Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-17
SILVER NELL TRAVELS.

noss She snid she had lost over 81 900 on
tho bett-Fitzsimmons fight and was
almost entirely without money, 80 that It
WINS now necessary for her to travel 10
hobo. She took a street car for Duluth,
intending to catch "the blind baggage" on
tho western bound Northern Pacific lin
tied In tho evening.
Silver Nell IL one Of the strangest and
most interesting characters in the coun.
try. For ten years she has travelled afoot,
by rail, by water md by coach, and has
probably covered as much ground as any
drummer in America. As an adventures
sho has had more varied and trying ex-
pcriences than any other woman Of modern
times, and as q society woman she has
also enjoyed popularity.
Sho is a gambler by profession, and az Q
side Issue INDUCES frequently In specula-
ton on tho outcome Of sporting events of
all kinds She Is called Silver Nell because
sho invariably uses silver dollars instead
of poker chips when playing poker. She
hos never been known by any other name
at least, not during the last 10 or Is
ycars-and she claims to possess no other.
She has spent most of her time in the west
during the last ten years, but nearly every
town of any size in tho east has been hon.
ored with her presence, and the sporting
Silver Nell must necessarily DO . new re-
cruit.
She Is what the ordinary judge Of fem
inine beauty would call q good looking girl.
Her complexion Is clear. her features are
large, but we'll shaped, and her black eyes
sparkle beneath heavy brows. She claims
to DO only % years old, but looks trif1e
older. She also claims to be Of French de-
scent, but there Is Just faint suggestion
Of the Irish in her speech.
Silver Nell began her career as . gam
bier in Helena, Mon, ten years ago. Her
father, whose only name known to the
community was Faro Pete, had opened o
gambling house, and the girl was in
stalled as lookout for the roulette and
dice tables. Tho business Of Faro Pete
fourished, and the old mans pockets
buleed with hank rolls. In the meantime
the daughter worked faithfully at her post
and lent to the establishments the attrac-
tion of her presence. During "off watch"
hours Nell was always in readiness to take
seat mt tho poker table. When she
played, tho stakes were high and the game
fair, for no one dared risk a "shift" be-
foro the watchful eyes of the lookout girl.
Ono day Faro Pete died, and the place
was closed. The girl, who was then 20 or
IS years Of age, taking the few thousand
dollars left by her father, left Helena for
parts unknown. A few months Inter she
turned mp as tho proprietor Of . gambling
house In San Francisco. Tho novelty Of
woman proprietor drew large patron
age, and money literally flowed into the
girls hands for q few months. But tho
police interfored as Inst, and Silver Nell
was compelled to seek another field. With
a"rol1" said to amount to go, 900, shc
reached Denver and remained there . few
weeks, occasionally sitting In game Of
poker. In this way she lost several thou
sand dollars and concluded to try her luck
elsewhere. She travelled from town to
town through every western state, always
ready for . game Of poker, always with Q
we'll 0lled purse, and always attracting
the attention Of the sporting maternity
and at tho eame time commanding its ~.
opect.