The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-01-27
Won Immense Stakes at Monte Carlo

Now and then the newspapers report
authentic instances of large sums having
been won at the gaming tables at Monte
Carlo. One of the most fortunate players
at Monte Carlo for long time past has
been a Mr.. Darnbrough, an Enslishman,
whose remarkable run of luck has fur
nished fine morsels of gossip in the CAPT.
tails of continental Europe recently.
If reports are true, he left the place
with the snug sum of more than 1000 Ot
francs to the good as the result Of a
represent all of Mr. Darnbroughs win
nings. The story goes that on the Open
ing day of his play he staked 24,0OC
francs. winning all along the line. En-
boldened by his success, he continued
playing. winning again and again with
marvellous luck. At one period, it is said.
his credit balance amounted to no less
than 1,S5O.OOO francs: but from that mo-
ment Dame Fortune ceased to smile upon
him. He lost steadily from 100000 to
3OO. 900 francs day. until, recognizing
that luck had turned against him, he
had sufficient strength of will to turn. his
back on the tables and strike for home
with the very substantial winnings that
still remained.
On another occasion a well-known Lon
don stock broker walked OFF with little
short of $4,000. This remarkable per-
Torrance occasioned no small amount Of
excitement in the gambling rooms, as
such an unusual incident does invariably
Bent on making a plunge" he went
from one table to another, placing the
maximum stake on the same number.
Strange to relate. at each table the same
number won, and it was his number.
Recognizing that this perhaps might be
his lucky day, the player wendell his
way to the trente-et-quarante room and
put the maximum on three Of the tables
there. To his amazement. ne discovered
that there also he had been so fortunate
as to select the winning number.
The head croupier conf1ded to a friend
of the writer who happened to be present
that that day had been the worse in the
history of the Monaco bank for years.
He it was also who mentioned the
amount won by the fortunate Londoner,
as given above.
1t is well-known fact that one OF
the most successful players at the
Monte Carlo tables was Wells, who as the
once popular music hall song put it,
broke the bank there. He was at the
zenith of his fame. about twenty years
ago, when shis escapades-and winnings
were talked about widely and envied. in
Europe sporting circles and among the
demi- monde.
In ten days, 1t was said. he made up
ward of G35OOO clear winnings at the
tables after starting with the modest cap
ital of G400. 1t must not be forgotten.
however, that at his trial later Wells de-
MED this. stating that all he had made
was $1,000 at four consecutive sittings.
He made the statement that even SO. he
had been a loser in the end.
The reader may take his choice OF the.
two statements. but among freQuenters
OF the rooms at Monte Carlo 1t Is gener-
ally considered impossible to amass large
winnings without riskins large stakes.
Even then the chances are 1000 to In
favor OF the bank. Yet occasionally there
are winnings running into four or fve
figures, and to human beings the possi1
bility OF chance constitute an Irresistible
fascinatton.
Only few years ago Q young Amerf-
can was credited with having risen
from the tables $4,000 richer than when
first he had sat down. 1t was hts first
visit to Monte Carlo and he had not
come With aAy system 70 break the bank
Or with en- rDsb-flch-quieA 49, Ier