The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-08
GAMBLING IN CHINATOWN.
Something About the Game of Fan Tan
as 1t Is Played in New Z DIRK.
L,rnrn1 fhn Nn,u NnrL Womb

From the New York World.
Chinatown is full Of sc cites that fit up
three or four tenement rl,ms with tinsel
decorations and sometimes an altar with
a Paudy print OF the God of Good Luck
pasted on the wall of little csaucel.
Before the god are a bowl Of rice and
several articles of worship, and sticks Of
incense are kept constantly burning. This
altar is generally in the largest OF the
rooms which is used as a sort OF recep-
ton apartment. the others are fitted up
with hunks for smokers, a stove to make
tea and finally one room IN which to play
fan tan.
A Chinaman who will not gamble is too
scarce a specimen to be sought in this
country. The alluremcnts Of the fan tan
table and the fascination of the lottery
will draw money from the most penurl-
Gus, and no old time western gambler
ever rlsllcd his last cent more readily
than the crowds which flock into Mott
Doyers and Pell streets on Sunday nights
from all quarters of Greater New York
They are not professional gamblers any
more than the average American who
puts up a few dollars GU a horse race to
make it interesting, but tho spirit Of
specu,a tios in born in the Ch.naman and
a social game of fan tan is his delight.
Fan tan is the national game of China
and though extremely simple, there is
opportunity for displaying the finesse and
quick Judgment Of poker sharp. The
sleepy eyes of the Chinaman ghsten at
the gaming table, and his optical keen
ness sometimes is turned 10 good advant-
age The banker, too, develops deli
cacy Of touch that often increases his
winnings.
Wong Get tried to tell the Lexow com
mittee how fan tan was played, but did
not make it clear and Worry Charles
told him afterward that he was too rat
tied to talk straight Wong spoke OF the
ON Lung Tong, or Gamblers Protective
Society, which Tom Lee was said to run
Tong is the Chinese word for society or
club Every clan has society and most
Of the members are related, because all
Cinnamon Of the same family name are
called cousins
Open gambling has largely ceased in
Chinatown recently, but the games Of fan
tan in society rooms and private quarters
cannot be stopped any more than the fes-
tive American poker. In the club in Mott
street some exciting games are being
Played, especially on Sunday night.
L an tan is very simple and requires
only small layout. A table, mat, a
tin cup. a small stick and pile of Chinese
cash are all that is needed. Cash
are coins about the size of an old-tash-
toned penny aud have a square hole in the
center 1t takes twenty of these TO equal
one American cent. The cash are not
for stakes, but are one Of the necessities
Of the layout.
With more elegant surroundings and
considerably less noise, fan tan room
would have some external resemblance TO
the gaming tables of Monte Carlo. The
banker has a stick somewhat similar TO
that Of the croupier and money is piled
upon numbers while an excited crowd Of
players press around.
On the table a mat is spread containing
a square twelve or more inches IN size,
with tho sides numbered one, two, three
and four. The banker sits at NO, /, but
that number is open TO players. If there
is no mat. chalk marks are used. The
banker must have a pile Of 200 or more
cash. and after the game has been an
/ nounced betters can place their money on
/ any number or numbers desired The
/ banker seizos a handful Of cash at random
and deposits it quickly in the center Of
/ the table, placing an inverted tin cuI
/ over il. II any Of the coins lie outside
/ BE clears them away and all eyes are
/ fixed on the cup. Players put their money
| on fayorite numbers, and when all have
! finished the cup is raised.