The silver star., 1901-02-22
Great Gambling at Helena

~ reckon" said an cid Montana gam
bier that there is no town in the coun'
try where you can get as high a limit in
bucking the tiger as you can right here
in this little spot in the mountains. The
legislature meets here next week. and
that may be the cause Of the abnormal
raise, but no matter whae the cause is.
1 hardly expect to see any one kicking
because he can't bet all he wants to on
the single turn of a card There Ia
faro game right here in Helena with a
$1,000 limit on singles, and in my career
I've seen no man holler for a bigger
limit. We've run along for years with q
limit varying from $3.50 to 500 on cases,
and seemed to satisfy the demand with
occasional exceptions but 1 understand
there is to be an unprecedentedly heavy
game this winter. and after consulta-
ton we have decided to place the limit at
$1,000 on each of the fifty-two cards in
the deck, and l imagine that will satisfy
'em all.
And the raise of the limit from 500
to $1,000 is not based wholly on senti-
nent, either. During the last session of
the legislature we had a private game
for a young man with a $500 limit right
after the grand jury's investigation of the
senatorship contest. and in just fourteen
hours he lost $4,000. or about 5000 an
hour which is I guess. one of the steep
est games ever played in Montana But
he came back the next day TO show that
he was true blue and won back $4,000
IN an even shorter time. This man sent
word over that he would be here again
this winter and he wanted a 81 600 limit
this time, and 1t was partly at his re-
quest that the limit was raised but OF
course the game is open to all. and any
one can have the same privilege.
''And not only can the highest limit in
the West be secured here but you can
viay in the most magnifcently furnished
gambling house to be found in the coun-
try. have Travelled from coast to coast,
and while some private clubs are more
elaborate. and have costlier paintings. for
public gambling house the SWEETEST Of
'en is right here in this town. Why. the
lookout has a finer cha to reclne in
than the g yer or Of tn state. Yes, I've
played in Congress han at Saratoga. and
dealt in all the Hot Springs resorts, and
know W ereof | speak
The Montana anti-gambiing law? Yes,
there is one and it is probably as strict
in Its provisions as any to be found in
the country. But don't you know that old
adage about mining camps and faro
games. that Is, where you find the first.
named you will also find the other? And
do you suppose that after having played
faro in Montana all the years since TIE
first discovery of gold in Alder Guch in
'63 these men would send man to the
penitentiary for simply indulging in their
favorite pastime? Preposterousi There
has not been a conviction under the
law and there never will be- In fact.
the Ia Is rrb l4ad x-ttI
probably be repealed this winter"
ANY high rolling lately?' asked the
reporter
Yes, we have had pretty stiH play
all the year. swede Sam is $4,000 10
TIE good inside OF sixteen months. which
is not bad record by any means, aad
there are several others who have won
and lost fortunes in that time
But ! mean individual plunglng" aid
the questionsr.
Yes, had some OF that. too. a young
fellow came over here from Butte en- a
Special train not long ago to clear up
the town after having won a big sake
there He arrived at about O'Clock in
the morning. after most of the SPORTS
had retired. He didn't do a thing but
hire some hacks and send for few
friends with a request that they Join
him In a game OF poker. The game was
for table stakes and between $1,000 and
$4,000 changed hands before 10 o'clock
that morning. That Is. he carried that
much back 20 Butte with him. in addition
to the stake he had on arrival His
train cost him $50. but he could easily
afford that Gfter winning over $1,000.
Then. again, a Utah mining man lost
S22 900 at roulette In night. after
having been saD,0o to the good at one
stage Of the game. He had hfty-dollar
limit on numbers. which pay 81 for l.
you know, 20 that when he won he re-
ceived $500 in return."-Helena CMont.j
Correspondence New York Sun.