The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-06

chest, besides having large reserve
fund in bank at both ends OF the run
in San Francisco and in Hongkong.
This game is more largely patroniZed
by the cabin passengers than either OF
the others, as the men are q little
cleaner looking, and it has the better
location-near the entrance to the mar
row, close and ill-smelling place where
they hold forth.
The second game Is run by the coal
passers who are on duty four hours and
off eight It is the next in location to
the first, and next in favor with the
passengers who may not ind place at
the other table. This game has fund
of $22, 900, besides a reserve in bank FOR
backing purposes.
members of the crew, which from
boatswain down is made up entirely of
Cinnamon. 1t has fund of $4,000. and
also a reserve. This game is almost
exclusively patronized by the Chinese
employees and Asiatic steerage passen-
gers. A white man could hardly stand
a long turn in the place where 1t Is To-
Gated, way back in the narrow passage
between the rows Of hunks, which are
generally occupied by half naked. i'll
smelling Chinese.
How do the people in the cabin come
in contact with these games 80 far re-
moved from their quarters on the upper
decks?
Easily and quickly enough. When
the land has faded from view and you
have got your things well arranged in
your cabin you are apt to take stroll
about the ship. You see that there IS
something which holds a crowd about
it, and naturally you seek to know
what it is. You may shrink away with
a kind Of disgust at first, but sooner or
later, as time begins to hang on your
hands, you will go that way again and
eventually try turn at what seems TO
be and really is q simple and square"
game. Once begun the chances are that
you will put In a little time every day
trying to add to what you may have
won or recoup what you have lost, and
then it is only a question of time when
the game will surely get your money,
for the percentage. Of chance is IN its
favor.
Or again you may be strolling the
deck or sitting in the saloon reading,
when your table boy will come up snil-
ing with: "You see China game, fan
tan? Yer nici, good. I show you"
Under his guidance you are taken d.
rectly to the popular table, that or the
saloon boys You may or may not try
it on the first visit but however you
get there, the result is the same.
A fan-tan game in full blast is full Of
interest to the student of human nature
as well as the gambler Around the
table is a most promiscuous crowd OF
players and spectators, damned in as
thick as they can stand, a preponder
ance. of course, of Cinnamon, members
of the ships company, some naked to
the waist, others with only an under
shirt and loose drawers, Chinese pas
sengers, who are generally numerous
and natural and inveterate gamesters,
and the not so many but the mucn-
desired patrons from the cabin, who
are generally well supplied with money
and credit and much inclined to larger
betting.
Among these on a late trip was young
Lord -, son OF the Duke of -, tour
ing the world. He made and lost with
little variation many a bet Of five SOW
ereigns nearly every day after he left
San Francisco. Then there was young
DR.. -, from Cleveland, touring the
world with his young wife. He parted
with all his cash in hand and a large
sum that he borrowed from the purser
on his letter of credit, in all $4,000. He
had to cable from Yokohama for ad-
ditional funds to continue his trip.
The dealer at his end of the table
turns the bowl full of buttons upside
down on the table, and scraping away
with his stick all which are uncovered,