The sun., 1903-06-21
RAM BAKER, FARO EXPERT.
''Lucsky" Bsldwin's "Reminiscences OF tho
Dead Gambler In HIS Prime.

Il ~ HN1 D"shSAS eS~-
"Tncky" Baidwin's "reminiscences OF the
Dead Gambler In HIS Prime.
Los ANoELss, Cal., June 17.-"l see tho
newspapers report tho death Of Hamilton
Baker In New Orleans" said Lucky Bald
| win as he eat beneath the shade OF an orange
tree at his Santa Anita ranch tho other
day. Thirty years ago. Ham am BAKER was was
time he had seven Of the greatest gambling
houses IN America bidding for his services
| at salaries ranging from 5000 70 s,oOV
month. John Morrissey got him for iour
summers at the Saratoga &C., cup ror III. n a.
nights a week, from at night until
| O'Clock In the morning.
But the time that I knew Ham Baker
best was in Virginia City. where for nine
dealer in the great est faro games in the
world. believe his salary was $50
night and he had IS per cent. OF the proSts
Of the house. His salary and share OF me
profits aggregated ABOUT sc $1,000 % a .,yroad year
and the injuries he received then unified
him for expert faro dealing by causing
creeping paralysis Of his right side.
known wsrs in 'hs Ss 1SSt city as'G
1859 and 1878 I have known rough mel, men
$1,000 in gold dust and blow it all In at
some faro palace inside Of two days. then
and fee away to the mountains, and be,
fore a year dig UP another fortune In gold.
"The finest gambling house there was
that of Gentry 4 Crittenden. Many day
1 have seen Ham Baker handle $4,000 in
gold there. between early evening and
early morning Oncs saw him dealing In
game where Sl75,OOO went back and forth
across the table in one night: There were
two cashiers at the back Of the dealer, and
l have seen half bushel Of twenty-doliar
| gold pieces on the cashiers desk lots OF
times.
"A bettor did not ask il there was limit
to the game. In October, 1873, miner
named John Bison, worth million came am,
Coy. Nye and then sauntered into the
faro room.
Give me a stack Of thousand-dolar
Certainly, M . sll you want replied the
"One thousand went on the jack and
was lost. Bilson lost over $4,000 without
winning bet. He swore, and got outside
Of another bottle Of champagne;
morning s ae the I'd miner line " was $4,000 ahead
Of the game. Flushed with victory, he
ordered q case Of wine for the house, But
the genius Of faro is tickle. The old man
made call ,n with iosS q Sm bill and fndmp picked tSsi
1
| moment.
AT break Of day the miner without
handing in dollar, had blown in 81 900.
He was cross as bear with sore head.
but tried to smile.
One thousand on the ace, he said:
:" 1t lost: Old Bison rose and said
slowly, as If each word weighed pound
Baker, reckon I've had enough fun
for this one jamboree, and. after. Ordering
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 $4,000, When the wine
was opened Ham Baker, in a soft voice,
h,va This game sesers is now bt /. and
SO, 600 on the ace in the faro room at Gentry
4 Crittenden's, and, without a change OF
expression, sit putting a cigar until the
equally calm dealer turned the card out
San Francisco horsenan come in, and
firing of piking along with .flve-hundred-
dollar bets on a single card. he noncha-
lantly tapped on the high card with his
pencil and said:
Mr.. Baker, I'll just 90 you on the high
card that brick store Of mine. on Mont
Romery street near California. I've the
decd here now for $4,000, .whereupon he
drew the document from his pocket and
| Done said the dealer
THE bank lost The man with the brick
house won $4,000,
| nov VIII you nave your money
said Baker.
Check laconically answered the lucky
.The dealers side partner filled out the
check for the winner, while the game went on.
One evening. along in the summer Of
1875, Jim Sharon, a brother Of United States
Senator William Sharon. was in Gentrey
d Crittenden's palace. The game was
running light. as gamblers say: but was
champagne Jim sharon edged over to
Say, Ham. this is sickly game, with
these hundred-dollar pkers around the
board. How much have you got in the
~ oh, about $4,000 replied the genial
Ham, and that's just sa6ooo more than
you've got sand to tryto win IT,
-.Ah! that's ats your your game, game, Mr., Baker
my check on the Pacific Bank for 10000
cold plnnkers'
| Put up or shut up, jim answered
Ham, sententously, as his steel-gray eyes
shone like two white diamonds in jewellers
tray:
"Jim Sharon walked over to the cashiers
desk and wrote a check for $50 900, signed
it. and walked hack to Ham Baker Up
TO this moment Baker thought Sharon was
fooling. He was mistaken.
I'll bet this in the pot, the king to win,
against your safe and contents said Sharon.
1t is WE'LL said Baker, without a smile.
pulling out a big cafe key from his side
pocket and slapping it down hard on top
Of Sharon's check in the pot, That repre-
sents my nerve tonight
Everybody stopped playing and the
| !oafers came and crowded about the
! faro table. The fourth turn and out came
| the card.
King OF clubs wins Ham Baker said
| in matter-of-fact manner.
| That's enough said Sharon.
"He called for champagne for the crowd.
| but Baker insisted on being the host
I'll be around to try you Tomorrow
said Sharon, as he waved bis lland toward
the smiling dealer and disappeared through
| the door.
That's the way they gambled when
| Ham Baker was In his prime.
ORIGIN or LAGER BEER
Merit Of Keeping II a while discovered