The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-08-23

The many stories 0f play In. New
York's Monte Carlo read like fiction.
CT eat losses were sustained by players,
while on the other hand fortunes were
made. The house had the reputation
Of integrity and honesty. Tricks which
are credited to gambling houses were
never tolerated in the House with the
Bronze Door,"
Fair play and courtesy were the
keynote of the place. The word OF
the player was always accepted with
out question. He was usually known
by name. and by his financial standing
also. A man whose income was his
salary. even thought 1t was substan-
tIal one. was not invited to the House
with the Bronze Door more than once.
Men employed by banking in which
they handled trust funds were not de-
sired, and were politely told to find
another place to satisfy their sporting
instincts. In this way the house
avoided scandal and police animosity,
since no one was permitted to play
who could not afford to lose.
| A large charitable organization now
doing wonderful relief work for Brit
ish soldiers was founded with money
won in the House with the Bronze
Door" The player was an English
man, and according to the story told
was here visiting friends. While stroll
ling down Fifth avenue in the cool of
a June evening of 1898 with his host
the talk drifted to games of chance.
The New Yorker suggested that they
try their luck at the wheel and turned
into Thirty third street and walked
down to the house at 49,
! When the Englishman left the place
that night he had won $165,0O0, so the
story goes. Being rich man with
large interests In the gold fields of
South Africa the winnings were not
greatly needed. Stories in the papers
the next morning of the suffering of
our soldiers following the capture Of
San Juan hill gave him an idea and
he turned his winnings of the night
before, with $4,000 out of his own
pocket, into fund for relief work.
He has added considerably to this
charity in subsequent years. 1t would
indeed surprise England IL it was
known that the initial fund of this or
ganization was secured at roulette
wheel in the big arched room on the
second floor of the Monte Carlo of
New York city.
A Little $4,000 Pot.
A few years ago a well known race
track man, owner of horses and race
tracks, sat in poker game at 49,
There We're six in the game. 1t was
the intention of the players not to
rush the stakes too high. AS the
game progressed these intentions were
forgotten and the price of opening a
pot jumped from $500 to $1,000 and
from that figure to $4,000 There was
$500 in chips on the table when the
racetrack man began to bet on draw
of three cards. The other players
were not of the timid kind. Every
one backed his hand.
The pile grew until there was $751;
600 on the table, which the racing man
pulled in with three aces and two
kings. A man of nerve, cool under all
kinds of circumstances, he admitted tc
his friends at the close of the game
that 1t was the most exciting hand he
had ever played.
Many more fortunes were lost than
won in the Thirty-third street Monte
Carlo. A story Is told of a brilliant
lawyer who made name and fortune
for himself by saving the life of a
rich young man on technicality of
law. The fortune apparently was his
Fundoing, for the first thing he tried to
do was to break the bank of the
House with the Bronze Door," which
men will say was as big a job in those
days as breaking the bank at Monte
Carlo. He succeeded for time. His
success was nothing short of phenom-
enal
In two nights play the lawyer had
taken $4,000 from the house. It
seemed so easy to win that he appar-
entity thought that in this direction laid
his fortune. Instead of making gam
bling an occasional pastime he made 1t
a business. Even then fortune re-
manned with him and he won. Even
tually his luck turned and 1t remained
turned until he had lost all he had
won from the house, several hundred
thousand dollars, it was said, and $780,
900 in addition.
With admission to the house went
the privilege of indulging in all the
good things which the place afforded
A visitor was the guest of the house
and was treated accordingly. At mid
night a buffet lunch was served for
guests. Between times rare wines,
brandes and cigars which cost dol.
lar piece were there for those who
wanted them. 1t has been estimated
that at least $4,000 year was spent
in providing refreshments and food fol
visitors Of the house.
SIeuths Couldn't Stall In.
The privilege of gambling at the
House with the Bronze Door" was not
easily obtained. as the old time police
men will tell In the days when Jerome