The "sawdust game," was a confidence scam that only swindled those who deserved to be swindled.
The term “bunco” has come to mean to any type of swindle, but in the 19th century it usually referred to a confidence game involving crooked gambling.
The Audacity of a Professional Thief.

Some of Uncle Sam’s land and water police have a genial shindy among themselves at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N. Y.
We illustrate a recent riot among the marines at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, during which one of the rioters had his head split open by a sword cut inflicted by the sergeant of the guard.
Reprinted from National Police Gazette, November 5, 1887.



