The Saint Paul globe., 1904-08-25
]. ". GATES PLAYS
STIFF FARO BANK
PIunaing Sportsman Uses
White Checks at $50 Each,
Losing $4,000
Special to the Globe

Special to the Globe
SARATOGA, N. Y, Aug 24-One of the
largest financial faro battles ever recorded
was decided last night between John w.
Gates and the men who run the United
States club. After sitting something like
six hours Gates got up from the table a
trifle less than $4,000 loser. 1t was a
financial tilt that interested several hun
dred persons who hung around the table
twenty deep. and We're so persistent in
hanging over the players that clubs serv-
ants frequently had to use force to keep
the crowd back. Once Gates protested,
saying:
"Fve carried a load of 5000 pounds for
the last hour. If you don't keep the mob
OFF my back you'll lose player
Asks for Big Limit
1t was about 10 o'clock when John w.
Gates and John A. Drake stepped into the
main room and directly over to the faro
layout
Give me two stacks of checks at IS, 900
stack" was the first intimation Gates
gave that he was about to play against
the tiger
The dealer laughed, thinking probably
there was a dreamer in the party.
That's what l want said Gates
1.-TWO stacks for $10 600, and a limit as
high as you want to make it,
The manager of the house was brought
on the scene.
How about two stacks for $40, ,OOO?'
asked Gates.
Too High, Manager Said
TOO high for u.s. replied the manager
1--WE will sell you some at $1,000 a stack
and give you a $3.50 and $500 limit to
cases and doubtless
Gates insisted that the stakes be higher,
or he would not play.
Make it $500 and $1,000"
''No, sir. 1 am now exceeding my au-
thority in raising the limit to $780,
Well, let me press my bets occasionally
in case 1 have hunch. / get a hunch
once in a while and like to set it in"
There was lot of good humored cross
talk about the limit before Gates finally
settled down for business, with five
stacks of checks in front of him, worth
$1,000 stack.
The limit was decided at $3.50 and $500,
with the privilege of pressing occasion
ally.
Wins on First Deal
On the first deal Gates won about s., 800,
and his friends gave him much encourage
ment. 1t appears that a pot of $4,000
had been made up among party of four.
Hence their good humor after their first
deal.
The second deal was one of those which
have struck every bank player-a deal
where the dealer needs rake to pull in
the chips. Gates tried every card on the
board Not one bet in six did he win.
When it came time to call the turn Gates
didn't have enough chips to cover an ace
spot.
"Give me five more stacks,'' he said.
These were handed to him and another
deal began.
This turned out to be a whipsaw affair
for both players and dealer. First one
would win and then the other. So it went
on for two more deals. The next shuttle,
however, gave the bank another one of
those cyclonic breezes which blow all
chips into the dealers lap.
Gates had used up his $4,000.
Asks to Double Limit
Now came big talk. ''Give me $40 900
In two stacks and double the limit and
I'll stand to lose $50 900. You boys are
out of this DEAL" looking toward his
friends.
There was a hustle in the crowd and
Joe Ullman whispered something to his
manager Then the manager looked over
to Gates and said:
"You are on, Mr.. Gates, $500 and
$1,00G.'
Looking toward the dealer the manager
instructed him to give Gates all the checks
he wanted.
There never was such action on faro
layout before. Splits cost Gates $500
many time 1t is estimated that he was
split out of $4,000. Two thousand dollars
on the turn of card was the chief play.
In four hours Gates was hooked for
500. 1000 1t was early in the morning be-
fore the game broke up. Gates had wrig-
gled off the $4,000 hook, but had been
caught for a trifle less than $10000.