The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-03-31
HOW TO ENTER
THE TIGERS LAIR
THE WAY THAT VISITORS TO NEW
YORK GAMBLING ESTABLISH
MENTs CAN GET PAST GUARDS.

To those who have never penetrated
the mysteries of one of these resorts,
description of a typical gambling house
may be interesting. Take one in West
Thirty-frst street Manhattan, familiar
" known as "The Awning" because
the ground floor was until recently
used as an awning store and awnings
covered the windows on all the floors
above. This place was also referred
to as "The Eagle Bird from a large
gilt eagle over large safe in one cor
ner of the place.
The place, like all Others is guarded
on the outside by an outside lookout
who while apparently strolling casually
alone the street, keeps sharp watch
for raiders and carefully scrutinizes all
who approach the entrance. Ii any
thing seems wrong he may press an
electric button concealed under some
] adjacent stOop, give loud and pc
| culiar whistle, knock in a prearranged
! way on the door, ring the bell vigorous
| ly. or, as in one particular instance,
! push the lid of the letter slat in the
door violently back and forth In this
case the metal slot, when pushed back
struck two nails driven into the door
| just above it on the inside. These nails
! were connected with electric wires and
! the circuit being complied a warning
bell was rung upstairs.
| If all is well, the regular client
| knocks at the door or rings the bell,
and Immediately a little wicket in the
! door is opened and a negrO's face looks
out. If it be night time a light behind
the guard shines full in the visitor S
face. If the doorkeeper, who in the
more pretentious places is always in
| full dress after nightfall, recognizes
the caller, he opens the door and care
fully locks it behind him again. He
then calls to a second doorkeeper who
unlocks a second door, and the visitor
is now within the place proper.
Before you climb the steps to the
second floor you may notice a lattice
work door of thick iron bars folded
back against the wall. This is an
innovation that has only been brought
into general use since Jerome began
his raids 1t can be streached across
the narrow hall and locked in a few
seconds, and is stout enough to with
stand many minutes battering. during
which time the authorities upstairs
get busy and secrete behind secret
panels all the gambling utensils, while
their patrons are racing over the roofs
or passing into adjoining houses
! through secret doors.
The second floor of the house is
mainly taken up by one long room
running the entire length of the house
In the front left hand corner is the
safe, with it's genius 1.-THE Eagle Bird
against the right-hand wall at the real
is large sideboard, covered with eat
ables and liquors, and the remainder
of the room is occupied by three rouet
and one faro table. Two of the for.
mer are double and one single, the lat.
ter having the green baize cloth divid
ed off into SQUARES and number on "
on one side of the wheel.
Regarding the professional gamblers
themselves, there is little to distinguish
them from the ordinary habitue of tn
TenderlOin, whose tastes incline to b.
sporty. AS a general thing a profes
siOnal gambler is clean shaver an,
| wears considerable jewelry. although
l the gambler of the comic papers, wit
= a diamond headlight in his shirt from