Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-01
NEW SLOT MACHINE.
Genius PerSects a Very Clever GarnbU

Sehlhs eEAeCIs ' cry Clever GaEChltTE =
Device.
\ New York special to the 81. Louis
GIbe-Dmocrr SAYS:
4 new style of slot machine has lust
made its appearance, which should il be-
come popular, and there is no reason To
doubt that it will, rs for ingenuity and faS-
cination it casts all previous mcchauisms
into the shade, promises to open up a field
for petty gambling that is almost uuliu-
tied. This new device offers to every sa-
loon and resort miniature race course.
perfect in detail, over which. when the
mechanism is started, five horses run 4
two-minute race The first of these ma
chimes brought to this city was placed in q
popular Upper Broadway resort, much fre-
quented at late night and early morning
hours by budding actors and middle-weight
sports. 1t ut once attracted admiration
and attention. The machine rested On 4
handsome polished pedestal. and itself was
very SImple-a race course, with quarter,
half, three-quarter and finish poles. In
front Of the little quarters stand were five
iron horses, mounted by little Jockeys. in
full regalia, and the whole was covered
with glass dome. Had this simply been
the pretty toy that its appearance indi-
Gated the crowd that gathered around
would soon have its curiosity gratifed and
have left, but after ten or 4 dozen Of
| nickels had been dropped into the slot it
was discovered that instead of being
mere toy the miniature race course was
| a perfectly square and very seductive gam
bling instrument. Repeated tests proved
that the chances of winning were evenly
divided among the five little iron steedS
What followed this discovery was 4 per-
teCtly natural result, considering the sur-
roundings. Petty wages were placed on
| the horses by five men, each choosing his
color. Then the nickel was dropped in
| the slot, the race run, and the better on
| the winning color took the pot. The pools
started at five cents on horse, then the
wager was doubled, then made a quarter.
and soon half a dollar, making the pool
81 80. At this figure a crowd stood around
the machine all the evening, and the num-
ber of would-be "plungers" could have
kept dozen such machines going. The
little race track seemed to Undue all who
came near it with the betting fever, and
| before midnight severel hundred dollars
must have changed hands.
The proprietor Of the "resort," who OBJ
jects to his place being called a saloon,
| perhaps tor the reason that it is to run in
| direct violation of the excise laws that
govern saloons, rubbed his hands with
| glee. The new attraction made his bar
business flourish like the green bay tree.
and besides that half the nickeIs dropped
in the slot belonged to him. When it was
lntImated that such game, going on in
plain sight of passerS-by on Broadway,
might meet with police interference. he
held up his hands in holy horror and
| look Of injured innocence came into his
eyes.
Game, indeed. Police interference?
Had things come to such a stage that 4
! party of gentlemen could not amuse them
selves with a toy ,"
1t was not until after midnight that the
| possibilities of this "toy' were fully
brought out. Then the heavier sporting
element began to arrive. They soon had
control of the new slot machine, and
| quickly saw its uses. The entrance to the
| pool was increased, and finally, a we'll
| known bOokmaker's son, pushing his way
| to the front, took the command of affairs.
and announced that tickets on the next
race might be had for 81 each. This was
kept up until nearly daybreak. Money
changed hands rapidly When the writer
| left at $3.50 Sunday morning, it is safe to
say that $500 must have passed from
pocket to pocket in this way All this de-
monstrateS that the new track slot
machine is a success, but its success and
adoption by keepers of bar-rooms, billiard
rooms, etc, furnishes much food for re-
| ffection. What will il lead TO =