The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-10
THE FAKIRS GAMBLED,
BUT THE CRUSADERS CA USED THEIR
PROMPT ARREST.
Cyclone Samusis. tho Hsnrico Constable, 10
Treated to q eleight- Of Hand Perform
snce-Hauohe Cauche Dancers.

Any one who witnessed the arrest Of the
fakirs at the State Exposition yesterday
well saw the difficulty that attends any
attempt to uphold the law where so many
lawless men are striving to break the law
for financial profit.
"A person who came upon the scene
without knowing who was who" might
easily mistake the officer of the law VINO
made the arrest and the ministers and
citizens who instigated 1t for the felons
rather than the faKirs VINO conducted the
games.
The officer was bulldozed in every con-
ceivable way short Of violence by the
other fakirs who swarmed around him
like swarm Of ill-omened birds, and a
number of toughs from the city encour-
aged them with their voices TO the best
of their ability.
Those citizens who showed any desire to
see the law enforced were treated with all
the insolence and effrontery possible, and
as far as such weapons could be used, the
baiiied gamblers sought to intimidate
them.
Rev. W. Asbury Christian, who has
been foremost in the determination Of
citizens to suppress gambling at the
Fair grounds, while walking about the
grounds discovered a game in progress
on the main avenue running across the
grounds. In rear of the main exhibition
hall and seeking out Mr.. II. w. Wood
the president of the Fair. complained TO
him that the law was being violated.
Mr.. Wood readily offered his assistance
In suppreSsing the game. and went with
Mr.. Christian 10 Squire Tyler a magis-
trate Of the county, and swore out sever
al blank warrants which were afterwards
served on the fakirs running the game.
THE GAME.
The game in question was on a rude
platform, surrounded by a temporary
railing, and the whole was under cover
OF a small canopy.
An arrow on pivot. turning inside
a circle Of nails. on which were suspend
ed a number Of watches and watch
chains, supposed to be gold, and there
were some intermediate spaces marked
with star, which were blank. The
watches and chains were labeled with
prices ranging from smatl sums up to
several dollars.
BY paying fifty cents the PLAYER was
entitled to whatever was located at the
space where the point Of the arrow
rested, being told that whatever he won
would be purchased from him at the
price marked on IT. The players under
stood this ruse and invariably took the
money.
The two gamblers running the game
were regular specimens OF the fair fdkir
clbb-tongued and fIll Of business.
In q few minutes the table was sur
rounded by a curious crowd and few
commenced to play. While a respectable
looking man had just taken a chance at
the game and was waiting for the change
to twenty dollar bill, Constable
Samuels, known as the cyclone" or
Henrico county, stepped up with a war
rant for the fakirs' arrest.
The officer had gone to the fair 10
take part with the Henrico troop in the
great parade, and when he presented the
warrant he was clad in all the panophy
of war. minus ris arms. but the famous
cyclonic supporter OF the law from Hen
rico. was as mercilessly beseged by the
swarm OF fakrs as a wounded buffalo
by n pack OF prairie wolves
with n sleight OF hand that would do
credit to Wyman or Hermann himself,
these light-fngered gentry spirited away,
under his very eyes the money and par
aphernalia which he had captured and
piled in the middle Of the table, before
he was aware of what they were doing
Seventeen dollars in morey and some
chains and few watches he succeeded In
getting into his pocket. and retained. A
bag containing the bulk of the money
was snatched from the table by brother
fakir and carried Off