Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-22

HoTsPRINGs, ARK, May 23.-Hot
Springs is the gamblers paradise. Here
everything 10 that line is protected.
In that regard this is high tariff city
with free trade. There are thirteen
gambling houses in the city-omlnous
for the better. OF this number eight
are OF the brace variety, being So
called because the dealer pulls two
cards instead Of Que when be is about to
loose a large stake. These games are
protected" by the payment OF sum
monthly TO the usual middleman Who
stands between rhem and some occult
power or hidden force. There are about
three hundred gamblers in this city, In
Guiding the steerers and bunco men.
The city has a population OF about
5000, with about an equal NUMBER OF
visitors. This shows a large percent
age OF the gambling element. The mid
die man receives a percentage OF the
profits OF each gaming house, for and IN
consideration OF his craftsmanship In
fixing things dead 10 rights" he also
receives fifty per cent. of the Stealings
OF the buncO men, and II the buncoist
gets in Jail, he must so Tx things as TO
get him out The business is reduced
10 system. When a man is robbed or
say $500, the buncOists hand the money
10 the middleman, not necessarily
for restoration, but as a guarantee OF
good faith. II the victim makes
roar" be is given back a small por-
ton. II nothing is heard from him In
three or four davs the middleman takes
l.. al nj n
is divided among the buucoIstS. Ii
buncOist attempts 70 do business Win
out first making treaty with the mid
dleman he is arrested after beating his
frst victim, and usually gets a long
term in jail. II be attempts 10 hold
back the middleman's half he likewise
comes 10 grief, for the middleman must
also be protected and has spoilers on
the streets. These bunCOists nave their
signals, by which a confederate may
know that sucker is on the string,
When a bunco thief starts towards
Happy Hollow with a granger or BoS-
ton clergyman he signals 70 cOnteder-
ate In waiting. When they have ar
rived in the cave at the glen, the favor
tie prOmeuading spot, they ind game
ia full blast. The confederate with his
pasteboard layout had cut across the
hill. These fellows carry an assortment
TO please-faro layout, dice eOxes,
shells, three cards for monte and ali the
latest devices known 10 gambling and
sWindling.
Another class haunt the hotels. These
are mainly "sJeerers" for brace faro
banks They receiXe so per cent. OF
the victims losses.
There is still another class al the no.
tells, often bOarderS, who do not asSocl-
ate with the well-knOwn gam blers, nor
do they visit the gaming houses. These
are the card sharpers. They cultivate
acquaintance for the purpose OF get
ting up a social game. They carry
their own cards and shears 20 cut them
with, so that they may prepare deck
for poker or for faro. They affect the
airs OF business men, and repudiate the
idea OF even visiting a gaming house,
vet they are even more adrOit thieves
than the professional brace dealer.
Private faro banks exist in some Of the
hotels, and visitors are nightly robbed
of large sums. AS a rule, they are the
most Interested 10 keeping the matter
QUIET. very lew mou WISH W PAOClalh
that they have been fools, or that they
are Impoverished.
= Steering or rOping is one OF the chief
industries OF the town. IL enters into
almost everything. The physicians
have cappers, 20 whom they pay from
tWenty-f five to fifty per cent. and tax
the sick victim accordingly. The keep
er Of the bath house has Steerers out on
the streets, and he pays 3 per cent TO
the doctor or hotel keeper who sends 10
him customer. The drug stores have
cappers and there are capperS even for
the sale OF bathing towels. The shops
which sell antique curios ESPECIALLY
manufactured for touristsl also give
commissions.
As the visitor is here for only two or
three weeks they endeavOr TO make his
stay interesting and the nervous man
will not soon forget il.
The gaming evil has given the city
had reputation. We're the gaming
houses closed and the gamblers and
their adjuncts, the buncO men, made TO
leave the city and remain away, there
would be greater number Of health
seekers here every season.
j. NJ SCANLAND.