The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-04

OiS.tins GsnSiers Buyiar u rts Ereess .,
Auction.

Ois.tins 0s.Slers Buyias % rts Eseets as
Auction.
For the FIRST time In nearly two years the
famous old gambling house known as the
Central Club. at S1S Broadway. showed signs
OF activity yesterday. Several days ago a
workman tackled a big placard on the outside
Of the house announcing that an auction sale
OF the furniture. carpets. and other things In
tho house would be held on Wednesday. and
yesterday morning the same workman hung
red flag outside Of the place. At Tx o'clock
Auctioneer Albert L. Morse began the sale.
The house was packed from the top floor to
the basement and every article In the place
was curiously examined. Conspicuous among
others present were number OF sleek-looking
individuals. some old. some middle-aged. and
some young. who In the prosperous days Of
SlS were steady patrons OF the place. These
men represented the gamblers oiNew York.and
among them were the most notorious devotees
OF the wheel and the rod and black known
hereabouts. There must have been at least
thirty OF them present and they ran the prices
Of the articles In the house away up. to the
great delight OF Auctioneer Morse. They ex-
amined everything with the greatest interest.
and three or four sat In corner OF the parlor
which was formerly the dining room Of the
house. and swapped stories about the old
times at Sla
Many's the time I've sat In that hack
ROOM" said one. pointing to the hack parlor.
where the auctoneer was shouting out prices
and seen fortunes placed on the turn OF the
card. II was right there that Jack Slate. the
quiet California gambler. beat the house out
Of $4,000 III three turns Of the card. I tell
you there used to be great times at this
house."
You're right there" said another. tho
new houses cannot compare with what this
place used to be. The roulette tables here
were the best patronized in town. and fortunes
were won and lost on them. But the house
had to go with the times. and now every
things UP town."
Stories like these were told all the morning.
But the gamblers were not there to talk Some
were there to buy. and the reckless way in
which they bid up prices on certain articles.
historic to themselves. took the breath away
from the horde OF second hand furniture deal
ers who were on hand looking for bargains.
An instance OF this was when Auctioneer
Morse called for bids on the Herring safe.
which hns been In the house ever since gam
bling was begun there. some thirty years ago.
and which held all the money taken in at the
tables. A frowsy secondhand dealer eau
tiously bid SIS as starter. Another dealer
saw his Sa5 and went him So better.
Then the two hsgap to hWSfse
rsc tss sposnr
AMI G Sis & s5o them shouted out:
Make It Q hundred" shouted another
sna ot onStSe the first
The rst maa then H msde eu i s s25 and It was
about to be knocked down to him at that price
S245 and secured the prize. Anctioneor Morse
told sTS rspor,er thst the day before he had
THE next article nut up WINS n ha ndsome side
board that for ten years or more has filled
gss in the
$1,000 for it, rem rEed a sport " But in let
thE ps sharks X haggls over it. iTst" dollar
reckiessness shouted in a loud voice; Fifty
Sleek sio r ashs ono
ns sns Sa f1 Tss sEn s it q h
every point Once Or twice they managed to
some croc kerry for So and carried It out into
the women hit the other. and the latter. in her
haste to retaliate: dropped the crockery and it
was smashed on the sidewalk i
desers SHOCK thsir heads , s s99bt s, old
got was as h as 30 per the
fEroasht to aee
number Of gil paintings were disposed OF at
rf% gin IN tSs was sold Some
the old.timers wanted Auctioneer Morsc to re;
cSs ire The door @ and put Sp But
the auctioneer said he had no authority to
II you put that ND" said one. "I'!l euaran;
that it'll bring The highest Price Of the
was cleared. and such Of the buyers AS were
able removed their purchases on trucks
A sad;eyed negro answered tho reporters
"iss nuthin' to say. boss Times amt what
they used ter be. Use heen with this house
hut ses
uii never aein be what It was
the fifteen I'VE been in sh.
saw prices run, 80 high. Why. only yesterday
| ran over TO the house and made fair APP
prasal OF the contents. My expectations were
BY ty re- sxty cent The sale
The Central Club. ut Sl8 Broadway was one
| OF the most famous gambling houses in this
| and nerviest gamblers OF the times. and faLn-
there nightly. It was run by different people
f e d snra tines but was always known as
The police never interiered with It. and for
thirty years or moro it fomrished and was
known asthe greatest gambling resort IN tho
country. Two or three years ago. though. as
| lost its patronage until finally. it closed its
doors. Among those who ut various times run
Doyle
JERSEYS vETERAN CHEF JUsTICE