The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-29
ROBBED BY CHINESE LOTTERY.
Game In Colon . Curse 10 Employees
ON the Canal.

COLON. March "a Due to the whole.
sale robbery OF canal employees by the
new Chinese lottery Of Colon, action
probably will be taken by the United
states Government in the next few days
to suppress the lottery. BESIDES taking
the earnings OF both white and black
employees. thereby depr,ving their fami-
lies or the necessities OF life. the fever
for gambling that has spread throughout
thc canal forces Ia seriously interfering
with the work OF constructing the water
way. Where In the past the men were
contentedly performing their work hun
dreds now have their minds entirely upon
the Chinese lottery. and vast amount
Of time is being paid for by the United
States Government which Ia not really
earned by the employees.
This IL due to the fact that the lottery
has three drawings a day. Any amount
can be played upon tho lottery from 8
cents upward. This makes 1t a great IA
voritc with the laboring classes. who do
not realize that the three daily drawings
swiftly consume their wages. even at only
or 10 cents "A plunge Two OF the draw
ings take place in the afternoon and one
at night. and the employees are 80 anx-
ious 10 know IL they have won their bets
that hundreds OF them steal away from
their work to gather around the lottery
headquarters In order TO get the result
VI 'ilc uIdWllE. NJ SUCH times the street
upon which the lottery is situated is I'M
paesable. as It Is blocked by thousands Of
people who have been inoculated with
the germs OF gambling.
Unfortunately for the Americans work.
ing upon the canal the hold Of the
Chinese lottery In not confined to the la
borers alone. Tho Americans. II any
thing. are more eager to get rich quick
because they play In larger amounts. Ten
cent plunges are scorncd by the American
employees. who do not hesitate to drop
several dollars a day into the clutching
paws OF the dragon. The result Ii
that men who formerly RENTED money
regularly to their families In the states
have left their families to the tender
inercirs OF chance because the Chinese
lottery has taken all their wages and they
are unable to make remittances unless
they can borrow from friends.
As "A matter OF fact the Chinese lottery
can hardly be called gambling. because
gambling signifies "A game of chance. In
this lottery tho player has slight
chance. but that is all. The whole thing
depends upon the honesty Of the owners
OF the lottery. Three times a day a num-
Der IL hung up In the lottery office and
tho players guess what II Is. There are
thlrty-siN numbers IN all. and n success
full play Is paid twenty-seven for one.
But no one Is allowed inside the build
ing except the Chinese. and therefore II
the play Is too heavy upon the number
already suspended and the lottery stands
To lose large amount nobody can tell
whether the number is changed or not.
II Is necessary 10 place bets with retail
Chinese merchants scattered throughout
the city, as the lottery sells direct to
Chinese only. No receipt Is given the
player. and IL the vender should decide
to keep the money himself the PLAYER
las no redress. because he cannot prove
that he has pu, his money on the game.
The Panama Railroad. which is owned
10y the United States. notified the lessee
of the lot upon which the lottery was
situated 10 remov" his building within
forty-cight hours This action was based
upon clause In the lease providing that
no gambling shall he allowed OH rail
road lands. For a moment II looked as I!
the lottery had received "A death blow.
because nearly all the lots In Colon be-
long TO the railroad. but Il escaped by
taking refuge In building upon a lot
owned by the Government Of Panama.