Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1902 — THE CARNINAL. [ARTICLE]

THE CARNINAL.

BY A K. OF P.

This week Rensselaer is turned over to the sportiest element that ever invested the city. Vice in almost every conceivable form is flourishing on all sides. Scores of gamblers and prostitutes fill the city, and almost any kind of action can be had for one’s money. The worst feature of the whole affair is that everything should be thrown wide open by an order founded on such high moral principles as the Knights of Pythias, under whose management and sanction the carnival is being held and who have licensed the gamblers or receive a per cent of their earnings. Slot machines are all over the town, while “Old Hi” holds high carnival in at least three places, and other methods of gambling are being run publicly in all parts of the city. Such is a plain and unvarnished picture of Rensselaer's first “carnival,” and it is no worse than was to have been expected, from the fellows who are managing it. The glory or ignominy for it all must rest on the lodge that is “giving the show.” Not only has the public use of the principal streets been abrogated, but the statutes of Indiana have been a dead letter hero all week. The carnival shows did not reach the city until 1 p. m. Monday, and then, owing to squabling between the locating committe and the manager of the carnival shows, they did not get located until five or six o’clock. As a result none of the shows opened until Tuesday afternoon and some did not open until Wednesday. The shows are about the same as usually seen at street carnivals, and as a rule are rather above the the average.

. NOTES. The crowd yesterday was mighty slim. A few feints were made to stop temporarily some of the most public of the gambling. One of the cleanest and best little shows on the ground is the flying lady. The first arrests were made Thursday’ afternoon, when a couple of plain drunks were landed in jail. “Mozelle, the Maid of the Mist,” is spoken of very highly by those who have seen this spectacular attraction. The parade Tuesday was participated in by about one-fourth of the business houses and some very pretty and unique floats were in the, procession. To-night will no doubt be tie worst of the week so far as lawlessness is concerned, and The Democrat advises its readers to keep a close watch on their valuables. The feed and livery barns, saloonsand restaurants have done a very good business, but other lines have been practically dead, and the restaurants did not do near ns much business as anticipated. A prize fight was billed for last night, the contestants being, so the bills stated, “Kid Landis, the blacksmith,” and Bill Lillard, the Indianapolis favorite.” The place where the mill was to be pulled off was only given out to the sports.

Bro. Marshall got back from Colorado in time to see the comely snake charmer and the “HootchieCootchie.” He says the latter is “good and clean enough for anybody.” Notwithstanding this high testimonial, there are many good people who will differ from tftfe Republican editor. Washington street is practically all turned over to shows and stands of various kinds, while parts of Vanßensselaer and Cullen are likewise occupied. There was practically no one in town Monday from the country, and Tuesday the attendance whs very small. A crossed electric light wire connecting with a cigar lighter, in the Haus restaurant caused an alarm of fire to be sent in about 12:30 Wednesday morning. The frontdoor was broken in and the lire extinguished. No damage resulted except to the cigar ligh'ter and a broken glass in the show case beneath.

Wednesday and Thursday were very good days, the crowd Wednesday being estimated by some as larger than Thursday, while others say Thursday was the biggest day. With the §SOO received by the K. of P’s from the carnival queen contest, §7OO and rake-offs from the gamblers and short change men, the per cent, from the dance hall, the stand privileges and other sources not made public, together with the 15 per cent from the carnival shows, it is probable that nearly §3,000 will be added to the K. of P. Master of Exchequer’s funds. Business in most linos has been practically dead, while the huxsttr stands have not done any very large business. Some of the managers of the latter think the gambling machine hurt their business materially, claiming that as soon as the fellow’ who spends his mo’ney freely ran up against a gambling outfit he generally staid thereuntil his money was all gone, and then he had to go hungry and thirsty. A prominent member of the K. of P. lodge informed us that the Knights got §7OO for the exclusive gambling right. But from other sources we learn that they could not make the “exclusive right” business work altogether, and that a rake-off or per cent, of the profits of some of the games was agreed upon with those who are running independent of the gambling trust, so that §I,OOO at least will probably be realized from this business alone by the lodge. W e have heard of few complaints of pickpockets and petty thieves as yet. One lady had her pocketbook, which she carried in jier hand, slit open with a knife while in the' glass-blowers show, but fortunately she had only a little change in it, having removed a five dollar bill' to a safer place but a few moments before. A few’ other cases of pocket-picking have come to our notice at this writing. “Hop” Keen of Goodland, narrowly missed loosing §4OO in cash, checks and notes by pick- pockets.