
simply amazing. On Derby day no less
than $2OO,OO0 changed hands on the ground
alone, and all this in cash. 1t wasn't a
very good day for betting, either.
The winnings that some of these gam
blers make is enough to take ones breath
way. In one race alone Mr.. Jack Chinn,
the owner of Leonatus, won $35, 000 He
is the famous friend of Phil Thompson.
and was his staunchest supporter in all the
troubles that arose from Thompsons I'M
fortunate shooting affair. He is a des-
perate better, and one night last summer,
the story runs, that in big poker game
with some Blue Grass race men, he won
$4,000. Ex-Governor McCreary was at
this time talking of running for Congress
against Thompson. Chinn heard Of it and,
slapping his hand down on the table in
front of him, swore roundly that Thomp-
to beat McCreary. When McCreary heard
of the threat he failed to make the race.
Chinn is atypical Kentucky gambler, hand
some, broad-shouldered, liberal to fault,
and knows how to use II pistol. He once
faced mob of thirty Republicans at
HarrOdSburg, who were threatening to
kill any enemy of Col. "Bill'' Bradley, the
leader Of their party in the State, and es-
pecially hated by Chinn. He boldly de-
nounced Bradley before the whole crowd.
In a minute Il dozen pistols were out
Chim instantly drew his own, leveled it
at the head of the leader and swore that
the first man who attempted to shoot him
would read their leaders death-warrant.
Some friends backed up, all of them with
their weapons drawn, and q bloody battle
was only prevented by mutual friends set
Ting the dispute. He carries himself
jauntily, never picks quarrel and never
shnns one that is forced on him. A brave,
reckless, daShing fellow is Jack Chinn, and
a good specimen of the Blue Grass gam
bier. He owns Leonatus and several other
good horses, has u fine farm in the heart of
the Blue Grass, and is willing to bet $10,-
600 on three aces.
Another man here named Keegan won
$40, 600 on Ida Stanhope and it scarcely
raised a ripple. In the same race pool
was sold for $4,000. This is considered
moderate betting The very children in
the streets buy pool tickets. On one side
of Third street you can see men in kid
gloves wagering their thousands at the
Turf" and across the way bootblacks
and ncwsbOys bet twenty-five cents on the
Derby.
The judge of our circuit court buys pools,
and no one thinks wrong of it. He is a
big hearted honest gentleman, and if pub
lie sentiment opposed his gambling he
would Scorn to do it. The chief of thefire
department sells pool tickets across the
counter, and the leading councilman of the
city is an auctioneer during the races. The
Governor of the State buys freely, and
backs his choice like an old gambler. The
very girls buy pool tickets, and divide their
pocket-money with their brothers, and try
to pump Il winner. Men make princely
fortunes in Il few years. Milt Young, an
obscure grocery keeper at Henderson, KY,
got hold Of good horse, and after two
years bought himself magnificent stock
farm near Lexington-the famous Nc
Grathiana-and is worth anywhere from
5000, 900 to 100000, and has stable full
of flyers. His horses always lost at the
right time, and won at the right time
''You oughtn't to blame the horses,'' said
a turfman to me, ''they didn't have any
thing to do with it''
The license that is given other kinds of
gambling makes Louisville the paradise for
the 'calculators of chances, "as Bret Harte
calls them. All the fines that are imposed
are freely remitted by the Governor. Faro
banks are almost as responsible as National
banks, and have quite as much capital
backing them. Winnings and losings are
made at a single sitting that would make
ones head swim. Waddell, a well-known
gambler in the South, won $4,000 in two
hours. Maj. Hughes lost SO 900 on the turn
of a card A half drunken party went into
Fifth-street bank a few nights ago and
closed the bank up for the night, winning
everything in the safe.
Not Satisfied with Little.
The Surgeon General of the c. S. A.,
Dr. = Z MNnra Nritinm from hood