Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-08
ME BLACK PRINCE IN LUCK
John Alexander. Negro Gambler. Wins
$4,000 at Faro.

FROM t}S C&nclNQuEa T. AQWtfST.
John Alexander, the "Black Prince Of
Columbus, is the only first-class colored
gambler in the country, and for years he
has conducted a fine gambling house in
the capital city. He is a thorough
gambler, and when he bets wants to bet
high. Often in his life he has been worth
100000, owned brown stone fronts, dis-
monds, and fast horses, and in a week has
found himself broke, property mOrtgaged
for all it was worth and bank roll gone.
He is not black man. but is a mulatto,
dresses in the height of fashion, and
wears a beard. He is very gentlemanly,
pleasing in appearance, and noted for his
mOdesty, never obtrudiDg his presence
where he imagines it might be distaseful.
The "Black Prince" got one of his lucky
streaks and wanted to buck the tiger, and
buck her hard. He was accommodated.
Jake Weber is engaged in running a
faro bank at Columbus in company with
big, gOOd-natured Sam Woodland. Alex
ander tackled them, and they dealt him a
limit of $25 and $50. The high roller
planked down his checks, and chafed I'M
der the limit, until he had won $4,000
from this house alone, and Jake and Sam
turned up the box and said they were
through.
He next paid his respects to John Colen-
der's game, and, at $25 and $50 limit, took
out $4,000 of Johns capital. The limit
was then cut on him to $l2 90, which
seemed to him no more than tossing pen
MES, and he quit. Tom Marshal's game
next caught it. 1t stood his racket So, 000
worth, and another little box was turned
up, and the roll was in Alexander's pOck-
ct. Deacon Dent, a Republican Council
man in Columbus, who has Nelse Smith,
an old-time gam" running his game,
imagined he could do something to relieve
the high rollers pent-up feelings, but $500
in a single sitting Of short duration con-
WINGED him that luck was against him,
and up went the box.
Col. Crouch himself then thought he
might do something for Alexander. He
concluded that the luck of the Black
Prince should change soon, and he would
just open a private game for the big Teller
to buck against. He got the parapherna-
liza ready in back room of his place, and
Alexander rolled up his sleeves and
waded in. The limit was S25 and $50, and
Sam handled the pasteboards himself. In
five days Alexander won $1,000 without
making losing, and Col. Crouch eiacu-
lated
'John, am satisfied. don't believe
care to run private faro bank any
longer"
ADOuJ luiS blUle ObJ medtieT, VI JHtb
city, who shook the dust of Cincinnati
off his feet the other day when the gamb-
ling houses were closed up, struck Column
bus, and went in with Tom Marshall.
Alexander could not think of sighting
HIM by not calling, so he went in, and in
two sittings 81, $50 were transferred from
the bank roll to the Columbus GAMBLERS
wallet, and down went the limit to $12 80.
The only Columbus shop that escaped
scOrohing from Alexander was that run
b. George n SAVERS Idaho and Aug.
Waddle, eX-MayOr OF Chillicothe. 1t is
said that these gentlemen, when they
heard the "Black Prince was on the war
path, reduced the limit to 81 30, and
would only let tidbit gamblers play in an
ticipatiOD of a visit from the all-devOur-
ing cyclone.
Aexauder's run of luck is remarkable.
In the last three months he has won
nearly $4,000 at straight faro, with
scarcely a losing, and 100000 of the
amount was won in a single months
time.