The times., 1898-02-06
DEATH OF DICK HOLLAND
Known All Over the Country as a
"Su re-thine" Gambler.

| Known All Over the Country as q
"Snre-thine" Gambler.
Cincinnati. Feb. 5.-Dick Holland is
dead, He was known all over the
! country as one of the old school of
| gamblers.
! Holland would have been sixty-three
I years old Tomorrow, and was born at
the corner of Sixth and Lock streets
this city. His father, Montgomery Hol-
land, was a boss painter, but went on
the police force, and was soon promot-
ed TO lieutenant. Dick and his brother
Eph learned the trade of bricklayins
but they never worked at il very long.
The last job they did was to work on
the old Woods Theater, at Sixth and
Vine streets. 1t was while at work on
this building that they became ac-
quainted with number of gamblers.
Eph at once quit work.
1t was not long until he had q place
of his own. and he was soon known all
over the country as one of the biggest
gamblers who ever ran a faro bank. 1t
was Eph who conducted and managed
the celebrated Goss and Allen fight.
which turned out to be one of the big
gest swindles Of the century. Epf's
success caused Dick to throw off his
apron and take to the green cloth for
living. He gambled around the diff
ferent places, and was soon. like his
brother, an expert with the faro box.
He was first-class dealer and his first
position as such was with Col. Bobby
Lewis and Frank Core He had trou-
bic with Lewis and went down on Ba-
ker street and went to work for John
r. Whaley. He had words with wha
ley. and that night while drunk took
out his penknife and mutilated a yaIu-
able painting entitled THE Greek
Slave, for which he had to skip town.
The painting is now hung in a fine resi-
dence in this city. The matter was
squared up for Dick and he came back
to this city. He then began TO study to
deal brace faro bank and soon became
an expert. He made his own boxes. and
in his day was considered the best "old
thing" dealer in the country. No mat
ter in what part of the West a box was
wanted to swindle some one with. the
man sent for was always Dick Holland
He had dealt the old thing in Mem
phis, New Orleans, Louisville. Wheel
ing. st. Louis, and all through the
State of Illinois.
Holland. however, was never man
with nerve. Even while swindling some
one his nerve would fail him if there
was not some one present with a gun in
his pocket to bolster him up But with
all his faults. Holland was good fell
low. He had an extensive acquaint-
ance. and his fund of stories seemed in
exhaustible. He had a story for every
thing, and was as bright as a gold dol
lar. In fact, many of the stories re-
lated by the late Col. John CockereIl of
Major Carter were original with HoI-
land. He was also something of n
writer, many of his witty tales having
been published. As a letter writer he
had few equals. and there are many old
citizens around the city who have in
their possession letters written by Dick.
They are original in every sense, and
full of the richest kind of wit
When gambling was closed in this
city, twelve years ago, Dick. like many
other knights of the green cloth. was in
a bad way. George Hobson went in the
recorders office about that time. and
he gave him position las eopyist.
About four years ago he quit and went
to Indianapolis. where he dealt bank
for awhile. and then went to- selling
books In appearance Holland was
about medium height. and was always .
very neat in his dress. He generally