Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-29
SHE CANDLES FOR A LIVING.
"Buckskin Alice" Keeps Herself and Chill
dren ON Faro Winnings.
(Nlwsukes Times,


Milwaukee was the recipient Of q visi.
Friday from one OF the most peculiar and
interesting characters to be found ANY,
where on the American Continent. IL was
none other than "BucksEin Alice" wo-
man who has actually made living for
herself and two children by gambling,
" Buckskin Alice" Ia sn appellative for
Mrs. Alice Ramsey, by which she Is known
throughout the West and Southwest. She
and frontier town IN Colorado. Utah, Ne
yada, Arizona. and New Mexico. and has
done IL with success. too.
"Buckskin Alice II bright. yivacious
little woman. with handsome figure, con-
siderably below the average height, a
pretty and well-formed face, and a wealth
of black, shining hair. She has o most
positive way of speaking. emphasizing her
remarks with gestures OF her plump little
hands. Born of wealthy. aristocratic pa
rents, IN the city of st. Louis. she received
the most careful and thorough training
child could have. Her father was of
Scotch-Irish descent and colonel in the
Confederate army. while her mother came
OF the best that could be found within the
borders of old Kentucky.
"Buckskin Alice - is the mistress Of
nearly every game played with cards. To
her gambling is her life-her very exist
ence.
Although the only woman in that sec
tion of the country who makes living at
gambling. and although women are for
hidden access to the tables. Buckskin
Alice" is permitted to play in any house
on the frontier. Her face Is familiar to all.
II was born" began the fascinating lit
tie woman, lust thirty-one years ago the
20th of last month, in st. Louis. NV
family was as good as any in the State, and
mo itva1 IN axatttetfa afyla in a fashtonahla
quarter of that big city. Early in lite my
parents thought they detected talent for
literary achievements in me. and after
carefully nurturing me through my
Younger years, placed me in Broode's Fe-
male Seminary. at Clarksburg, w. Va. |
liked the life for time. and was very STU
dlous and industrious, but began to grow
restless and anxious to know Iust what
was going on in the great world OF which
| had been kept in ignorance. except pass
ing and accidental gllmpses that l had
caught.
"One night after all had gone to bed [
determined to quit the place. and stealing
softly down the back stairs hastened out
aud away from the place, which i never
have looked upon since. l found an en-
gagement with Coles circus. which |
joined as hurdle-rider. after several
months of training. That was fifteen years
ago. Afterwards filed engagements with
Orrin Brothers, Sells Brothers. and Fore
paugh's shows both as q hurdle-rider and
charioteer. While in this business met
my husband, who was q gambler. lie
taught me faro. and | soon became an ex-
pert player OF the game. When my hus-
band died and left me two little girls to
support | adopted gam bling as profes-
sion, and went at il with vim.
1t was down in the city of Mexico that
began this life. and since then ] have
PLAYED with almost every class OF people
in this country"
"Buckskin Alice has rarely been sub
iected to the lndignity of being robbed.
On one occasion, however. wild and
wooly cow.puncher attempted to get the
best OF her down at Socorro. New Mexico.
She was in game of fun one night and
had lust put an SS stack OF chips on
winning card. doubling the money, when
the festive cowboy grabbed the stack and
started on the run. Alice seized an iron
poker and struck the heeng cattleman
with such force as TO send him sprawiing:
She picked up her chips and continued
her playing. quitting Just $3.50 anead;
Alice Is a daring but square gambler, ana
has had "a varied fortune, never being COM
pletely" broke,p but usually having plenty
/ of money. She has won as high as S3,2OO
! at a single sitting of faro.
; Luck was against her one night. IL was
D at Silver Clty. Col, where sho succeeded
/ Ia losing her entire posse ssions. including
! S2l 900 in money. An expensive wardrobe.
: and costly diamonds. But she was un-
/ daunted, for Alice borrowed $500 from q
: friend. struck another camp, and won
/ enough TO square" herself and haye
/ some left.