Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-25
GAMBLING AT LONG BRANCH.
Phil Days Rivel-Caterlng 10 Custom
Ors of the Club House.
From 90 phil1deipIia Pr1,

FROM tho Phil1deipbia Press
LONG BRANCH, July 2l.-Perhaps the
most extraordinary spectacle to be seen
at any watering place is now attracting
general attention here. 1t is the omen and
bitter rivalry of two noted gamesters.
Singulnrly enough, they are of the same
name, Philip and John DAILY. Philip-of
celebrity in Philadelphia ever since
he made mis- Pennsylvania club house
here so gorgeous, had u monopoly of the
gambling patronage OF the swell mob. His
profits have been SO large in the past three
or four seasons and he has been nermittpd
to carry ON mis- business 50 openly that
there has been talk Of setting up a rival
establishment for some time.
10 make the chance Of beating him rea
s0naoly successful required the possession
Ofpluck, nOtoriety and large means. A man
possessing all these was John DAILY, Of
New YORK Ihe latter IL proprietor of a
sumptu0us establishment in Barclay
street, and is known To sporting mon
throughout the country. He operated
here last summer as bo0kmaker, and
his winnings were sufficiently large to en-
able him TO maintain his family i'm grand
style at an expensive and fashionable
hotel.
This season he blossoms forth as the
lessee of handsome cottage round the
corner from the Pennsylvania club house
Like the Pennsylvania, it stands boldly
out on the drive. Ii has been elegantly
appointed, and through its open windows
one may catch a glimpse of golden wall
paper and crystal chandeliers. A broad
drive leads up to the tiOwer-adorned pi-
azza, and special police officers are sta
toned on the lawn to assist in the main
tenance of the decOrum Of the establish
ment. The place is called the Long Branch
Club.
John Daily, when he leased the house,
made no secret of his intention to run as
rival to his namesake. AS the first step
i'll the contest he secured the services Of
the grave and elegant Major who had
presided at Philip Days table for a num-
Der of years. Phil, for fear that unsO-
phisticated visitors might confuse the two
establishments in their minds, had big
| taliy-hO coach built, as Il means of adver-
Using his establishment, and be now
drives out with four horses at the fash
ionhble hour every afternoon. Several
sporting men ride on top. He himself al
ways handles the ribbons, and Mr. Ike
Street, of Philadelphia, occupies the box
with him. Following his usual plan of
making all his expenditures here, he had
the coach built by Long Branch wagon
makers.
John DAILY, on his part, appeals less to
the outer than the inner man, and, az IL
means of attracting patrons, he now
spreads bOunteous and dainty collation.
every night at Il for rothing Philip has
been getting high prices for the excellent
work of his chef and his restaurant has
served as an excuse for ladies and gentle
men who wished to visit the gaming house
I - IA la L .rfv
dulging in an expensive luncheon Some
gentlemen who were playing faro there
the other night were pleasantly surprised
to find champagne and cigars brought in
to them at the expense of the establish
ment. They were 500 ahead Of the house,
and if they had been permitted to leave
the gambling-TOOm 10 procure refresh
ments they might not have returned.
When they ceased playing they were
more than $500 out. The gifts of wine and
cigars to them might not have been any
thing more than bit of prudence on the
part Of the management of the Pennsyl-
vania. II is asserted by friends of Philip
DAILY, however, that the departure was in
the direction OF permanent policy, and
that ''Phil' means to do everything that
money and skill can do to crush out his
rival.
The Pennsylvania club property is
worth about $500 600, aud is the finest
gambling-hOuse in the United States, and
the owner of 1t does not propose to allow
his receipts to diminish.
Meanwhile a large section of the resi-
dents Of Long Branch are demanding that
some notice be taken by the authorities OF
the great prevalence Of gambling in all
FORMS Their views are advocated by the
county journals. ard, as three Of the five
members of the Long Branch Commits
sion are churchmen and strong advO.
Gates of law and order, an anti-gamblng
war is daily expected. Both the Days
are wealthy.