The Heavy Hand of the Svea Saloon
A violent enforcement of 'house rules' leaves two patrons severely beaten by local hired thugs.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
There was a rough house at the Svea saloon Saturday night. Two young fellows were in the saloon playing slugs in the slot machines. Word was sent to Baldie and in a few minutes, it is alleged, six of his hired plug-uglies, armed with 'billies,' entered the saloon and fell upon the men who were trying to beat the machines. They did not beat the machines, but the thugs beat them good and plenty. When they had been hammered sufficiently to impress on them the heinousness of their crime, they were thrown into the street with blood flowing from a dozen wounds and their faces battered almost beyond recognition. Such is the fate of all who would go up against Baldie’s good thing.
“Such is the fate of all who would go up against Baldie’s good thing.”
While gambling machines have been legalized and regulated since this era, the story of 'hired muscle' protecting house advantages is a reminder of the lawless nature of pre-prohibition vice districts in Tacoma.
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