The Flagstaff sun-democrat., 1897-11-18

size ever had so many dogs. It is estimated that there are nearly 1,60o of the animals in Dawson City. and as many more in the mines. The most of them are fine appearing fellows, and in the cold season net their own- CTS handsome profits by hauling sleds heavily laden with supplies to the adjacent mining camps. Ia town they travel in companies ranging from ten to twenty head, and the moment they catch sight of another dog away from his company, the pack will give chase. and if caught, will whale the life out of the unfortunate. Dog fights are so common as not to attract passing glance. Thievesp These animals are capable of convincing the most skilled professional petit larcenist that he does not understand the first rudiments of the profession. They will lie around in sight of cabin for hours, waiting for the owner to de- part, and then deftly leap through double panes of glass and carry of a side or two of bacon. It is necessary to erect coaches fifteen or twenty feet above ground to store such goods.
 Unique Mode of Gambling.
 The great attractions, or rather, ob- jects of interest, are the gambling games and the dance halls. Gamblers winning or losing from $500 to 6, 900 at single sitting are not considered worthy of passing comment. In fact, games involving 5000 or $10,00O are running night and day. Professional dealers of "banking games" receives $20 day. The manner of hazarding money is unique even in a mining camp. The player takes his seat at a faro table, passes over his sack of gold dust to the dealer. who drops it into small pigeon hole. The chance of "overplaying his sack" devolves upon the players honor. He is given full credit and can call for as many chips from the check rack as he de- sires. As the checks are passed out a tab is dropped on his sack. At the conclusion of the play the chips on hand are credited to the account of the sack. The dealer hands the player a slip of paper showing the condition of the account and the latter takes it and his sack of gold to the bar. If he has lost he weighs out his gold dust; in the event of his winning the barkeeper does the paying At first glance it would seem that such a system would afford considerable temptation for a dishonest man to walk out with his sack of gold without settling bis account. Only one or two iuStouCcS VI tuo hIuu unNo OcSuttV<a and the community has inflicted sucl, punishment as precludes the repetition of the offense.
 | The dance halls open about or g o'clock in the evening and the band plays on till late Tn the morning A dozen or more women, many witl young and rather pretty faces, are in attendance. They have little or nc tune to rest between the dances, and when the morning dawn comes peep ing over the mountain summlts they are a tired-looking crowd. The amusement continues night after night
 The halls are crowded with gallant beaux. most of them having heavy
 spike-soled shoes, broad-brimmet hats, regulation mining suits ant cigars between their teeth. The dance halls are constructed of hewn logs, roofs covered with moss and eartl and low ceilings. Each dance cost q
 and one man in three nights spen
 seven ounces of gold, or $ll9. for th' luxury. In some of the halls fret fight IS almost certain to conclude tn, festivities along toward morning Occasionally men will come to blow in attempting to win the hand of some
 woman for the succeeding dance "Fair play" is the watchword; th' best pugilistic gladiator goes to tn
 head of the set; his rival goes home.
 High Prices Reinforced By Robbery
 Saloons are running "wide open.