The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07
sTILLsoN, THE MACK PRINCE.
wsii-k-o~n Negro es-sier Talks sf His
Career and Profession.


Career sna Progression.
Los ANGELES, Cal, Sept. 3o.-A negro stood
In the lobby Of the Westminster Hotel in this
city this afternoon. looking absent mindedly up
and down Main street. lie had Just arrived in
town, and was evidently expecting some one.
His dress attracted the attention OF every one
who saw him. and even the street boys came and
looked in the big windows at the man. He wore
garments OF the latest fashion and finest At.
His linen was Immaculate, and the light over
coat that hung on his arm was of most expen-
sive fabric. He wore n silk hat and carried q
gold cane Three large diamonds blazed
from his shirt bosom. and two smaller diamonds
in rings on his fingers. and still larger dla-
monds sparkled on his cuf buttons.
Tho man was James Stilson, better known a.
the BLACK Prince" and he is probably the
richest negro gambler In America, and one Of
the very best known and cleverest gamblers
anywhere in the South on the Pacific coast.
Thousands Of persons in this part Of tho Union
have heard of Stillscn, the colored gambler. but
have never seen him. He owns over SAC. 900
worth of houses and lots In San Diego. and has
a half interest with q white man n seashore
hotel at Santa Monica worth at least $50, 900.
besides string of running horses that have
made some fine records at tho California races.
How did become gambler 2" said Stillson,
a. he took cigar from his mouth and laughed,
IN conversation an hour later. guess was
born to gamble IL came Just as natural to me
seven years ago in Ohio. on the old William
Henry Harrison plantation. and can't remem.
Der when didn't do some gambling. l remem-
Der when could not have been more than six
years old OF betting watermelons with river
Harrison youngsters. and there first discovered
my fortune In risks. Later became a cabin
boy on New Ss Orleans packet steamer Eyery.
no exception. My good fortune continued. and
when we reached Cincinnati on one OF our trips
nd had oil LATE aEt..a aVNAa rnH
a small gambling room for tho benefit OF people
Of my own race was getting along finely un-
bank, which meant 5000 to me. Then ! bush
whacked about the country for time; WhenI
could earn Snd dollar played the Ssnf Some
sands, and lost II all the next day.
"0n len, night cleared UP 200 in New Or.
table. and determined 10 open an establishment
Orleans to break me. got s. 900 from a Gin
s we S hS hot sns SS seoS Si
bank in Memphis, and both are running now"
Only big lin limits 5000, or $500 to call
card. San Francisco banks, play $50 limits, but
II is mere tomfoolery to play such game. I
break-that II. clean out the bank or myself.
That's the only true way to gamble My advice
the minute ute he makes decent pile. ''0p 'ofe'''
Have ever broken banksp Yes. about four
teen. have played the highest game ever per-
formed on this coast call-card faro for 81 900
a crack. Remember. this was not "A combination
arrangement. simply played my money alone:
My largest cleanings have been in Saratoga ard
Chicago. In Saratoga u few years ago broke
bank for Sl5,0 900 That was the largest bank I
ever broke. though | have made more money
than that at one sitting"
After long years OF experience in gambling
what do you think OF such a cnreer1"
Nine ont of ten OF the gambling men have
known have died poor. KNEW man once In
Portland Or, who made several thousand dol
lars from $50 In few weeks and dropped dead
with heart disease at the faro table. Hc Ia one
Of the persons who quit away ahead Of the game.
and not Ave persons In hundred can ever leave
n career OF gambling behind and go into another
pursuit IL they have any money left. have been
In the minstrel business four times, and tried to
occupy my mind with the details OF the routes
he theatres. and the moving from town To town.
hut ! soon tired OF that life. II Is not lively
enough for me. I've got TO risk something all
the time. ! can't cat or sleep unless | am
either getting ahead or losing on the game. I
have made more money on the coast In the past
two years in betting on races than in playing
cards The times are bad for the kind OF game
like to play, ! have found New Orleans the
hest city In the South in tho past few years for
men OF my business but there are times when a |
pile OF money can be made with little risk in |
Seattle and FL Paso. IL all depends upon the |
rules OF the game OF the city you go into"
StillsOn had not been in Los Angeles two hours |
before he was invited to visit nearly every gam
bling place in the city. but declined all OF them
for a day or two because OF the fact that he had
,nc OF the several superstitons that he says he |
belieyes