The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-10-31
OCEAN
Stakes Risked on Board English
Sreamships-The Faecina-
ton of the Thing.

A~O OulCIols o0AO AAAC S1CAh Va AAv
White Star Line Office, "frem tn,
the captain down to the pettiest sail
or, is permitted to participate either
directly or Indirectly in any pools go
ing on board any vessels 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 anoth'
er vessel during the day-in fact, on
almost every Imaginable event in
which there is an element of uncer-
tainty-is something We can neither
stop or in anywise interfere with.
Neither can We prevent poker play
ing OF any other game Of cards, no
matter how high the stakes are Our
passengers would tell us to mind our
own business. How large the sums
won or lost are / have nc personal
knowledge of. The men who play
are, 1 believe, rich enough to stand
any loss. Life on board ship is diff
ferent than on land. There are no
newspapers to read and enc cannot
always be porting over a book. 1t is
natural that men should seek relief
from ennui in card playing and pools.
But it is regarded merely a. a pas
time and not in any professional
sense"
Are there not men, skillful play
ers, who make it a habit Of crossing
the ces,n many timesa year, readily
paying their passage and making q
good profit out of their winnings at
play"
There may be such men, and if
they get on board our ships it is the
duty of the stewards to look out for
them. A face will become familiar |
after a while and if a person is a
blackleg or sharper the steward will
know how to deal with him. We
cannot refuse passage ever to such
persons where they pay their fare in
advance, for We are common carriers
under the law. but the steward can
control the gentlemen's operations.
In one case which | remember, the
steward at the very outset privately
told n of these gentry that if he
caught him playing he would hoist
his name, as a warning, in the smok-
ing room. This was an effectua.
damper. The sharper did not touch
u card during the whole of the voy-
age
st is not our regular voyagers who
participate in the regular pools" said
the manager of the Cunard Office.
They are for the most part elderly
men who travel a certain number
Of times every year tor commercial
purposes and whose sailing we can
predict like clOckWOrk. To them
the novelty of all this haAworn Off a
long time since. 1t is The young
b!oods and theatrical people, making
their first trips. who are most eager
to put up their money. There is a
fascination about it which attracts
people who would not 60 near q
gambling house on shore. It gives
them something to speculate upon
and talk about, and serves to while !
away the time which would ether .
wise hang heavily on their hands. |
Besides, the whole thing is looked $
upon as great fun, and the winner of !
the pool is invariably expected to ! !
open a basket of champagne forthe !,
!
Mr.. Louis de Bibian, agent Of the '
French steamers, could not say how =
nigh the play ranged or board the I
Iessels of his line. Pools were in
lulged in as well as card playing.
What right would l have" he said
to interfere with any bet which you r
night make with any third gentle g
1t is vourOwn money which =
lose and YOU have a right to do y
With 1t what you please. You might :,
g well have the captains forbid the "
thinking Of wine. 1t is aquestion of Il
ersonal liberty which is dear to r
very one and any infringement on =
'hich would be quickly resented as a
n insult" -
The Passenger agent Of the Ma a
.onal line said there was less pool u
going on on board his line 8
on any other. TIE patrons were r.
steady going class who did not in ~
alge in such amusements, and men r
rho wanted to win large sums OF -,
leney on the trip over generally pre- II
erred to 60 with faster yes sells, which -.
ttracts a larger and richer number =
f psssengers.-N. y. World.