The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-07

six miles to pOunce upon a score or
| more Of Uncle Sans soldiers, who are
accused of having been engaged in
blowing in their modest salaries
against the festive tiger, and incident
ally against the man who played host,
kept them in refreshment and fur
nished the araphernalia. This So
| called club" at the Fort Smelling
! bridge has been running for months,
and, except for the soldiers losses, no
attention was paid to it. The mayor
and his able and trusted allies could
have found gambling with much less
trouble and loss of time. For it's 60
ing on all over town, and everybody
is aware of the fact. The detectives
might have gone to
The Merchants hotel, or
A block on Wabasha street, near
Fifth, or
near st. Peter or
The rear of a cigar store on last
Third street, or
An alleged club at 1872 Robert street,
A second alleged club at 81 Jackson
street, or
Several other places where, with no
particular attempt at secrecy, gam
bling is carried on to different
lengths and to suit the tastes of the
J neighbOrhOOd or the notions Of the pat
rOns. None of them have yet become
bold enough to deal faro, but stud
poker and draw, and even craps,
where they are needed, are being play
ed.
The man sitting in the quiet lobby Of
the Merchants hotel last night would
imagine that the newcomer was a
traveller or a belated legislator but he
isn't He is going to while away a few
hours and perhaps other things daily
ing with the festive kitty and the
pasteboards. He takes the elevator
or he may walk, for it is on the parlor
floor to room 1874, where he will find
perhaps a score of men sitting about
tables covered with white crash on
which are stacked chips and coin, in
tent on the fascinating poker game
There Is no bed in the room, although
1t is a bed room. ... ...
There is a wood stove, and two bu-
reaus, in which are kept cards, chips
and such little courteses which 1t is
expected the dealer occasionally ex-
| tends to his patrons. This is called a
! club, though just what the name of the
! club IS does not appear.
! The door stands wide open. Across
! the opening is a screen which hides the
! players from view of the guests of the
! house who may pass. Along two sides
| of the room, which Is not large are
| strung a line of hooks for overcoats
and hats. These are all full Pinned
upon one wall are perhaps a dozen bad
! ~ executed unframed crayOn pictures.
| There is no sound in the ROOM save the
click Of the chips. No one is talking.
They are playing poker Plain poker
table stakes at some tables, 25-cent
| ante at Others-dOllar limit
They will tell you if you ask that the
club is a private one but when a man
loses what money he has with him and
| pulls out of the game, a man who
hauls out four twentydOllar bills and
| asks to be allowed TO sit in is not in
! terfered with, although no one in the
| room has ever seen him before. On its
! face either it is not a club and the
game is being run under this guise for
| a blind, or il it is a club, some of the
| members take long chances in dealing
hands to total strangers, Directly
| across the hall, in Room 159 is a long
| table upon which is spread a quantity
of food, including meats. vegetables
! pickles, olives, etc, presumably for the
/ convenience of the members" who skip
| their meals, and only have time for q
bite when trying to get back their
/ money. A door or two away is a sec
| Ond card room Q6D, where last night a
I modest poker game was going on with
| perhaps eight men in. 1t was. as the
/ other. for table stakes, and although
you bought your chips, you were allow
ed TO play your money when they We're
gone.
The layout is said to belong to an ex-
! railroad man. His brother looks more
the sport and is credited with con-
Quoting the joint for his brother The
game which begins late in the
afternoon or early in the evening
as the case may require, lasts usually
until the wee sma' hours in the morn
ing, and gossip says there is never a
I lack of members on hand.
There is no secrecy about the place
Even the elevator boys know what is
going on and would probably tell
Mayor DOran or Chief GOss if they
were asked. That there is no member
ship line drawn is best proven by the
fact that a night or two ago a report
| eT for the q 0 sauntered into th5
place, and beyond a slight glance from
the players his entrance was allowed
to pass unnOGced, and he was later al
lowed to sit in the game. He knew no.
body at the table. There is-it must BE-
dO1lllll6U--nO faro or roulette or ever
stud poker played in the place. but g
man may go in and lose his money Just
the same for all that, and 1t is a saTe
bet that the men in cAaPge are moi
! managing the place for the fun OF the
thing, nor because they wish to keer
Me Merchants hotel going.
Not long ago a reporter for the
G o b dropped into the Third street
cigar store. He heard voices in the
rear room.
That's good!' said one.
I'll raise you five said another
It's your ante and similar express
siOns. The reporter leaned confiden-
TALLY over the counter, and said to the
clerk:
Can I get in this?"
The clerk smiled and said:
well, l don't know. You see I ain
allowed in there myself very much, but
I'll speak to the proprietor.
He started to the door, but was met
by the proprietor himself, who entered
man of fashy attire. The two seated
themselves at desk. and the young
man wrote out a check which the pro-
rrietor cashed. Presently the clerk re.
turned and said he guessed the tables
were full already.
Whats the gamer" inquired the re-
porter.
Just plain poker" returned the
clerk. There is a little clab of them.
see?"
Just then seven more members of the