The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-05
BUCHANAN
HAS FLOWN
The Knight Of Crooked
Dice.
HIS DUBIOUS ESCAPADES
Ups and Downs Of a Gambler and
Former Policeman Unscrupu-
lous to a Degree.

the first water.
buchanan made his first acquain-
lance with Honolulu during the late
spanish war. when as q private I'm the
United States army he passed through
here en- route for Manila. After several
months he again landed here and dur
ing his stay became notorious for hi,
share In a number OF escapades which
were as daring as they were unscruuu-
lous and reprehensible.
buchanan had not been long here he
fore he acquired a reputation as a
crap player. Tales OF big winnings
and practically unlimited stakes were
passed from mouth to mouth among
those who find In the music OF the
bones" their chief solace.
For n long time his winnings were
attributed to his fearless system OF
play and even the largest losers were
unanimous In the opinion that he de-
served his good fortune and few were
10 BE- found who grudged him his good
fortune.
After n while however rumors were
circulated concerning the genuineness
Of Buchanan's dice and eventually a
trap was set for him into which he fell.
Notwithstanding this contretemps
buchanan continued to manipulate
crooked dice and II was not long before
second exposure followed and then
another which resulted In his uncere-
monious departure for parts unknown
buchanan was an expert In dice
swindling: there was not a phase OF
the game with which he was not in
timately acquainted. Birds Eye"
horses" ace" craps" and quick
seven" dice were In his hands as a pen
In those Of a master forger. He could
deceive even the elect.
Combined with his marvellous skill
with the "ivories" was a nerve which
qualified In the face Of no emergency.
In tight hole Buchanan would stick
"a nothing. He was a dangerous man
- dangerous type.
rnscrupulous TO n degree. he did not
hesitate to deceive his best friend. IL
Buchann's purse needed refilling or his
liberty were endangered. his friends
were useful tools TO further the accom-
plishment 81 his desires. He used them
solely 90 his own ends. and those In
Z town who eNcrted their influence to
prevent his s0journing behind the bars
u
been artistically fooled. sucked dry. and
inally deserted.
u buchanan was for n time attached 70
| the mounted police patrol but was dis
charged on account Of neglect OF duty.
\ During the bubOnic plague visitation
/ he was a Lieutenant Of watch Of
guards az kdlihi camp. and a compan-
ION % the notorious Haskell. Just re-
leased from undergoing n term Of i'm
7 prisonment. and on whose person at the
time Of his arrest loaded dice were
found During his stay at Kalihi
buchanan started several crap
games. and succeeded in "skinning" the
/ entire watch over which he was an
/ officer. The games ran high. stakes OF
| nifty dollars not being unusual Hoo
doc" dice were rung In and this finally
coming 20 the ears Of the authorities.
led o. the ignominious dismissal of Blu
chanan and his associate. buchanan
is said 90 have cleaned up over 500 at
the camp. chiefly by means Of cold
decks and ''phony" dice.
I buchanan next sprang into nOtoriety
~ keeper 81 the unsavory Gardner Joint
az Kakaako. During his brief regime
were born stories Of heartless robbery
and unprovoked violence on helpless
seafarers who were visitors at the
south street resort.
His chef d'0euvre Of audaclty. how
~ some unsophisticated japanese.
On game OF dice Buchanan had lost
heavily. and taking his watch 60 some
Japanese succeeded irf raising fifty dol
lars on 10. week or so afterwards he
again visited the obliging Orientals and
told them that he had come TO redeem
his pledge. stipuiating however that the
watch be handed over to him for exami-
nation before payment was made. This
vas done. and as soon as Buchanan got
his hands on his timepiccc he made foi
the door. mounted his wheel and rod.
OF.
Ills subsequent performance In thi'
connection shows the colossal gall Of
the man Going again TO the home o.
the japanese he demanded his watch
and threatened 20 put the matter In tn
hands % the police II It's financial
equivalent were not rendered him.
on one occasion he cleaned out {
local Frenchman Of sporting proclivi
ties. taking IN addition 90 his money
two superb diamond cuff buttons val
Jed NJ $3.50 each. Being broke late
on. he gave them 10 n hackman as Sc
curity for an advance OF fifty dollars
shortly before leaving town he aske'
the hackman 10 allow him TO take tn
lewelry. stating that he had chanc
90 dispose OF II at n big profit. Tha
was the last the Jehu saw Of either tn
.NAn OF the htCuIttJs
Quite recently Buchanan and n fev
others were engaged In hunting 10
'naturals'' IN a private room ut the or
pheum. buchanan. who on the previou
evening had won everything In sight
was equally successful on this occas
Ion. and was over $50 TO the good whei
one of the players noticed two fives o.
one % the dice. thing which u n
unnatural as II r. unperrnissibie unde
the rules % the game.
In a few brief moments pandemoniur
relgned. and n gun and a razor wielde
by an lrate reoon'' were brought int
requisition. so urgent was the pressur
: brought TO bear that buchanan, nov
fairly cornered. yielded up his nl-gotte
gains and stood In abject terror. sup
Heating for mercy. When the crow
had gotten through with him he wa
allowed 20 depart. which he did at IN
gait % n dog with n tin can tied I
his tail.
Oplnlng that the possibilities OF lilo
UUlnlu ~ arrnrUnlnflyo center WtF