Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-08-16
HAWKINS SQUARE GAME.
From the chicago Times-Heraid.

VI 7ot NidIk street yesterday after
noon and in a few minutes men in
overalls began to carry tables and
chairs out OF George V. Hankin's old
gambling house and load them into
the vehicles at the curb. The street
soon became almost impossible with
curious onlookers, and the police had
to make passageway through which
the men could carry the gambling par
aphcrnalia to the wagons. Among
the spectators we're gamblers who had
been employed in the house for years
and Others who had been Irregular
customers" Of the place. The house
had been closed since Mayor Hopkins
put stop to gambling last December
All the implements had since been
stored on the fourth floor of the build
ing, and they were hauled away yes
terday because the structure is to be
torn down sUon to make way for sky
scraper
The destruction Of the building re-
moves one of the most widely known
gambling houses in America. 1t was
opened May l, 1850, by George V. Han
knS, and those who claim to know
say that it has cleared for It's owner
more than 81, 100000 When Hankins
went into the place he bought it from
"Cap" Rounds, who was running what
gamblers term "shot-gun" house, on
account OF the small stakes played for.
Rounds occupied only one room on
the second floor, and when Hankins
took possession he leascd the entire
floor.
It cost Hankns about $500 to start
the house, and part of this he was
obliged to borrow. In less than
month he had paid back the bor-
rowed money. The house made mon
ey from the day Hankins opened it,
and for years the average daily win
nings above expenses were 81 COO.
After the place had been running
about year Hankins introduced
novel and profitable feature. At 5
o'clock every day ne spread free
luncheon for his customers, which
consisted of the best edbes in the
market. Hankins had observed that
most Of the players would go to din
ner between 8 and o'clock, and it
was to keep them in the house that
he evolved the idea of the free lunch
con.
The luncheon became so popular
that Hankins rented the floor above
his gambling house and turned it into
restaurant. He had cooks and wait
ers galore, and the patrons of the
house were served handsomely. All
this was free, and the fame of Han
kins spread rrom New York to San
Francisco. Restaurant keepers in tie
neighborhood lost many customers,
and with Mayor Harrlsons aid they
compelled him tn discontinue the fea-
ture. Scores eff clerks who worked
down town would chance 25 or so
cents at some game just for the sake
OF getting a 75-cent meal. Many
amusing stories are told of how young
fellows used to scheme to get dinner
for nothing. Two would go into the
house together and play at the faro
table. One would play @5 one way on
Il card and the other would copper
his bet. by this play one would win
$5 and the other would lose So. Then
they would go up stairs TO the restau-
raut and eat 81 worth of provender.
After the restaurant was dlsron-
tinued Hankins put gambling tables
on this floor He then had about
twenty-five tables in the house, five of
these being faro. For years the house
admitted on an average 5000 players
a day.
One Of the rules of the house was
that no cripple was allowed inside of
it. Another was that no employe
could advance money to a player on
personal property. When the house
was in full blast il employed fifty men.
Every Sunday in the year the house
was closed at o'clock in the morning
and did not open till o'clock the fol-
lowing day. Gamblers all say IL was
square game, and if an employe was
caught cheating he was instantly dis
charged.
At the rate San Juan county ranches
are producing this year increased i'm
migration will be necessary in order to
provide a market. We are Informed
that there is little or no demand for
fruit or produce at Durango and at
the present prices it hardly pays to
travel that distance with a load.-San
Juan Index.
Sores Disappeared.
81 have been suffering with sores on
my face, ] was unable to sleep and had
no'appetlte, / began taking Hoods
sarsaparlla and after / had used two
bottles felt like "A different man. The
sores disappeared, my appetite in
creased and l can now sleep soundly."