The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24


one evening, during a late visit to
Monte Carlo, I was standing watching
the play at a roulette table. where some
ladies' were stalking in a rather reckless
manner, when I heard the linking Of
the croupier's bell at one of the other
tables, and Immediately there was a rush
Of people toward it. I at once walked over
to see the cause Of the excitement. The
crowd Of people around this table were
four or five deep, consequently it was no
easy matter to get near enough to see
the players, but one of them happening
to vacate his seat just as I was giving up
the attempt the vacancy he caused en-
abled me to slip into the front rank of
those who were standing behind the chairs
From the excited talk about me, 1 gath
cred that a young Englishman sitting OPP
posite to where I stood. and whom / had
previously noticed playing at this table,
has broken the bank.
Breaking the bank, 1t may be explained.
does not mean that the Golfers have
been drained. but is merely the expression
sion used when some table has sustained
such a run of exceptional luck that the
money with which it commenced to play
generally q sum between f2000 and IS. 900
has been paid out. When this occurs,
the croupier rings a bell to summon an at
tsndant, who is then dispatched for
fresh supply. Meanwhile, during the few
minutes that intervene before his return
play ceases at the table. Directly he ar
rives and the table is once more in funds,
the dish is again set In motion, and with
the cry of "Fait votre jeu, messieurs,"
the ball is once more started rolling.
The fortunate player who on this oc-
casion has broken the bank was sitting
between two friends, one of them a lady,
and he had been for an hour or two
stalking on the single chances, rouge ct
nor," and, from what l understood, had
previously neither won nor lost for he
had been playing all the time upon the
red. and the number of times it had
won was about equal with the number
of times ''noir" had been declared the
winner The noticeable feature about
his play was the fact that his stake was
always the fundamentally 5000
francs, about 24O 1. Now he had struck
a persistent run upon the red and was
playing it through. So far he had won
eight times in succession, consequently
was $4,000 francs in hand. at this point
the banks funds had dwindled to too
low an amount FOR further play, hence
the croupiers bell and hence the ex-
element.
On the game being resumed the En-
glishman again placed a wad of notes
amounting to 5000 francs upon the red.
Amid breathless silence on the part of
those around the table the dish revolved,
and as it slowed all eyes intensely watched
the moving bail until it clattered into
one Of the sections. Then there was a
shout formed by the unison of voices,
Rogue a encore gagne."
After the other stakes upon the green |
cloth had been ruthlessly raked in, for
there was no other winner of an amount
worth mentioning, a sum of 5000 francs
in notes was for the ninth time passed
down the table and disappeared from
view into the pockets of the lucky gam
bier. Again came the cry, Fat VOtre
Jeu, messieurs," and the other players
put their stakes upon the different num-
bers or computation of numbers on the
table, but they attracted little or no no
tice, for all attention was concentrated
on the Englishman. Directly the ball
was in motion there was the usual 5000
francs in the red division. Again it won.
By this time the excitement became uni |
versal and players began to desert their |
seat on the other tables and press around /
the one where the fun was going on. /
The pressure of the crowd focusing into /
such small space began to be uncomfort- |
able but I stuck to my place, for was /
anxious to see the end of the run.
During the waits it was amusing to /
watch the people and the expressions on |
their faces A young French woman /
staining Denlnu me lHiptOieu iAAe " lSb /
her come to the front to see the lucky /
winner, but / was so wedged in l was /
utterly unable to comply Nevertheless, /
managed to move a little so that she could |
get glimpse of him.
But he is very young" she remarked |
in French, as though age had anything |
to do with the matter Then she went /
on: Il wish it was a Frenchman win |
ming, for they are poor and the English /
are so rich; but 1 don't care; it is a /
treat to see somebody taking it out Of /
the tables, they don't have any pity on |
US hope his friends will take him away |
soon, and not let him return, or he'll be |
sure to lose it all again. They all do"
Meanwhile the dish was again in mo- /
ton, and amidst a seen of partly sup |
pressed, but very evident eXcitmem for |
the eleventh time red won. On this occa-
sion another large payment had to be |
made, for some lucky player had placed I
large sum upon the number that had /
Won, and consequently had to receive |
thirty-fve times his stake.
When the winnings had been raked In /
and the losses settled, play was continued, /
and the sound of the roulette bali revolv- |
ing was distinctly audible. for although, 1
the face Of the lool1ers-on Of the game /
Wore a strained look of eager attention, |
Yet there was no sound of a voice and no /
one moved. The tension was soon over for /
amidst a hum of voices the Englishman |
payment could be made the tinkle of the I
bell once more announced the fact that I
Tor the second time the bank was broken.
The heat became almost unbearable /
ana the pressure of the crowd increased.
several people got up from their chairs
and tried to leave, and the rush to take
tneir places caused considerable move
ment. woman elbowed her way close
up to me, and, being unable to see all
She desired, absolutely put her hands on
my shoulders, and 1 verify believe If
had not shaken myself free from her
grasp in another second she would have
oeen climbing up me so as to extend her
View. Many wishes We're audibly uttered
mat the winner would retire and keep
a.s money, for 1t would be unprecedent-
- Tor such a run to continue any longer
''aers said they would in his place now
mango TO the black; but every one within
view exhibited fe9erish excitement
Naea the bank again started play. Many
mem We're old and seasoned samb-
who rarely showed excitement but
their losses or their WINNINGS with