ANCHORAGE DAILY TIMES
AND COOK INLET PIONEER.
ANCHORAGE PUBLISHING CO.
Anchorage, Alaska;
CHAS. E. HERRON, Publisher.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES FOR THE DAILY.
Single Copies .$ .1* Six Months (In advance) ....$ &.00
One Month ... 1.00 One Year (In advance) . 10.00
Entered in the Anchorage Postoffice June 6, 1916, as second class matter
under the Act of March 3, 1873.
For President—CHARLES EVANS HUGHES.
For Delegate to Congress—JAMES WICKERSHAM.
IN THE DAYS OF YORE.
The apprehension of gentlf jJJeiyof the green cloth by offi
cers of the law in Anchorage the other day recalls the early
days of the northiaiid, when gambling and kindred vices were
the rule, rather than the exception, as now. We do not pro
pose to discuss the moral aspect of this subject, other than to
say that it is well for Alaska that public gambling, especially
with the paraphernalia employed therein—such as the roulette
wheel, the faro table and the like—and the dance hall, are no
longer permitted within its confines. But being in a rem
iniscent mood, we wish to hark back to the old days when ev
erything was “wide open,” with the “ceiling as the limit.”
Scarcely a decade has passed since gambling of all kinds
and descriptions flourished as the green bay tree throughout
the vast domain of the northland. Who among the oldtimers
does not vividly recall Lee Guthrie’s Board of Trade and the
Packtrain saloon, the popular gambling resorts of Skagway,
‘ ‘ the worst town in the world, ” as it was termed ? Who has not
seen Brooks, the packer, aftdr completing a trip over the White
Pass summit, come into a resort there, delve into his pockets
for a half dozen “twenties,” and with the prodigality of a
“Coal Oil Johnnie” invite “everybody in the house” to take a
drink with him. And about everybody would take something,
too. So dense was the crowd that packed these resorts, in the
days of ninety-eight and ninety-nine, that one would have to
push his way through the mass of humanity to get a seat at
the games of chance.
In the early days of Dawson, Nome and Fairbanks, as well
as the lesser towns and communities, the same conditions exist
ed, save that in the big £old camps the wagers laid were larger.
At Nome, for instance, it was not uncommon to see some plun
ger, or fool, according to your viewpoint, risk a thousand dol
lars on the turning of a card at a faro table. All Nomeites, ofj
course, recall Tex Rickard’s Northern saloon and gaming j
house, the most popular resort in that camp. Tex was an ac-1
commodating fellow in the matter of gambling and you could
go as strong as you wished to. The stronger you went the
sooner you were broke, because in those days the gambling ,
houses employed light-fingered gentlemen as dealers whose bus- ]
iness it was to see that you didn’t win. Faro is held up by the |
gambler as the fairest of games of chance. He tells you that J
the only percentage against you is the “splits.” As a matter
of fact all a faro dealer requires to know is what “system” you }
play, and he can put you out of business at his whim or caprice.
That’s what he is well paid for. Gambling paraphernalia and
gaming devices are made to win, and they do win, as many an
unsophisticated individual has found to his sorrow.
While Tex Rickard’s place enjoyed the run at Nome, oth
er gambling resorts were well patronized. The Second-Class
saloon, Wyatt Erp’s Corner and “Lucky” Baldwin’s tough
den—all were crowded with patrons and spectators.
And in those early days in Alaska there was the dance hall,
the side partner of the saloon and the gambling resort. The
more pretentious towns had from one to a half-dozen of these
resorts, where maids—young and old—with manufactured com
plexions and with none too much wearing apparel, flitted about
from man to man among the spectators, asking each in turn to
have a dance with her, or buy some liquid refreshments, or
both—usually both. Every year was leap year in those old
days that have passed away. You didn’t have to ask a woman
if you could have the pleasure of a dance with her, in these
public dance halls. She always asked you, and whether you
could dance or not mattered not at all to her. She’d drag you
around the hall somehow once or twice and call it a fine dance
and tell you were a swell dancer. Who has not heard of the
“Hurrah” block at Nome, so-called because there was a solid
block of buildings, located right in the center of town, devoted
to gambling, drinking and dancing. The like was never s^en
before. It will never be seen again.
The unknowing might ask, what were the public officials
doing while this condition of vice and liberty of action existed f
The public officials of the early days of- Alaska were doing
what about everybody else was doing. They participated in
the games, danced with the maidens, and drank with the thirty.
It was not uncommon to see a deputy United States marshal
seated at the faro table, a stack of chips in front of him. It
was more uncommon not to see them.
A staid and stern easterner might imagine that a veritable
reign of terror existed in the northland during the early, ro
mantic period of its history. Not at all. The moral code was j
not rigidly adhered to, as must be evident from this brief side- \
light on the situation. Major crimes were punished then as!
now. And when the lawless element got too presumptuous, as j
instance the “Soapy” Smith crowd at Skagway, the people
called a halt, and “Soapy” Smith died with his boots on.
But the old days are gone, never to return. And it is better
so. An individual rarely rises above his environment. He is
what most of the other people about him are. In the mad and
excited lust for gold, ordinarily good men mixed with the law
less, drawn thither by lack of other and more wholesome amuse
ment. The period of this unlicensed liberty in Alaska was an
epoch in its hi story. Not an epoch or period of time upon which
we sourdoughs may look with pride or anything of that sort,
but still an epoch, nevertheless. The past is but a fleeting
memory. It is possible that the lessons of life that were learn
ed in this school of experience were not wholly lost on the
most of us.
“The Store That Has What You Want—When You Want It."
Loussac’s Daily Gossip
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1916.
Vol. 1. No. 88. ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 4th and D
Hallowe en Novelties
HALLOWE’EN DECORATIONS. ' !
. ‘ ‘ - - , • 1
HALLOWE ’EN POST CARDS.
Wearever Hot Water Bottles, 2 qt. and 3 qts.
Wearever Fountain Syringes, 2 qt. and 3 qt.
Wearever Combination Fountain Syringe and Hot Water
Bottle, 2 qts. and 3 qts.
Wearever Rubber Gloves.
Wearever Atomizers—
Wearever Rubber Goods are of the very best quality and
are guaranteed—Money back—if not satisfactory.
Loussac s Drug Stores
4th and D St. 4th and H St.
PHONE 100-R Immediate Delivery PHONE 62-Y
THE BANK
REED & DAHL, Props.
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The New Building on Fourth Avenue Between C and D
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Leading brands of Gigars. Cigarettes, Tobaccos and Soft
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Have your mail sent to Montana Pool Room. You can
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TONY OHIMENTO AND ALEX OHAKUMES, Props.
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THIS—SATURDAY—NIGHT, OCTOBER 28.
DRAMA AND COMEDY
“THE ANGEL OF SPRING”
"CHILDREN OF THE SEA.”
(In Two Parts).
“WHEN AMBROSE DARED WALRUS.”
(In Two Parts)
AND
1 ‘ Tit# ‘ISVOLUTION OF CUTEY.”
IN ALL —SIX REELS —IN ALL
SUNDAY AND MONDAY OCTOBER 29 AND 30.
ALICE BRADY
I N |
“ A S Y E S 0 W ”
PATHE WEEKLY NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS !
TWO SHOWS EVERY NIGHT, 7:30 AND 9:00 ?
Regular Admission 25c, Children 10c l
MINT GRILL
Next to
Empress Theatre
PHONE 37-Y OPEN 6 A. M. TO 2 A. M.
Most Exclusive Place in Town to Eat.
WE CATER TO PARTICULAR PEOPLE
HOME OF THE HOT PLATTER
Next Door to Empress Theatre.
r>
DON’T FORGET
When purchasing your steamship tickets from An
chorage, take advantage of the new rates now in effect
and secure same through to your final destination via the
UNION PACIFIC SYSTEM
from Seattle. This will save you money. UNION PA
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H. A. LAWRENCE,
P. 0. BOX 403.
Ill SEWARD ST.,
Juneau, Alaska.
Taxidermist
Eleven Years Experience.
Mounting of all kinds tme to life Latest and best
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Satisfaction Guaranteed
Prices Reasonable
W. D. WANDUNG
Fifth Avenue, Between C and D Streets
Anchorage, Alaska.
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CARL W. BOLTEf
Hardware, Glass Ware and |
China Ware I
Plumbing and Pipe Fittings of All Descriptions.
PRICES REASONABLE Fourth Avenue. JJi
RUSSIAN BUSINESS
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Money Transfers to Russia by Cable.
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