Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1907-04-06

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nobleman who came here with his
pockets filled with money in addi-
ton to a certified check for $10O, 900
with which he had been instructed
by those who were behind him to
buy a mine. He played craps one
night in the saloon which formerly
stood where the Butler Theater now
stands. He knew nothing about the
game and played so recklessly that
before he realized it, he was $50, 900
in the hole.
Il roll you for $4,000" he cried,
100000 or nothing"
There was a consultation between
the partners of the game, and the
wager was accepted. He rolled a
seven spot and won, and his friends
led him away and buried him, and
they took his money away too until
they had sufficiently instructed him
in the danger of the fascination Of
craps.
The biggest winning made by the
old Mizpah in one night on all the
games was $4S, 900 That was fairly
good for n night, and there were
other lucky nights to come. 1t was
no uncommon thing to see on the
roulette table $1,000 laid on a col
umn or a color and 500 on a num-
Der. They were playing faro cell
ing" high too, in those old days so
long as they knew who was playing.
Everything was high; living was
high, drinking was high, stakes were
high, to say nothing OF the high old
times.
The biggest pot ever gathered in
across the poker table Of the Miz-
pah was one of $4,000, and n Of
the winners got up from that game
$4,000 winner on the night. There
were great gambling games in the
early Comstock days. but even the
wagers on the pony express never
touched those of the Mizpah. and the
bets on the pony races were some
thing fierce.
In those days the mail was carried
into Virginia City by Adams and
the Wells Fargo Express, and the RI
valry between the rival companies
was keen. The distance from Reno
was twenty-five miles as the mounted
messengers made it, and In that short
distance the horses were changed no
less than a dozen times. The mes
sengers on their ponies were at Reno
when the train pulled in, the mail
sacks were thrown to them, and they
were off like an arrow from a bow,
down the canyon, strapping on the
sacks as they flew, Riding like wild,
they would come to a hating place,
where there was a fresh pony await
ing them. Then off again with the
sack. then on again, then off again on
the wild ride. This performance was
repeated a dozen times, and all the
while the crowds We're gathered on
the main street waiting for the riders
with all their money up on one pony
rider or the other. There were
scouts upon the top of Mount David
son with signals to wave to the gam
blers below, to give them a tip on
the first horse.
Those we're wild, exciting times,
but they were eclipsed by the nights
of the Mizpah. And now both the
days and night have passed. The
men who made and lost fortunes in
the Mizpah are still alive, or the most
Of them are, and among them + the
wealthiest men of this camp and
Goldfeld. They do not seem to have
suffered much by their losses of The
early days, and perhaps the eXper'
fences have taught them wisdom, ant
the value Of money. They have al
seen a different life since, and car
appreciate the things that money viii
bring besides the joys and sorrows
of the gaming table.
And the Mizpah has passed away
forever, and in its place will BE-
reared a fine modern building o
lofty dimensions which will be a cred
/, 1t and an ornament to Tonopah.