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 paraphernalia. 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
is aware Of the fact. The detectives
might have gone to
The Merchants hotel or
A block on Wabasha street, near
Fifth, or
A building on West Seventh street,
near st. Peter. or
The rear Of a cigar store on East
Third street, or
An alleged club at 1892 Robert street,
A second alleged club at 371 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
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 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 1884, 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 bed room. s.,- .s sq s..
There is a wood stove, and two bu-
reaus, in which are kept cards, chips
and such little courtesies 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 screen which hides the
| players from view Of the guests of tbs
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
| ly 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 twenty-dollar bills and
asks to be allowed ''tO sit in is not iu-
terfered with, although no one in the
| room has ever seen him before. On it's
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
COHN CHl0HCe OI the members VINO SKID
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
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 were
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
as the case may require, lasts usually
until the wee sma' hours in the morn
ing, and gossip says there is never a
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
er for the G b e sauntered into the
place, and beyond slight glance from
the players his entrance was allowed
to pass unnOticed, and he was later al
lowed to sit in the game. He knew no.
body at the table. There is-it must be
admitted-no faro or roulette or even
/ stud poker played in the place, but a
man may go in and lose his money just
the same for all that and it is a sare
bet that the men in ca4rge are not
managing the place for the fun OF the
thing. nor because they wish to keer
the 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 goodr' said one.
"Ill 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:
We'll, l don't know. You see I ain
allowed in there myself very much, but
III speak to the proprietor
He started to the door, but was mey
by the proprietor himself, who entered
the room in company with a young
man of fiashy attire. The two seated
themselves at a 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 club of them.
see?''
Just then seven more members of the