The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-09

Il see the newspapers report the
death OF Hamilton Baker in New Or
leans" said Lucky" Baldwin as he sat
beneath the shade of an orange tree 81
his Santa Anita ranch the other day.
Thirty years ago Ham Baker was the
greatest faro dealer alive. At one time
he had seven of the greatest gambling
houses in America bidding for his serv-
ices. at salaries ranging from $4,000 to
81, 500 a month. John Morrissey got him
for four summers at the Saratoga Club
for $40 900, and he was required 10 deal
faro only six nights a week, from . ct
night until l o'clock in the morning.
But the time that 1 knew Ham I}aker
best was in Virginia City, where for
nine months in the year for six years
he was dealer in the greatest faro
games in the world. | believe his sal
airy was $3.50 a night and he had Is
per cent of the profits of the house.
His salary and share of the profits ag-
gregated about SO, 900 a year.
But he died poor He was in a rail-
road wreck in Colorado along in the
9O's, and the injuries he received
then untitled him for expert faro deal
ing by causing creeping paralysis OF his
right side.
AS l have said. the largest faro games
ever known were in Virginia City be-
tween 1869 and 1875. l have known rough
men to come down from the gold country
with $50, 900 in gold dust and blow it all
in at some faro palace inside of two
days, then, without a murmur. borrow
a grub stake and fee away to the noun
tains. and before a year dig up another
fortune IN gold.
THE finest gambling house there was
that of Gentry & Crittenden. Many a
day I have seen Ham Baker handle
$50, 900 in gold there between early even
ing and early morning Once l saw him
dealing in a game where S175. 900 went
back and forth across the table in one
night. There were two cashiers at the
back of the dealer, and I have seen half
a bushel of $50 gold pieces on the cash
ier's desk lots of time.
"A bettor did not ask If there was a
limit to the game. In October, 1873, a
miner named John Bilson. worth 100O.-
600, came in from Utah. He chatted an
hour with Governor Nye and then saun-
tered into the faro-room.
" Give me a stack of 81 900 fish, said
Bilson
Certainly all you want replied the
suaVe Ham Baker.
"One thousand went on the jack and
was lost. Bilson lost over $40. 900 with
out winning a bet. He swore and got
outside OF another bottle Of champagne
Luck changed. and at l o'clock in the
morning the old miner was $4,000 ahead
of the game. Flushed with victory, he
ordered a case of wine for the house.
But the genius of faro is rckle. The
old man made a call with 81 900 and
picked up $1,000. Luck failed him from
that moment
AT break Of day the miner, without
handing in a dollar, had blown in SAL
600. He was cross as a bear with a sore
head. but tried to smile.
One thousand on the ace he said.
1T lost. Old BiIson rose and said
slowly, as if each word weighed a
pound:
" Baker, / reckon I've had enough fun
for this one jambOree,' and after or
dering a basket of wine for the house.
he seated himself at the cashiers ebony
desk and, cool as cucumber, drew a
check on Mackays bank for So. 900. |
When the wine was opened Ham Baker, |
in soft voice, said: This game Is |
now closed.
Il have seen several men bet $1,000 |
and $4,000 on an ace in the faro room
at Gentry Crlttenden's, and, without
a change of expression. sit putting q |
cigar until the equally calm dealer |
turned the card out OF the silver box.
once saw rich San Francisco horse
man come in and, firing of piking along
with $500 bets on single caro-. he nom