Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-09
GAMRLERs, surGRsrIrIONs.
what M old sport Says Abou noodoos
and Signs Considered Unuohy.
Vtroi,to Mo, a Chrrv,t,ic

Virginia tNev.) Chronicle
Professional gamblers are generally
firm believers in what is termed luck,
aud in many cases are superstitious 10 a
degree emitting them to being designated
as cranks. member of the fraternity
Of the latter class furnishes the Chronicle
with the following anecdotes of some OF
the most prominent superstitlons pre-
yailing.
In Sacramento in 1850 a member OF the
guild particularly free from superstition
visited a famous gambling house for the
purpose OF renting one q the numerous
unoccupied tables with the intent OF
opening faro game. one was pointed
out as "hoodooedn on account of a
player having been stabbed to death while
bucking at a faro game there several
months before. The gambler said that
was just the table he was looking for.
He rented it, opened a faro game and In
less than thirty days won $500, 900 from
players.
On another occasion stranger entered
saloon with closed umbrella in his
hand, and approaching the bar, called for
u drink. While waiting TO be served he
opened the umbrella and Internationally
raised II over the head of Il gambler, who
drew pistol and discharged Its contents
into the person OF the owner OF the
umbrella, killing him Instantly.
The gambler was arrested, and
the defense set up at the trial was that
he had killed the stranger as the only
eff ctual method of removing the hoodoo
placed upon his luck by innocently rails
Ing an open umbrella over his mead "Ii
\ l,,yt lt,Ia ha ttltt y
er, 81 would never have had another
davis luck as long as | lived" The
SEQUEL to the homicide proved lucky TO
the public, as the cranky sport was
hanged for the crime.
In the mining camps in California In
early days rabbits claw nailed under.
meath the top OF table covered with a
faro or monte layout was reckoned a
"dead hoodoo," and miners visiting
towns adjacent to their camp on Sundays
would often stick u cotton-talPs trotter
underneath the top OF gaming
table at which they were buck
| ing II was not an uncommon occur
renee at the close Of deal resulting
uuluckily for the game for the dealer,
lookout and casekeeper TO light candle
and carefully inspect the under part OF
the top OF the table In search OF the OBJ
noxious rabbits claw TO which they at
trlbuted their bad luck. On one oc-
casion dealer was shot and fell stone
| dead underneath the table while attempt
ing to remove one OF the ill-omened
claws by the player who placed II there
When you see the proprietor OF game
shifting the table holding faro layout 70
another part OF the room you can safely
| bet that the game is losing and that they
are doing Il to change their luck,
Players also have peculiar supersti.
tlons and viii frequently "cash I'M their
cht cks and quit the premises as soon
las certain persons, whom they
designate as hoodoos, enter a room
where they are hucklng at
| game. Some PLAYERS will never enter o
room except by The leit-hand door, ,eat
themselves at TIE left hand OF the dealer
and handle their checks aud coin
only with the left hand. II they meet
woman When crossing the street or side
wax white on their way to game, they
lorrgo their intention OF buchng on that
day,
Ex.Chief OF Police Morrison was an In
veterate faro player, and was never ap-
sent from table long enough 70 get MS
| meals during IN last few months oelote
he ahsconded. His superstition almost
bordered on insanity. II certain persons
entered the room where he was play ing,
he wonld glare at them like maniac,
ana reckoning them TO his side Woulu
pass out q quarter and request them 10
| 90 out and get drink and stay OUT
stating that he couldn't win cent Whiie
| .hav rafuafned