The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-12
A SAWDUST PRINCE.
How He Creates an Impression of his
own Grandeur and Liberality


How He Creates an Impression Of his
own Grandeur and Liberality.
New YORK, Feb. lin looking up the
subject of sawdust swindling, short time
ago, ran across a strange character, or
rather new phase of n character of man
whom already knew as one of the most
successful lynaves in the green goods bust
ness. Evidently in his profession it is eces-
sary to have a considerable number of
underlings who attend to the details of
lob while he furnishes the money and the
brains These minlOns with whom the
victims come most Immediately in contact;
they are also the men who are arrested and
sent ''up the river whenever green goods
customer succeeds in getting any sort of
vengeance. They very seldom peach on their
chief and IN fact, are bound to him by ties
of LOYALTY closely resembling those which
exist between the average dime novel bandit
and his men The singular part of it is
that the sawdust king of whom | am speak
ing takes every possible means 10 impress
upon outsiders all sorts of exaggerated
ideas of LOYALTY and devotion of his gang,
and of the priucely generosity on his part
which is its cause. | took occasion to follow
him into a variety OF his haunts, ono day,
and was rewarded by the pleasure of
witnessing funny little comedy. The man
of Sawdust had just made good haul and
n
to degree that | have never seen equalled.
The impressiveneSs of his appearance was
brighteled by a superbly, gorgeous vest
and necktie brilliant enough to shine in the
company OF his diamond scarf pin. The
smile yDon his cOuntenance OutshOne them
both and he strolled into saloon with the
air of a prince At a table in a remote
corner sat three members of his gang. The
chief saluted his followers graciOuSly, and
ordered around of drinks. Then he drew from
his pocket a great roll of bills, and regarded
them with a look which Indicated unmis-
takably that money was no object to him.
"Chimmie," said he, you're good boy,
and you done that last job for me like a
man. Here's $50 for you" and
he handed over the money. 'Chimme' took
| it with expressions of gratitude which
struck me as a little strained. Mike, small
man wearing a coat several sH-s too large
| for him, was the next beneficiary. He
received $50 and voiced his opinion of his
superior's greatness i'll language more forci.
| BILE and more lavlshly profane than that
which "Chimmien had employed and yet it
had the same tint OF artifciality. Another
slave got $50, and then the great man went
out. The scene had attracted no little at
| tenton from byStanders, and enviouS
| glances were turned upon the three fortu-
nate ones. / followed the sawdust Cruesus
when he left tho place, and was led tS him
through several streets. Our course was a
| kind of circle about the saloon. Ia about
! five minutes we met "Chlmmie" He did
not seem surprised, and neither did the
chief, but l was both surprised aud amused
| for "Chimmie" drew for the $50 which he
| had so lately received ana returned it to the
! generous donor. Within five minutes the
other two men had made similar restitu-
ton. Then the significance of the affair
dawned upon me. NY sawdust king had
/ 1,ta naH 10
show what great man he was. My first
| thought was that he had been working on
the feelings of some countryman who had
been among the spectators, but later | dis
covered that the play had been not for
money but for glory. He had desired
simply to magnify himself in the eyes of the
! saloon loungers and hangeTs-On. / learned
that this trick was an Old one of his which
was well understood by his intimates but
never failed to impress a stranger Per-
haps it may have brought him customer
or two incidentally, but that was not its pur-
pose
1t should be said in justice to this great
man that his liberality does not always take
so unsubstantial form. Nearly all of his
''steerers" are clothed with the cast-off
clothing of their master, which are always
/ of the most expensive material. Hats and
shoes are also distributed in this way. AS
nine out of ten Of these men are gamblers
who blow IN" the share OF profits paid
them by the head Of the gang, this matter
of clothing is of considerable importance.
/ When they are arrested the chief furnishes
them with funds for defense and they come
| ont Of prison just as loyal as ever. They
/ delight 10 see their captain exalted in tine
/ eyes Of men, and enter readily INTO such
+ Receptions as that which ! have described
/ SawdusJ gangs are jealous Of each other,
and this sentiment helps to bind the various
bands together. Their efforts b steal vic
/ TINS from each other are often ludicrous. /
remember n case where a detective put mp
job" on a sawdust crowd and rugged up "A
/ bogus cOuntryinan as a snare. This prey
was stolen ia an artistic manner, and the
consequence was that gang which had
Dsen wholly unsuspected was captured
through their own trlckery.
4 queer crew are the<e dealers in green
go0ds an evil which nothing but the growth
u human intelligence can ever eradicate.
NHs.u