The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-08
w Gambling Device That Has
Achieved Popularity Among
the Lower Five.
Expssssiens Peculiar to the Game-Arith-
mstic Of this Game sot Forth
The Chances.

Nv W00YV0 v00 VVWy ~ ~ -
ar from the city hall, then proceeded our
\ iously In the direction Of the sounds and
found : den of crap players--a motley
group Of street boys. barroom sports.
bsosblacks, ~janitors, huoksters and men OF
tho shabby genteel sect engaged in this So
duetivs game. Some were on their knees,
hands filled with coppers and nickels and
an occaaional greenback, others were lying
prone, dallying with coins of various de-
nominations, all were excited. eager. ag-
Qressive, expectant. In tho center of the
circumference formed by each group was q
clean space. technically called the track,
n down and around which the wary ponies
(dice), propelled by nimble and skillfui
fingers. we're ready to trot at the command.
"Shoot um out"
One had just made a slick" or winning
throw, raked in the pile of coin wagsrsd
against him and was preparing to cast
again when a voice cried, stop dere, I'll
double dat las fade, yo' doan shoot dis
dime.' Il does," cried the caster. "A
nick more.'' said the setter. "1'se got dat
bet" replied the thrower. "dese bones
knows me better dan dc hen knows her
chickens.' This little speech inspired con-
~ uuCNOC Ia tA0 OAChosS VI oAV0O II W0AV
wavering between the desire to bet lin" in
support of the thrower. or "out" and
against him. and they rallied round their
champion. He shoot dis fve." 'he shoot
dis ten" they said. "He doan't' yelled a
dozen anxious settlers. whose bets were
eagerly snapped a. is the fly by the hungry
trout.
The SHOOTER" raised the two dice care
fully between the forefnRer n thumb of
his right hand. drew them across the loft
sleeve OF his coat. examined them closely
to sec whether they have been cogged or
changed during the brief time they had
been out Of his grasp, PM, them to his lips,
into the hollow OF his hand, shook them
until they ratified TO the satisfaction of
every Sin bettor, and sent them spinning
down the track" exclaiming "Seben.
slsnep. stay away crap; j., whas y9u ssa gun a;. .
had: ceased to move, remaining upright
with . six on its upper face, while the other
continued to spin. II it howed an ace or q
five the shooter and those who had backed
him would win offhand, and that would be
"a natural, II a six appeared it would be
''eraps'' and lose outright. If the figure
two, three or four, at least another throw
would be necessary. Hardly q player dared
70 breathe until a four appeared. Ten then
became the thrower's pint" or "main' and
the outbettors we're happy, as ten and four
shooter to make. though charms of various
kinds have given masters of the art COM
pleto control over the cubes gyrations, says
the Providence journal.
Now was the time for the shooter and his
adherents to wear doleful and grotesque
dioe should reach seven before it reached
ten the caster would lose. The ODDS we're
against him in the proportion of two to
one, but he was not daunted. Caressing
them fondly and imploring them pathetic
ally to remember 'dat my house rents due
doan leave me-" he cast them again and
again without the fatal seven or the lucky
ten turning up, and finally with courage
born of desperation he made a dexterous
and successful throw, which revealed the
elusive ten. Then there was rejoicing az
the police officer would allow, and some of
the winners grew SO reckless over their
easily acquired richie that they bet Is cents
to 10 cents On their champion. Straight
way the tide turned and there was wailinQ
and Rnashing of teeth in the camp of the
The game continued with varying for
tunes. and finally eliminated in the com-
plete discontinue of the "shooters" or Tin
bettors," who found it necessary to stake
divers articles OF apparel on the result of q
single throw. One plckaninny, who bore a
striking resemblance to the Syracuse base
ball clubs mascot, literally shot himself
into a suit of clothes several years in ad-
vance of his growth, and no peacock could
have been more self-consoious than this
successful ''orap shooter" decked in plum
age he had won.
In every gambling den where craps is
played signs. are conspicuously posted in
forming the players that Everything soes,s
!. e.. 1t the shooter throw out the dice and
they are obstructed. whethe, the throw is
for or against him, it is q lawful throw, A
pass" or lick" ia a successful throw,
Little Jos'' and "Phebe' are pet names
for four in the aggregate, and big Joe
from Chelsea" il the name given to the
combination which produces ten on the two
dice. They are also called the ''poor-house
lights" rs they are the hardest 'main''
points made, and the odds are Two to one
against the unlucky wight who may throw
either of them on the first throw.
The arithmetic of the game is plain. but
1t is not we'll understood by a majority of
the players. who do not know the real odds.
Given two straight" or honest dice, each
regularly numbered on six faces from one
to six, and the highest combination they
yield is twelve, the lowest ia two. The
chances of making any number from two
to twelve are given below: