.OTk1.NjQ2MzI
34 on our tour we first visited an establishment on Blake as we entered I was astonished at the immense size of the hall and the great throng of people in it. The place was brilliantly lighted gold was piled in glittering heaps upon numerous tables the banker behind them busy turning the wheel of fortune or dealing the cards all kinds of games of chance were going on the crowd were betting eagerly and pressed so close upon the tables that I could scarcely see the proceedings. I watched the game earnestly at one table the banker was having a run of bad luck every time the cards were turned he lost he asked if there was any one who would bet a thousand on the next turn of the cards I then thought it was got up to deceive some greenhorn and that it was some accomplice who was winning from him. All the other present thought so too none of them would venture to bet and he had to go on as usual betting twenty on the turn of the cards his bad luck still followed him he lost every time and at last his money being all gone he pulled off his coat and put it up against ten dollars again the cards were [[trown?}] and again the gambler lost he now pulled out a splendid looking gold watch and chain and put it up against one hundred. It was frightful to watch the fearful workings of his countenance as he again turned up the cards again he lost and with a fearful imprecation he dashed down the cards and rushed from the hall a ruined gambler. Many scenes of the opposite kind were taking place in another parts of the hall here you would see a man in a rough miners suit placing his bag of dust of on the single turn of a color in a moment it would be decided and the greedy gambler would rake in the proceeds of many weeks or months hard labor unclear the unhappy man would turn away and go unclear squandered in the same manner