The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-19
GAMBLING Is RAMPANT.
RESORTS IN ALEXANDRIA COUNTY
AGAIN IN FULL BLAST.
Keno Poker and the Seductive Crap-Half
Thousand Patrons Of a single
EstabiIshment.

| that the authorities of Alexandria county
! opposite Georgetown have been. say say
the least, lax In the matter Of watching
the various gambling houses, said TO be
in operation in that vicinity. says the
Washington Star
The little steamer Bartholdi makes fire.
quent trips between Georgetown ana the
| Virginia shore, and among its passengers
may be found men of all ages ana repre-
senting ali classes Of life.
Tickets Is cents. gentlemen called the
| purser. as the crowd lined mp at ms niue
window last Sunday afternoon wheh me
! boat finally returned from previous trip
| TO the Virginia shore.
ICE NO BARRIER.
| Once on board the little vessel re-
| porter for the Star found many objects OF
| intereet 4 beayy-armored prov demon
| strated the fact that the numerous pa
irons Of tho establishments had enjoyed
continued service throughout the winter
/ despite the thick ice which Tor cohsi"-
| cradle period blocked the river above
| Georgetown. and which made the trip 10
| those resorts anything but deslraDle
| pilgrimage 80 oh-
The attention Of the reporter was ao-
| sorbed by a discussion between two Wen
drossed "sports" regarding Alexandra
county Justice which. TO quote one inul-
1 viduai. can never amount 10 much so
! long as we continue in control OF INC
county officials"
A GRAND RUSH.
A ten-minute sail brought the nifty I'M
natient passengers To their DESTINATION
| and as the little landing was redcheu' d
Grand rush was made for 'hoadquaIl'IS'
| tho large frame building scarcely hah IL
| mile above Georgetown, and formerly
known as Holtzman's landing.
II has been claimed from liihe y"
| time during the past year that the ho'o
rious resort Of Alexandra county h'u
been effcctually closed. and TOT sever ~
months past the Observance Oh -,
across the river has been strictly along
! leqitimafe lines. From the fact now
ever that the little Bartholdi continued
| ber regular trips to the Virginia laho-
| ing as well as from an iniimauon re-
ceived from other sources. the reporter
was in some measure prepared LOT INC
scene 10 be witnessed within.
I-ndeceived by the outward signs Oh
dssolation. the writer accompanied inc
crowd through "a side door ana INTO ln'
| bsr where a dozen sports were rciresh-
inc themselves before repairing to lhe
scene of operations on the floor above.
4 VERY LARGE CLUB.
Several large placards were poster
about the room, announcing TO the pun
| lie that Club members only VIII DC "u
mitted upstairs The crowd dla no'
Iinger long below. and joining "a little
groun unnoticed. the reporter quickly
| found himself in the inner apartment Oh
| the establishment, surrounded by iuily
| five hundred persons. engaged In almost
/ o,.ov,- variety of gambling.
! Seated on stools at six tables. running
| the entire length Of the building, the
three hundred followers Of Keno anN-
| iouslv awaited the call Of numbers from
the disc which was 10 decide their fate.
| Occasionally a dispute would arise over
an alleged unfair settlement. Al the
crap" table an exciting game was 10
| progress among the poorer frequenters
| of the place. and the rattle OF de bones
| and constant ring of coin told an inter-
esting story of cverchansing luck on the
| table before them
Meanwhile Che roulette wheel WAS re-
volving while its two score of patrons
stood patiently waiting the result which
fortune should decree TO their respective
| venture.
OUARTETTE or SMELLS.
gentlemen will please give mp the
| cards. they are wanted at the poker ta-
, BILE" shouted harsh voice from the desk
when. a few minutes later, Application
was made by a quartette oil htaNy
wells" Tor the privilege of AN exclusive
game in the rear annex OF the building
After a brief delay several packs OF
cards were produced. and the select
| four repaired TO quiet table 10 indulge
| i'm their favOrite game.
TO the uninitiated the great room. pacA-
/ ed with men OF an gdes and conditions
| an eaeerIv Joining iu the betting ass on
portunity offered, together with the IN
I cessant clinkng Of glasses and hurrying
of walters 10 and fro as reireshme nts
were served from below added to the mo-
| uofonous tones Of the "crier' al the Keno
tables. all contributed TO form q con-
| fucsd scene. which. for time at least
could not fail 20 be impressive.
For some little time the reporter min
eled with the restless crowd, struck WIN
| the bold and open defiance of law ana
order displayed by half n thousand men
| within sight OF the nations capital.
THE O'FERRALL CRUSADE.
Less than a year ago. 1t viii be remem-
bered. Governor O'Ferral of Virginia.
after repeated attempts to- close the
gambling dcns OF Alexandria county
through the medium of its local officers,
found II necessary to take the mater IN
his own hands. and for several weeks
waged relentless war upon the ringleau-
ers across the river. II was during TINS
| raid that the Heath establishment. now
said to he AGAIN in fun blast. was raidcd
| bv special officers from the Executive de-
| partment of the state and the entire
! paraphernalia seized and transported to
! the county courthouse at Alexandra
| for safe keeping. from which place me
outfit was shortly thereafter stolen.
/ That there is "a screw loose i'm Alex
| andria county justice appears 10 be an
| acknowledged fact, but il seems 20 be
next 10 impossible 10 break up the ring
which is apparently IN control OF the
| county