The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-04
FAMOUS GAMBLING HOUSE.
Shakespeare Club Was Patronized by
Men of Reputation.

N-N~-N-Ne@a
George Selwyn in Cincinnati Enquirer)
The Shakespeare Club at Il West
Twenty-fifth street, during the war was
one of the most famous as well as de-
lightful gambling clubs in the north 1t
was managed by Charles Ransom. A
good breakfast was served at II in the
morning, followed by a magnificent sup
per at IL p. m. Both were open to an
Corners, who were supposed TO cherish
an implied willingness to take shy at
/ the baccarat board, or the red and black
OF the roulette table, or lingeF amidst
the destinations of faro. Here I have
seen the attorney general Of California
lose 5000 at a single sitting. Here some
times strayed Samuel w. Melton who
was John c. Breckinridge's first assistant
secretary of war in the confederacy and
I afterward reconstructed attorney gen
eral of South Carolina. Melton was a
tall. finely built southern gentleman He
was as amiable as Charles Lamb, Just
as kindly, and was always a visitor at
every Republican national convention.
Here Charlie Walsh, a successful Wall
street broker. his face SCARED with the
smallpox, an old friend of Boss Tweed.
and one Of the most cOmpaniOnable and
delightful men who ever 'coppered" the
ace or played the deuce to win was
/ a constant visitor
At the Shakespeare Club Pierre Lor-
rilard came in to supper. Champagne
was consumed by the case, and while
good digestion waited upon appetite,
LOrEilard badgered Mr. Ransom to
faro combat for a $4,000 stake Ransom
did not hesitate an instant. "All right.
old man, he said. 4 will go YOU for
that amount" At u o'clock midnight ne
got behind the table, Mr.. Lorrilard gave
him his check for $4,000 and Ransom in
return handed him stack of City chips
at $1,000 chip. II was a beautiful night
as nd I'D 90 hlga H.
witnessed the big game on this soft and
lovely night. The battle lasted till morn
ing crept silently in at the front window.
At one time Lorrilard was $4,000 ahead.
| He wanted TO double it. Fortune
changed. His last bet was $4,000 on the
ace 1t lost. Shaking himself like
| Numidian lion, he said with a pleasant
smile: Charlie, you are too much for
me This is not my lucky night"
John POndir the ugiiest broker in
New York, was a well-known visitor at
the club and eminently popular. His Wit
''was as gentle as bright
And ne er carried away heart stain on
its blade"
Hamilton. handsome as a picture and
50 years ago an actor OF considerable re-
nown in his vocation, had his habitat at
the Shakespeare club, and thereby hangs
a tale.
Attorney General Melton of South Caro-
lima was feet in his stocking feet, and
the neryiest gambler it was ever my for
tune to know. In the spring of '75 he
came uD from his home in the south a
very sick man. He was accompanied by
his body servant, Sam. a black boy. of
whom he was very fond. He was suffer
ing with a terrible attack of inflamma-
tory rheumatism. He stopped at the Gil
sey House.
To the attorney general faro was al
ways an inspiring game IL was to him
the gentleman's most attractive amuse-
ment. He said to me at the Qiisev
Colonel | feel as if I could win the stars
from heaven tonight. Come with me 10
the Shakespeare club and We viii see