Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-01
MONTE CARLO DESTROYED.
Flames Succeed Where Law Has Failed
Time and Again.
Many Gambling Holes Go Up In Smoke
The Fraternity Saved the
TOOls-The Loss.

Jackson City, or Monte Carlo" as 1t was
more Familiarity known, dingy little settle
ment at the south end of the Long bridge,
where gamblers, pickpockets and law-break-
ers generally gathered without fear Of the
punishments provided by law. was destroy
ed by fire shortly before II o'clock last
night. The fire started in a frame building
where men of the lower classes assembled
every day, and soon the flames had gained
such Roadway that the efforts of the night
Waterman, Arthur Smith, to extinguish
them were of no avail This frame struc-
ture in which the flames started was own
ed by James Wells, but was unoccuped.
except by the loafers, and they had been
ordered to keep from there. Little did they
heed the order of the proprietor, however,
and the place was known as the head
quarters of the idlers and hangers-on who
managed to earn a nickel now and then to
give them an opportunity to play at game
Of crap or some other of the many gam
bling or thieving games which were oper-
ated in the numerous little shanties. A
smell of coal oil during the burning of this
place made 1t apparent that the building
had been saturated and fired by some one,
perhaps by one of the men who had been
ordered to keep out of the place. Soon after
the hre was started word was telephoned to
ment De sent over to save some or the
buildings from the wreck.
Fire Department Goes.
After the fire had been burning some time
Chief Paris was notified and he ordered
NO. engine company to the scene of the
conhagration and the tiremen succeeded in
cooling the burned timbers after the build
mgs had been destroyed. When the men,
mers of the fire department reached the
Virginia side of the river the flames had
spread all along the line of the houses on
the west side and the greatest excitement
prevailed Pei Z from the adjacent coun-
Try had been a acted there by the bright
h6ht ana 10 some OF them the sight was a
gratifying one, while to others IL was lust
the opposite. Some OF the latter either
worked about the places or had received
ups from the gamblers, and consequently
they feared that their pockets would prob
ably suffer.
Saving Gambling Tools.
While the crowd stood there gazing upon
the little village that was fast being re-
duced to ashes some of those interested in
the place risked their lives to save the
gambling paraphernalia. which they sue
ceeded in rescuing and piling on the low
ground across the railroad track. Three
freight cars filled with baled hay and mill
feed also caught fire and were destroyed.
From the budding where the fire originated
the names spread to the two-story building
adJoln1ng,whlch was used as pool room, and
from there they followed to the one-story
snanty. The efforts OF the crowd were di-
rected toward the Turf Exchange" which
belonged to Hill. Jones & Co.. but this build
ing shared the fate of the others. In the
stable or Charles Sanderson the coal deal
er, which was near the water. were doz-
en- horses, carts and wagons. and the ami
mails would have persisted in the flames had
not the men in the crowd rushed in and
turned them loose before the fire reached
the building. The vehicles were also saved,
but the building, together with a quantity
of harness and hay. was destroyed. For
time 1t was feared that the bridge would
also suffer from the flames. but the firemen
reached there in time to prevent its de-
struction had the flames reached that far.
The Ruins.
1t is estimated that the damage amounted
to fully $4,000 on which there appears to
have been only $500 insurance. this policy
being held by Mr.. Wells on one of his build
ings. Until a short while ago there was an
insurance on the Turf Exchange" but
the insurance company cancelled it's risk
when there was slight fire in the building.
This morning on the road the gambling
tables were piled out of the wav of passing
teams and the place presented the appear
ance of having been raided by the county
officers. The flames did not destroy the
policy shops, and 1t is likely that the policy
men will do fourishing business this week,
when many persons will undoubtedly go
over to view the ruins.