Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-17
New Gambling Game for COOns.
Chicago News.

| symptoms, IL uOes not nurt the teeth.
New Gambling Game for COOns,
Chicago News.
That coon has been playing craps
and made a winning" remarked a
Clark street sporting man, the other
evening, when an deliberately dressed
darky got out of a buggy in front of a
Fourth avenue saloon, and going in
side announced his intention of "set.
ting EN- up to the house" The drinks
were paid for and consumed, the darky
got into his buggy to drive to another
saloon and repeat the performance,
and the reporter asked what sort of an
animal craps" was.
oh, It's the great niger gambling
game" said his informant. II don I
suppose there are five hundred 'coons'
10 Chicago that don't play it more or
less They are great gamblers on
small scale, these dsrkies, and craps
is their great game. Some of them
stick to policy but the majority pre-
fer craps Come with me, and III
show you the game"
Up dingy staircase, 10 the rear of
large Fourth avenue saloon, the
couple went and were ushered into a
large room in the third story OF the
building The only furniture, besides
a carpet, was table about twenty feet
long and five wide, covered with white
canvas. Around this some thirty
gentlemen of color were congregated,
all standing up, as no chairs are
allowed in a "orap house" One I'M
bleached American was throwing the
dice while the rest were anxiously
watching the result of the throws and
perfect din of voices resounded
throughout the low room. The con-
slant refrain Of the players was; Bet
We dollar he craps" bet yer a half
he don't" Craps" "Golly ain t he
lucky niggerl" Mingled with the
cries we're loud calculations of delight
from the winners, and corresponding
remarks from the losers. The pre-
ceptOr explained the nature of the
game.
you see that darby who is throw
ing the dice? They are three ordinary
dice, and are thrown from the hand, no
box being allowed upon the table. The
spots upon the upward faces of the
dice when thrown are counted, and
the total added together. You see
that last throw? 1t was 6, 4 and p
IL altogether. A or IL is called a
crap Every player throws the dice
in turn. That fellow there with the
white necktie has got them now. He
makes the first throw, which is simply
starter, and there are no bets on it
1t was 8. Well, what he wants to do
now is to throw another 9 before he
craps, that is to say, before he throws
Z or IL. If he craps before he throws
8. then the next player takes the dice.
The bets are between the players, and
they bet with him and each other that
be will crap before he throws q, or
that he will get 8 first. You bet either
way you please"
How high do the bets run2 Well,
it's rare that higher bet than 50 is
made, and that sort OF stake is gen
orally made by white people. The
coons' don't often 20 over q dollar,
and halves and quarters are the rule.
II darky wins SIS or $40 he thiaks
he owns the town, and starts to cele
brate the way that fellow did we saw
on Fourth avenue. Look at that fell
low there, and he pointed to a long,
lank, cream colOred "gemmun," who
had risen from the table, and, with a
number Of small bills in his hand, was
loudly proclaiming his luck.
Use won $40" he exclaimed, tri-
umphantly Use beat dc game. Bring
me something to drink; want mine
quick"
He will be buying wine next" said
the mentor, "and to morrow morning
will wake up with nothing but heads
ache to remind him Of his nights
amusement"
10 they ever save their win
did you ever see a gambler that
did, Easy come, easy 60, is the rule
Of all money won at gambling, and
coons' are no different from other
sports"
no white people ever play2"
| NWhu hlaoa ryOfr uau NV ora ara ., n
regular 'oraphouses' kept only for
white custom, but lots Of white men
come to these niger houses. Then
it's great game in sportinghouses OF
another class, and, il rumor is correct,
you can generally strike a game at a
certain place on South Clark street,
below Polk, the mistress Of which was
prominent In the stqrls trial. II ID
piayed there for amusement, and The
yemen and visitors all participate
The stakes there arc larger shan you
see here. In many other places OF the
same kind they play craps at odd
times. The newsboys all play for pen
MES, and number Of people, wnom
you would never suspect OF 1t, carry
dice in their pockets, and will start
aaas op the HFst invitation"
Eyes | suppose there are tricks in
the game, the same as in any other
Dice are often loaded, but there il
little advantage in tAat raoye 10 the
game, and aS 30 dice box is allowed
there can be no skin game by that
means Whatever the tricks are
don't know them, hptit ls against all
exnerlenee ia supnase that there is
anv game played whereby money Il
won and lost that somebody has moi
invented a method Of cheating at it.
There are some players that have 9
reputation for luck at the game, and
crowds will always follow them around