The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-12-04
HOT SPRINGS GAMBLERS.
That Locality Making. an unenvita
4 bls Record for Itsclf Of Late.

Hor SPRrNcs, ARK, Especial. I'D
Jns, she recent prosccutIons or Deverai
osmblcrs. brought on by the Knights oil
fvfhias. because some Of the members oi
That order had been robbed, all oil the
rambling houses in this city were cioseos
Ant. it seems, that was only Tor chect.
'3lo sooner did the Citizens' Committee
disband--or rather, become inactive,
Itass tea GHHb| |lHg M ha'l'as
These ropers nrc organized and have
their particular line Of victims. They
are selected and assigned to work on
special class of people. They are organ.
iZed into league, which is subdividcd
into classes The fresh young roper, who
is of good address and gentccl appearance,
is assigned to- u particularly swell hotel
to work on the young dudes who come
here TO spend their fathers money.
These swell" ropcrs attend tho hops
and soon ingiatiatc themselves with tho
visiting swcls. After II few social games
of cuchrc or tcn-Ccnt ante, II friend Is in
vitcd to 'sit in This "f,icnd' proves
to be an experienced gambler who robs
the victim that the young swell roper has
been nursing for him.
Another feature OF swell gambling life
at the Springs is the gambler in disguise
of real estate or mining operator. They
put up AT first class hotels and have at
Their wlvss ishl Asm rnsy nHSy!ssSgS4 my ~s
ried only on the Chicago plan. While
the gamblers are busy looking for victims
among the male guests, their wives arc
getting acquainted with other mems wives
and leaning the financial status of their
husbands. If wealthy, and inclined To
bc sOciablc, introduC,ioEs are brought
about and sociabic games and vine
luncheons follow. Later on the men have
quiet business game, and the gamble,
robs his victcm. These gamblers wives
are adopts at cards, and can make false
cut and vccr card as skillfully as Their
husbands. They carry "hy-out' ol
cards, poker checks, etc, ''mcrc!y foI
pastimc.' They always invite their lad,
and gentlemen friends who call in th,
afternoon to play "social game" and
they always win. A iuvoritr dodge o
these gamblers wifes is to encourage silly
young men, and even silly cold boys,
10 call upon them. A game of tcn-ccn
ante e'sf1~sss.A>Ass, ,ssAszaastQd. They ar
too gallant, or rather too mUch fiifatTfnrcc
to win from n lady, or to even object I,
being swindlcd, and SO the gambler
wife manages to win enough pin none.
to pay hotel expenses. A retired show
man spent about two months here thi
winter, and accumulated moro none,
than if he had been playing to crowded
houses during the entire season. He i:
considered star poker player.
There is perhaps more gamblers in lIo
Springs, and II greater variety of il, thar
i'll any other city with ten times its pop
ula,iOn. 1t is also II better field bccaus,
there are more vcrdant visitors here than
any other point 1t seems that visitor
loses hls cunning as soon rs he reaches
this American Monaco. At his home, o
ia any other city, it would be n very diff
iicult matter To cntrap him. if he coul'
be caught ut all; but as soon as II,
reaches this hot water GomOrrah he fall.
an easy prey to the bunco thief ol
Smooth-,ungucd poker player.