The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-03
BIG GAMBLING HOUSE.
One Running All Week in a
Basement
Craps, Faro and Other Games
Going Continuously.
Other Gambling Resorts il the City
and at the Fair Grounds

In the basement of 706 Kansas ave
nue. hourishes one of the largest gam
bling houses ever seen in Topeka 1t
has done an enormous business this
week for it is not difficult to ind the
place There is some one to direct you
if you fail to ind the way and then
there is an opportunity to be heeced
in almost any manner possible
BY the side of the partition door
which separates the gambling room
from the drinking joint which occupies
the back part Of the basement are the
words in large letterss Tor Men
Only
In the front part Of the room are two
tables upon which the game "hironi-
mus" was being played. There was a
large crowd about both tables when
Journal reporter visited the place and
the money went down on the numbers
about as rapidly as the men who pre-
sided could take it in. A man between
the two places whirled a large bowl
in which there We're three mammoth
dice and he called the throw after each
turn.
On one side of the room a man sat
at table and dealt what is known
among gamblers as stud poker
There We're a. half dozen playing and
the dealer, who was a. representative OF
the house, was kept dealing the cards
and absorbing the money of the play
ers.
Just beyond that table was another;
here was a faro bank There were
only a few players around the table
and the dealer was not as busy as
he might have been but while the re-
porter stood and watched the game a
mar, who HoG Iaa, r,favri47 arcf nm from
the table and left the room. 1T was
evident that he had staked his last cent
and lost.
On the opposite side of the room there
were three crap tables. one of them
was busy but the men who presided at
the other two had nothing to do. They
held the dice boxes idly in their hands
but no one came their way during the
few minutes the reporter was in the
room.
At the busiest places where the game
of "hironimus" Was being played there
were frequent requests from the men
who looked after the money on the
numbers for those who were not play
ing to stand back. They no longer had
any use for the man whose money was
exhausted.
All the time men kept coming and
going, some crestfallen and with empty
and satisfied air. 1t was by long odds
one of the busiest places in the city.
No store did 50 good a business and
probably no business house in the city
handled SO much money.
There is q. similar place at the fair
grounds but there are but two "hiron-
imus' tables 1T has also been crowd
ed all week and there never was a
time when '.busfuess was poor The
place was closed yat night. 1t is in a
tent not far from the grand stand
There has beeR gambling in various
forms on all parts of the grounds and
on almost every street corner in To-
peka. Yesterday a. man with a wheel
of fortune" did a big business at the
corner of Sixth street and Kansas ave
nue.. When the players won they were
given so cents but they lost q great deal
more often than they Won
A little farther down the street there
was another game but instead Of the
wheel a little lever was worked which
threw ain indicator to a certain number
corresponding to numbers On the
board There were watches on a few
Of the numbers and when the player
won a watch the man who ran the
game gave him so cents for it.