The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-04
THE BIGGEST OF POKER GAMES
"WALDORF CROWD SETS UP A
HOUSE or IFS OWN.

The Blazing Window Attract Netico
in SAD Street Of Nishts-Ns Limit "
the Piay-Club 10 Incerpsrated-Wai-
dorf.Ast0ria shunted tho Came Aside.
The biggest poker game In this country
Is running in this city now. The reputed
founder Of the game 10 Westerner, who
has cut a wide swath In Wall Street and ct
the race tracks. He 10 great poker player
and often takes shy At roulette and faro.
Poker is his game. however, and he and ths
waldorf crowd thst surround him
enjoy draw better than any other game.
The Westerner and his friends used to
have some pretty stiR sessions 1t the
Waldorf-Astoria. It became known that
these occasional parties were mighty in
teresting and that large sums Of money
often changed hands. When this high play
caused so much talk that It found its way
into print, Proprietor Boldt D said to have
requested that the games take place some
where else than In his hotel.
Big poker games In the hotel ceased then.
Canfields was open at that time and most
of the Waldorf crowd went there when
they wanted to gamble. II they didn't
want to play the wheel or faro at Can
fields they could play poker at any Of a
half dozen places devoted solely to that
game.
The nearest poker club to tho Waldorf
was the Petroleum Club. For several years
that club occupied 4 building at 10 West
Thirty-third street. This building has been
torn down. The club moved up to Forty
first street. where il Ia now . neighhor Of
Honest John Kelly's. With this club
gone the Waldorf crowd had no place near
the hotel to play their favorite game They
mourned this fact, and the Westerner said
it ought to be remedied. He told his
friends to wait awhile and see II something
wouldn't turn up.
Ten days ago the Waldorf crowd got a tip
that new club for poker players only was
about to open In Thirty second street. a
few steps from Fifth avenue. They were
told that there was to be no limit to the play
but that only the right people would be
welcome. The club opened week ago
last night and the stories Of the big games
are already making tho professional
TIE club is Incorporated and tho men
who frequent it have no fear Of the police.
There is no place Of its kind open In this city
at present that is better Furnished. The
club occupies five story brownstons
house. the best looking ono on the block.
The main entrance and the windows have
no iron bars to keep out intruders. At
night the house is brilliantly lighted. %
much 80 that it attracts attention from the
street. There are fine lace curtains on tho
windows, but no heavy black shades, -
most gambling houses have. Tho interior
Of the club Ia finished In white and gold and
the servants wear livery.
A Sun reporter inquired At the club last
night for the man who is reputed to have
originated the idea. The reporter was
shown to sitting room and gray haired
man wearing smoking jacket told him
the Westerner had not yet arrived at the
club.
Maybe he 10 not In town. said the gray
haired man. If he is he will be over with
a party of gentlemen who arc coming from
the Waldorf tonight"
A poker game il tho hardest kind Of
game for the police to get evidence against.
BY the time they got into the house
all evidence OF a game might disappear.
Even If the police caught the gamesters
redhanded they would be unable to prove
that chips represented money. That Ia
the reason the patrons Of this new club
don't anticipate any trouble from midnight
raiders.
"Oh, wouldn't like ia DO running that
game in Thirty-second street. said 4 Ten
derloin gambler last night. -Of all the
gambling houses, q poker house u the best.
The poker house never loses. The kitty
keeps grinding away and getting fatter
and fatter each hand. Why say. the profit
in q game where there Is no limit would
simply be enormous.
Il ran poker game In the old Metropole
Hotel and l only had three tables. My
limit was IS, but each table made from
s2s to SIS every hour. That Is. of course,
when the tables were in use. Think what q
table will mako in night where players
can 70 an far as they like. 1t makes me
dizzy to think OF it,"
Capt. Burfeind Of the Tenderloin station
knows Of the new poker club In West
lnlrty-SSCOLlu otIcClp wv ToIu30Q 10
talk about it last night. Burfeind has his
hands full already Watching another poker
game that is causing a good deal Of talk.
This game Is in Broadway building near
the Rossmore Hotel sporting men and
bookmakers make their headquarters at
the hotels in this neighborhood. and they
patronize this poker club. John J. Ryan
Of get-rich-quick fame is said to be one
OF the leading lights Of this Broadway club
One night last week it is said $40 900 changed
hands over q game Of poker.