Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-09-06
s.reLISG AMONG MINERs.
:. idaho Mining Camp
areaes y. chief Amusen1cnas

nrviIle Idaho, one OF lhes 1linlnag
Nur1! = tho recently discovered gold
rsnps - Saloons fill more than
regions N the buildings in o mining
hsli . Tba lodging houses cosne next
camp -. and the balance arc restau-
j. au'', MS and shops Of various KINGS.
Isne iodging houses arc really naii sa-
ns for most Of them contain bars
loga1 s;ng and smoking are unqiestIon-
pFlas ~ most active employments. The
sel9 s" md other liquors dealt out are
FnlsN dreadful: the price, two bits,
Gao eve cents), for a single drink is
't"'h| outrageous. Beer and all other
~! likewise cigars, are the same
5IlpN' There seems to be an objection
odpo any smaller change Tor these
% To- though ten-cent pieces are to be
lA In the country. There arc two kinds
d. '.t ID tne long and the short. They
o ~ familiar to those who have lived
hs seled ON the Pacific slope, The
e.bitr i fifteen cents. the short ten
W. n one BAYS an article worth one
e .a'.r and oiycs twenty-five cents 10 pay
~. he gets back only ten cents. 1t
=. 10 BE- an arrangement IN favor OF
n. sslIer and its origin is due to the
s.e;tv Of smlll change in the West
,sago The saloons Of the Cmur
Acme are not handsome. Many Of
nom are in tent houses and have only
bean bar. dirty wooden tioor and
90 chairs. Some havestoycs. and some
80 without any bottom but the bare
ssytb but all have the same stray Of
,bsan lionor behind the bar. A peculiar
ta.,pre Of the Western saloon is that each
enc contains one or more gambling tables.
M saloon is complete without at least one
gambling table, and one Of them mas one
q more faro" tables and in additional
,iatnd. horse poker table. ''Stud horse
pokern is like other poker but the
eards are dealt out by gambler, who sits
on the inside of semi-circular table. On
tbe outside sit the players, who betlamong
themselves. according to the nature Of
their hands, the gambler simply dealing
the cards as they are asked for, and tax
inc certain percentage OF each ''pote
from the one who wins. The game is
sure thing for the dealer, for he takes no
hand. and no matter who wina he is
bound to get his percentage The
gamblers in these saloons are not their
own masters. They are paid to gun the
games by the owner of the tables; some
times the saloon keeper owns both saloon
and games, but it is more often the case
that the games are run by anoutside
party The usual pay of these gamblers
or dealers is $50 week, and in addition
they are entitled to supper, all the cigars
they can smoke, and all the whisky they
can drink The gamblers change off
with one another as a rest, and
often play against the game them
selves. There is no particular time
for the opening of the game. From
early in the morning until late in the
evening, in fact, all night long, il there
are any players, the game goes on, but
the bulk OF the playing is III the eve
ming. In this region. and throughout the
West every gambling game issopcn to
the public Any one can 90 in and look
on who likes, and he has only to- put his
money on the table il he wants 10 play.
In most places there is limit, but it
riscs or falls according to the solidity of
the bank or the character of the town.
Helena, the capital of the territory, is an
old mining town, and it always has been
great gambling town. Gambling is
going on there Mt great rate to-day in
rs many saloons, and it is all open
and in plain sight srom the streets.
There is not the slightest pretcnsc of
conceament. The doors of every saloon
arc as wide open as any in Now York,
ana there is a constant stream Of men
walking in and out They look at the
game few seconds, ard perhaps: leave,
oul the chances are that they witl throw
down a dollar or halt dollar carcleSsly
y watch indifferently for the. result.
u u Is swept from the board, per- chance
.aey will try again. but it is probable
uey will walk out and down street,
sep INTO another saloon, and put the
sane y amount of money on table there.
i . winning is made chair ID apt to
ve secured and stay made until their
money is either gone or its pile sensiblv
increased. To gamble or to indulge in
suy'nng man has fancy for is no
WINE nor even vice. ia this country. If
: aoes not steal, play the sneak. or i'm
pos upon another, nothing the worse is
Molgnt OF him. Clustered around a
salnOlng table, eithee playing or look
-. y, !, on caa De seen any EVENING" in any
y saese Western towns, aspecimGn from
=, sul0s' every class of people ia the coun-
y. Iradesmen, clerks, miners labor
3. nv men OF all kinds, all indulge af times.
~ ~. Y me larger and more established
s ,O@aS and, as rule. throughout the
: the better class do not iua1nlge
= ~ Fsa3--at least not before the public.
n.r ,as success of the gambling tables de
rus considerably on circumstances.
nv ny game Is more lively on some DAYS
saan on Others ha,.,,.a se - ~s..s...-:..-w