Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-07-09
Gambler and Snort.

Gambler and Sport.
When the Northwestern limited train
from the East pulled into the station
at Superior, Wis. the other morning,
there aiighted from the platform Of the
blind baggage" woman plainly but
shabbily dressed, carrying a small
travelling bag in one hand and news
paper in the other. There was large
crowd Mt the station, and scores Of
eyes followed her wonderingly US she
walked gracefully up the platform and
entered the waiting room. The brake
man paused in his work to scrutinize
the female who had dared to steal q
ride In genuine hobo style.
The woman said her name was Sill
yer Nell, and that she had come from
New York City and was on her way to
Butte, Mont, where she intended to so
into the gambling business. She said
she had lost over $1,000 on the Cor
bett-Fitzsimmons fight and was al
most entirely without money, so that
it was now necessary for her to travel
In hobo.
Silver Nell Is one of the strangest
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country. For ten years she has trav-
eled afoot. by rail, by water and by
coach, and has probably covered as
much ground us any drummer in
America. AS an adventures she has
had more varied and trying expert
ences than any other woman Of mod
ern times, and as society woman she
has also enjoyed popularity.
She is gambler by profession. and
rs side issue INDUCES frequently in
speculation on the outcome Of sporting
events Of all kinds. She is called Sill
YER Nell because she invariably uses
silver dollars instead Of poker chips
when playing poker. She has never
been known by any other name-at
Least, not during the last ten or fifteen
years-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
the East has been honored with her
presence, and the sporting man East
or West who has not heard Of Silver
Nell must necessarily be a new re-
cruit. She claims to be only % years
old, but looks a trifle older She also
claims to be of French descent.
Silver Nell began her career as a
gambler in Helena, Mont. ten years
ago. Her father whose only name
known to the community was Faro
Pete, had opened gambling house.
and the girl was installed as lookout"
for the roulette and dice tables. The
business of Faro Pete flourished, and
the old mans pockets bulged with
bank rolls. In the meantime the
daughter worked faithfully mt her post
/ and lent to the establishment the at
traction Of her presence. During "off
watch" hours Nell was always in read
mess to take a seat at the poker table.
When she played, the stakes were
high and the game fair. for no one
dared risk a "shift" before the watch
full eyes Of the lookout girl.
One day Faro Pete died. and the
place was closed. The girl, who was
then 20 or % years Of age. taking the
few thousand dollars left by her faith
er, left Helena for parts unknown. A
few months later SHE turned up as the
proprietor Of gambling house in San
Francisco. The novelty Of a woman
proprietor drew large patronage, and
money literally flowed into the girls
hands for few months. But the po-
lice interfered at last, and Silver Nell
was compelled to seek another field.
With roll said to amount to $4,000.
she reached Denver and remained
there a few weeks. occasionally sitting
in a game Of poker. In this way she
lost several thousand dollars and con-