Last Chance Saloon, Jackson, Amador County

As we find more information on this well known Saloon of its time, we will post it here. This Saloon was located where the The Krabbenhoft Building stands today, which was constructed as a 3-story in 1931.

Ledger Dispatch - May 1, 1903
Wm. Botlofol, representing Captain Frank Ruhstallor of Sacramento, the manufacturer of the celebrated Gilt Edge Steam Beer, was in town Tuesday in the interest of that house. Capt. Ruhstaller was the first man on the coast to unionize his brewery and pay giltedge wages. That is why his beer ie so good. Arrangements have been made to keep this, the best beer in the world, on draught at the Last Chance saloon in Jackson.

Ledger Dispatch - April 1, 1904
One of the most daring burglaries we have been called upon to chronicle was committed at the Last Chance saloon during Monday night. This saloon is situated at the north end of Main street, Jackson, opposite the bridge over the north fork. The proprietors are Airolde & Ouliali. It does a large business, tbe patrons being mostly Italians: A small fire proof safe is in tbe front part of the barroom behind the bar, tbe front of the safe facing east, leaving a narrow passage way for the bartender not more than three feet wide.

It was the contents of this safe that furnished the incentive to the crime. In times past tbe proprietors have kept considerable money in the safe, but latterly it has been the custom to deposit in the bank when the cash amounted to between $100 and $200. Monday night the saloon was closed about 11:30 o'clock. No one sleeps on the premises. So that from that hour till about 6 o'clock Tuesday morning the burglars had a clear field for their operations.

Everything points to the fact that the safe-crackers were thoroughly conversant with the premises, and also that they were green hands at that business. It is thought that at least two and probably three persons are implicated in the crime. They appeared outhe sceue fully armed with all the implements of warfare, as they thought. Their weapons consisted of a 16 Ib. sledge hammer and a brace-and-bit. Both implements were left in tbe saloon.

The sledge hammer has been identified as one used at the blacksmith shop at the Kennedy mine, while the brace-and-bit was taken from the north shaft of the same mine.

Entrance to the saloon was effected through the side or north door of the barroom, which opens upon the bowling alley. Here they could operate without being seen from the street. With the brace-and-bit four holes were bored through the door, just above the lock. A blow easily knocked out a piece of tbe door, sufficiently large to enable the hand to be introduced, and thereby undo the side catch on tbe lock by which the door was fastened. The door of the safe was next tackled - with the sledge hammer.

The hinges were knocked off, the combination entirely destroyed. All this was evidently done under the impression that the door would fall open if the hinges were removed. Finding that it was still firm in its place, the robbers secured other tools. Breaking open a door leading to rooms in the rear of the barroom they got a hatchet and an ax, and with these again assaulted the safe.

Using tbe hatchet as a wedge they ripped open the front of the safe for four or five inches from the top. Digging through the cement casing they encountered the inner steel, and with this obstacle confronting them they must have voted their adventure a failure. All the implements were left on the promises. A dozen fragments of the broken safe testify to tbe determined character of the attack.

The men worked by the light of a candle, spots of grease are scattered on the top of the safe, and a small piece of candle, not more than an inch long, was left as a memento. The contents of the till were taken, amounting to not more than two or three dollars.

The proprietors, on opening up Tuesday morning, were astonished to see the way things had been wrecked. The officers wero notified, aud Sheriff Norman and deputies wont promptly to work to ferret out the perpetrators.

Ledger Dispatch - May 1, 1903
Wm. Botlofol, representing Captain Frank Ruhstallor of Sacramento, the manufacturer of the celebrated Gilt Edge Steam Beer, was in town Tuesday in the interest of that house. Capt. Ruhstaller was the first man on the coast to unionize his brewery and pay giltedge wages. That is why his beer ie so good. Arrangements have been made to keep this, the best beer in the world, on draught at the Last Chance saloon in Jackson.

Ledger Dispatch - March 8, 1907
Petition of Joseph Poggi for a permit to retail liquor in the Last Chance saloon was laid over for one month. Adjourned until April

Ledger Dispatch - May 7, 1907
A new floor is being laid in the saloon of Bonanini & Kay on Main Street. Tbe old fixtures have been removed to tbe Last Chance saloon at the lower end of town, where G. Poggi will set up business for himself.

Return to our Jackson Tour or click on our Miner to end your tour

Information, photographs courtesy of the Amador County Archives, The Historical Marker Database, The Chronicling America Database, and Larry Cenotto, Amador County's Historian