Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-02-04

Ii DlODtH ludl u Dttu Dti vi luOSt par
ticular cards.
That was the games percentage. and 1t
was enough. The vice president Of one Of
the largest banking institutions in the
state, a real bank that loans millions, began
life in Virginia City as a faro bank dealer.
He continued In the business until he had
accumulated enough money to buy q con-
siderable Interest In the stock of this bank,
of which he became a director when he re-
tired from the more profitable business Of
faro banking"
At one period of Butte's history there
were probably 100 faro banks operating
in Butte. They were maintained in the
principal saloons and afforded a consider
able revenue for the bar. When the bank
had made a fair winning, the dealer would
press the button, call the bartender, and
everyone clustered about the faro bank
table, regardless of whether he was a
player or not, would be invited to "nomin-
ate his poison" The game would be sus-
pended until the drinks came, when the
click of the chips would be resumed.
There were probably 1000 men, in the
heyday of gambling in Butte who got a
livelihood out of the banks The legi-
Inmates were dealers" 'lookouts,'' and
ease keepers" while the Illegitimates were
the "tin horn" gamblers, men who made a
living by inducing some winners to ''stake'
them to enough money to play the bank,
usually on a division Of the winnings. if
there happened to be any. The gambling
laws were repealed about 10 years ago.
Albright Vaudeville
Then there were the variety shows"
elaborate vaudeville entertainments for
male patrons only. The program would
start at s o'clock in the evening, and would
continue until about 4 in the morning.
Fine artists were brought out from the east
to entertain the Butte miners, who would
buy drinks from mattresses who passed
through the crowds in the body of the
theater. No admission was charged, the
management depending on the bar receipts
for their reimbursement. Several institu-
lions of this character flourished in Butte
a quarter o ia century ago.
The "hurdy-gurdy' was another institu-
ton of the mining camp in those days. 1t
was a ground floor dance hall, with a long
bar at one side. Women, always good
dancers, employees of the place, thronged
the floor, and the miners, on their invita-
ton, would dance with them. The dance
was a short one at the end of which the
prompter would call out promenade to the
bar" The miner would walk to the bar
with his more or less fair partner, purchase
a couple of drinks at advanced prices, and
the process would be repeated. East Park
street, for two whole blocks was given over
to this business, which went the way Of all
flesh when Montana started on the broad,
and | nthose days, long, highway of re-
formation.
When Butte Was Race Mad
Butte always did things intellectually.
When laws had been passed which put such
close to nature amusements in ghostland
OF the past the racing game came along to
drive dull care away. 1t had its start most
legitimately. Marcus Daily, then in the first
flush 0 immense wealth, was a lover of
horseflesh. He had developed one of the
finest breeding farms in the United States
on his Bitter Root estate. Animals Of the
best racing strains in the world were bred
on this property. In order that he might
enjoy seeing them race, DAILY financed the
building of the Butte and Anaconda race
tracks.
DYfta fnolx IN tho tfuport ~ tinnrss M
Enthusiastically. Thousands of dollars would
pass through the betting ring every day
during the race meet. All Of Butte would
declare a months holiday when the racing
season opened. With Days passing the
game fell into the hands of the profession
ais, and a feg5 years ago a law was passed
prohibiting race track gambling. The race
track was cut up into lots a couple of years
ago, and cute little bungalows, the homes
of miners who formerly wasted their sub
stance In the betting ring q few years be-
fore, now dot the historic site of this ex-
pensive pastime Of the yesteryears.
Then the Pool Rooms
The race track bettors, once educated,
wanted to play the game all the time. To
meet this demand the professionals insti-
tuted the race pool room. In these ~institu-
lions were received by wire. direct from the
tracks all over the United States, the re-
suits Of the racing. The operator standing
by his instrument would sing the swan
song of those who had placed their money
on the wrong horse, something after this
fashion,:
They're off at Brighton Beach; Osler
Joe in the lead by one length; Emil Han
sen, second; Swede Sam third, two lengths
away"
The call would be repeated at the quar-
ter, at the half and then would ONE the
sing song announcement.
Into the stretch: Swede Sam leading by
a head; Emil Hansen, second; Osler Joe
third by two lengths"
Then for about thirty seconds while the
crowd of bettors stood on tip toe and
waited, with abated breath for the an
nouncement.
"Clickty-click; clickity-click," the re-
ceiver would go.
emil Hansen wins" The fortunate
bettors would cash In their pool tickets.
The losers would endeavor to pick aA9fa-
ner for the next race. sSA@5
Gambling De Luxe ~
One Butte man conceived the idea OF an
exclusive gambling house somewhat on the
order of those then to be found In London,
Paris and the other European centers. He
therefore leased a richly furnished build
ing on Granite street. Here he was ac-
customed to entertain the society folks
Of the mammot camp and the highest
rollers of the mining world at elaborate
dinners. He Is said to have imported a
French chef, to whom he paid a salary of
$500 a month. The rarest of French and
liquors that money could buy. His guests
moked Havana cigars at a cost of 81 apiece.
In the reception rooms Of this salon, there
was no evidence of the gambling parapher-
MALTA, but after the dinner had been serv-
ed and the diners were then In the mood
for an evenings diversion, servants en-
tered and deftly transformed what were In