Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-09
A NEGRO GAMBLER.

John Alexander, the "Black Prince" of
Columbus, O., is the only irst.class colored
gambler in the country, and for years he has
conducted fine gambling house in the cap
ital city. He is thorough gambler, and
when he bots, wants to bet high. Often in
his life he has been worth $500, 1000, owned
br own. stone fronts, diamonds, and fast
horses and in week has found himself
broke, property mortgaged for all twas worth
and bank roll gone. He is not black man,
but is q mulatto, dresses in the height of
fashion, and wears beard. He svery gen
tlemanly, pleasing in appearance, and noted
for his modesty, never obtrubing his pres
ence where he imagines it might be distaste-
full. The "Black Prince" got one of his
lucky streaks and wanted to buck the tiger,
and buck her hard. He was accommo-
dated
Jake Webber is engaged in running faro
bank at Columbus in company with big,
good-natured Sam Woodard. Alexander
tackled them, and they dealt him limit of
$25 and $50. The high roller planked down
his checks and chafed under the limit until
he had won out SIS ,O00from 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 S., 900 of Johns capital. The limit was
then cut on him to $3.50, which seemed to
him no more than tossing pennies, and he
quit. Tom Marshall's game next caught it.
1t stood his racket S3 900 worth, and another
little box was turned up, and the roll was
in Alexander's pocket. Deacon Dent,
republican councilman in Columbus, who
has Nelse Smith, an old-time gam" run
ming his game, imagined he could do some
thing to relieve the high rollers pent-up
feelings, but $500 in single sitting of short
duration convinced him that luck was
against him, and up went the box.
Colonel Crouch himself then thought he
concluded that the luck of the Black Prince
should change soon, and he would just open
a private game for the big fellow to buck
against. He got the paraphernalia ready
in back room of his place, and Alexander
rolled up his sleeves and Waded in. The
limit was $25 and $50, and Sam handled the
pasteboards himself In FIVE days Alexan-
der won $4,000 without making losing,
and Colonel Crouch calculated:
"Johu, am satisfied. I don't believe care to
run private faro bank any longer"
About this time OFT Meader of Cincinnati, who
shook the dust of that city off his feet the other
day when the gambling houses were closed up,
struck Columbus, and went in with Tom Mar
shall. Alexander could not think Of sighting
him By not calling, so he went in, and in two sit.
tings 81 $50 was transferred from the bank roll
to the Columbus gamblers wallet, and down went
the limit to $3.50.
The only Columbus shop that aped scorch-
ing from Alexander was that run by George \.
SAVERS (.'Idaho') and Aug. Waddlc, cxMayor of
Chillicothe 1t is said that these gentlemen, when
they heard the BLACK Prince was on the war
path reduced the limit to $25O and would only
let tidbit gamblers play in anticipation of visit
from the all.devouring cyclone
Alexander's run of luck is remarkable. In the
last three months he has won nearly $4,000 at
straight faro. with scarcely losing, and $4,000
of the amount was won in single months time.
Cincinnati Enquirer.