The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-24

in no way be compared to the similar re-
sorts at Long Branch or even to the club
house at Saratoga. But in the greater
number of the gaming houses which line
the main street.-almost the one street of
the town-there is no attempt whatever
at display. The proprietors rely on the
ruling passion of the place to draw their
customers, knowing well that IL only a
good game can be found at all times at
their tables the extra inducements of
reading and lounging and dining
rooms can easily be dispensed with.
Moreover, even at its best. Hot Springs
smacks of the frontier. The tens of thou
sands of visitors from New York Chi
cago and San Francisco who spend their
winters here seem to leave no mark of
their metropolitan homes on the Arkan-
sas town. The broad-brimmed sombrero
of the COW puncher and his boots and,
leather belt are worn, with the air of be-
ing at home. If anything the visitors take
their cue from the natives rather than
convert them to their own ways. New
York sporting men are noted for constd-
ering nothing too good for them when
they've got the coin" and yet the most
prosperous and fastidious members of the
fraternity bestow their patronage on the
undecorated gambling rooms, with bare
floors and four-egged stools, more than
on the two swell club houses.
Hot Springs may be said to consists of
only one street. 1t has the government
reservation behind it on one side and a
rough uncultivated tract of Arkansas
mountain country on the other. There are
bath houses and hotels on this street, but
what most impresses one Is the fact that
the business district seems to be made
up more largely of drug stores and sa-
looms over each drug store are many doc
tors offices, and over each saloon is the
inevitable gambling house. A third fea-
ture of the saloon is the pooroom, where
the New Orleans and San Francisco races
afford opportunity to the sporting frater-
nifty to speculate during the afternoon
Play in these poolrooms is very high and
bets are taken on the results that would
cause even some of the big bookmakers
on the New York tracks to take a glance
at their sheets before accepting them. 1t
is a swell bet, indeed, that causes the
layers of odds here to rub their figures,
and on one day last week when all six
favorites won at the New Orleans track
II was stated that the four principal rooms
paid out more than 100000 In this line
OF business here. as everywhere, New
York is conspcuously represented. Big
Dan Stuart the promoter of pugilism. has
been conspicuous, and on several occa-
sions In the club which he runs the limit
at faro has been raised from $3.50 for case
cards to double that sum. That is pretty
heavy play, even for Hot Springs, and 1t
made Stuart somewhat Of a lion among
those who buck the tiger. In the greater
number of the club rooms 800 to case
cards and $50 TO doubles is the prevailing
limit.
An illustration of the high play preva-
lent was given at the Arlington Club one
morning last week when a newly arrived
sporting man from San Francisco dropp-
ed in. and turning to group Of men who
were playing hearts at a corner table.
suggested a game of stud poker. Ed
Walker, who is one of the proprietors of
the place, announced his willingness to
accommodate the stranger and asked him
how many checks he would buy.
ooh! Give me $1,000 worth OF chips" re-
marked the San Francisco man, expect
ing that the amount named would pro-
duce a sensation
Walker stepped to the check rack and
issued chips representing the amount.
which he placed in front Of the stranger.
and seating himself opposite to him at
the table with an equal number Of blue,
yellow and chocolate celluloids. proceeded
without any remark to play him $1,000
freeze out. In less than a half hour the
Hot Springs man had all the chips on his
side Of the table, and the Pacific coast
gambler left the club room. The game
created no more than passing comment,