The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-06
ouAMp1oN oRAp-suoo1ER 4 WOMAN
Wins from 5000 TO $500 "a N~iEht-Hhsn she
Loses She uorrows and Keeps on Rolling.
From Che Memphis Commercial Appeal

From the NemphfS Commercial Appeal.
A woman crap-shootcr is a novelty, but the
deputy sheriffs who raided the game conducted
under the saloon Of Luke Lamb, at the foot OF
Jefferson street. state that tho dico game in
that place Is patrolized by women as freely rs
by men.
Tho deputy shoriffs who participated in the
raid on Lambs dive are congratulaling them.
selves that they were enabled to arrest any Of
tho negroes, as 1t ii cluimcd that the proprietor
OF the place has pickots stationed night and day
TO give warming n the event that the resort is
approached by any body resembling an officer.
Front street for several blocks, and that ar
proach to he place in daytime is simply a matter
of impOssibllity without the inmates OF Lambs
place being warned. Inside the house there is
and a rambling dive. The latter is located IN
the cellar, and when the trap door Is sprung II is
saloon and restaurant. 1t is under the ground
that the dance hall and gambling tables are tho
A remarkable thing in connection with
Lambs place 10 the entire absence of lights and
characterize resorts Of its character. When Il
negro enters the place he is searched. and before
being allowed to go into the cellar he is relieved
Of any dangerous weapon that he may have on
his person. II is owing TO this fact thar no fights
fairs, and are enc never heard OF : by the ths p "SitsaH II
In the cellar below, where the festivities are
generally at their zenith about . o'clock in tho
the sobriqucE Of Long Lena" is the dictator
and chief entertainer oil every usscinblage. Other
ruIes with an iron hand, Notwithstanding this
TACT she IL a rather prepossessing mu!atlo,
ana POSSESSED or moro Intelligence than the or
binary negress, she USES II TO good advantage.
Her sway Is complete, and what she says goes.
,b Al5aSHgR mo, Gui1o Of y 9 9SD wo tide n noSre ~. Is a
devil spirit she displays and her dictatorial man
Gers fascinate THO negroes who patronize tho
dive, although they are the toughest OF the
tough. Lena dances diviacly. 80 they claim,
losses off brandy and soda ike a man, and can
oltswear the rouNhest rouster that ever went
into Lambs cellar.
Her chier.occupation and pleasure, however, is
rolling tho iyorleS. She is not 50 proficient ~
''Dago sam, who broke several gambling houses
IN New Orleans a lew years ago by his ability
person well could be AT gambling, and when shc
makes three or four passes in succession tho
the ihhsq ti@o are 5ein mat rs sh @Lo %i!l L 1rnskS up a th niE En% n"il ,SF
and when paying with good luck the ceiling
would have, to be removed If she were allowed
To stack up her chips AS high as she desired. Tine
woman has been known to emerge from tho
place, after a good night at the gaming table,
spends lnyishly, rs she knows where and how to
procure plenty more when she 80 desices, some
gamble against. Lena's money, as they know
her gane. which Is conducted on he principle
happens that Long Lena loses Der coin she
proceeds with great alacrlty 10 borrow back all
iuerc' Whether it is their 4 desire treD to do oe 40 or NOT ii
When the deputy .sheriiTs Matted Lambs place
last Saturday night Long Lena had not APP
peared ON the EceDe, as the hour was rather
carly. She seldom graces the cellar with her
presence before the midnight hour. and with
tho first strcaks of dawn Long Lena" takes
her departure.
Unlike various other gambling houses in
Memphis. Lamb does not bank" The game that
isscontinually going, ON in Ills place. His en-
plOyees handle all tho money that Is put upon
the table and direct the play, but Lamb never
loses. He simply takes out IA percentage OF the
stakes played Tor. A conservative estimate OF
the receipts Of a crap table conducted ON this
principle would figure to net the proprietor of
the same "a per hour. which Is not u bA in
come fPr an ignorant negro.