Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-07-25
THE GAME OF CRAPS.
It Originated just After the Civil War
Whom the Darky Had Idle Time.

from the tail of black dog for pains
In the back, a voodoo charm to protect
him against the Vaccinations of his
enemies, and rabbits foot for luck.
With this collection in his pocket he
goes confidently forth to woo the flckle
goddess Chance. But not in cards or
In twirling wheels or In any Of the de-
vices known to the devotee OF Monte
Carlo does he put his trust, and not
even the great American game OF poker
has any fascination for him. But in
craps played in his own remarkable
way, he delights
| Who invented 1t and when or where
1t originated no one can say, but soon
after the close Of the war, when the ne
gro for the first time In his life could
taste the sweets of idleness-and a de-
licious morsel 1t was and is-this allur-
ing device for causing coins to change
pockets started, and 1t spread like
contagious fever. The Greeks named
all the numbers on the dice after gods,
goddesses and heroes, the lucky num-
Der being called Aphrodite, and the
negro likewise has a name for every
possible combination OF numbers, al
though his are not so classical as those
of the cultured Greeks. Three he
calls Free" four, Little Joe;" five,
Phoebe" six, Jimmy Hicks" nine,
"Liz." and ten, big Tom"
The rules of the game are few and
simple. The first player takes two
dice and shaking them violently In the
palm of his hand calls out:
"a nickel-put up"
Another answers, II fade you"
which, being translated means, II
cover your money"
The onlookers also take a hand in
the betting, the one who bets with the
player being said to like him." Every
thing being in readiness, the player
drops the dice as II they burnt him,
crying:
Come seben-eleben.
If he makes seven or eleven, he wins
If he throws the unlucky numbers,
two, three or twelve he loses or Craps
out" but If any of the other eombin-
ations Of numbers are turned he makes
his point" and has another throw.
Now, the "fader" who has covered the
players money reaches out and picks
up the dice with the announcement,
MY dice" After making this state
ment he cody proceeds to carefully ex-
anime them to see if they are loaded,
and, satisfied on this point, hands them
back to the player. This is allowable
just after the first throw, but after this
it is an insult to the player again to
question their genuineness, and IL it
is done fight Is the result.
The player having scored point the
first time, the excitement becomes in
tense. The white teeth of all are shin
Ing, their eyes rolling until they seem
like ovals OF ivory set with a black
bead and their heads commence to
wag from side to side. The player
holds his breath and not a word is
spoken by those around him as he rat
ties the dice. 1t is the critical moment.
II he can make his point" before he
throws seven he wins, but If seven
| comes first he is undone The bet
tors surreptltiously run their hands
in their pockets and feel for a rabbits
foot.
Suddenly the player blows upon the
dice in his hand, gives a deep guttera
grunt, and cries excltedly:
Come to see me, little joe" The
"fader" keeps repeating
"Cut him off, seben. Cut his throat,
lucky seben. Jump under him. seben."
There is an exclamation from the
"fader." triumphant laugh from the
player. He has made his point.
There is an exchange Of dirty nicKels,
and grunt or two from the losers.
The player Is getting warmed up. He
takes off his coat, rolls up his sleeves,
and spits on his hands. Lovingly he
fondles the dice; luck is with him. The
( spectators draw closer and watch with
increased interest. By the rules of the
| game he will be allowed to throw until
he craps out" and, elated by his sue
cess he shakes the dice and calls:
"A dime-cone up with dime"
! With some grumbling the "fader"
/ obeys. The player drops the dice, at
the same time swapping the fingers OF
his other hand, a sure way OF bringing
luck, and again the money Is his. The
game now goes on quickly and he wins
again and again, until many OF the bet
tors are compelled to drop out. Soon
the hand Of the player trembles as he
reaches for the ivores and he takes
out his rabits foot and rubs it on them,