New-York tribune., 1901-07-08
LIEUT.. BRUCE'S VERSION.
TELLS HOW HE LOST HIS MONEY TO
GAMBLERS ON THE CAMPANIA

Lieutenant R. Bruce. of the Royal Navy. was
much surprised yesterday morning to read in
the newspaper stories of his experience with
gamblers the steamship Campania her
recent voyage from Europe. He did not expect
to anything about his affair in print. Lieu
tenant Bruce is tall. broad shouldered and good
looking. He is more of the Gibson type than
typically English He will be at the Hotel Meth
erland for ten days before going to Victoria,
B. c.. to join his ship. He is going to the I'm
perieuse. which is the flagship of the British
Pacific Squadron
Il would like to tell you the whole story of
this gambling business it really happened
he said yesterday to Tribune reporter. Il met
a Mr. Mackey a good looking chap who seemed
to be a gentleman, on deck. and we went into
the smoking room. He introduced me to a MT
Hollander. and three went into the saloon
while Mackey ate a luncheon. The conversa-
tion was about the pool the ships run. and
from that turned to gambling.
Ever played game called bankerT said
Hollander to
"I told him I never had, and he proposed a
game. He jumped up and went after his own
cards. 1 consented to play friendly game to
pass away the time.
Banker is played this way: The pack is di-
vided into seven parts. The one who is banker
takes one pile: the other two players take three
piles each. They put the stakes on the piles
and one card is turned from the top Of each
The banker pays for every card which is higher
than the one he turns. He takes the money from
the piles which show lower cards.
They made me banker. and they put up half
a sovereign on each pack lost steadily. be-
cause 1 could not turn card higher than six
spot. 1t was the lowest run Of cards have ever
SEEN Mackey took the deal finally. and turned
nd bicybr rdS with
At last they had me cleaned out of my ready
cash-f53 in all.
II mentioned the matter to a friend the next
day. because the gamblers would not take my
check for part OF my losings. but insisted on
having all in cash. This is something gentle
men would not do. My friend spoke 10 two
other passengers. One OF them. prominent
New-York man. came to and told rue 10 de-
mand my money back or lay the matter before
the captain of the steamer.
''I asked the men for the money. and told them
that I knew they We're professional gamblers
They wanted me to come down to their state
room and talk 1t over. 1 said there nothing
to talk about and went to Captain Walker. The
| captain said the fact that they had taken ms
| into the saloon to play cards branded them as
| gamblers He sent for Hollander. and told him II
he did not give back the money he would turn
! him over to the police on reaching port. He
| pointed out to Hollander that he had been in
| gambling trouble on the company , SHlpS OeIOAe
| and said II would have To stop
1.-THE next day the gamblers gave me t4o
| which they said was all they had left On Cap
! tain Walkers advice l took the money. The
| story that l had lost $500 started by my
| saying I had lost nearly $500. Passengers
| changed the dollars TO pounds. Socially my trip
| was pleasant and one criticised my actor
| in going to the captain when the circumstances
| were known. 1t has been said that was moody
| over the affair." and refused to recite at th'
| Fourth of July concert. as l had promised The
| reason that did not recite was that was busy
| with the captain on the gambling matter"