The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-10-16
UnWriften History.
BoRRoWs $40, WINS OVER
$3.50 FROM RUFF INGALLS,, AND,
THEN FoRGETs TO RETURN TEE
$40-MAJoR OWENS LUCK.

~<oV AooAN ASCH - XNOAlsX.Ssl AN ID
THEN FORGETs TO RETURN TIE
$40-MAJoR OWENS LUCK.
During the summer Of 1862 Mai.
or John Owens, of the Bitter Root
Valley, Montana Territory, then a
part of Oregon, visited Fort Van
couver, on the Columbia River.
There he met Colonel Bonneville.
Colonel Morris, Captain Grant, now
! President Of the United States, Ru.
tus ingalls,, then Post Quartermas-
ter, and Assistant Quartermaster
General Of the United States Army
and other officers Of the 4th Infan.
try. The Major, with that snav;ty
Of manner and genial temperament
which makes him one Of the most
companionable OF men, was, in 4
livery. short time afterhis arrival, OIL
intimately familiar terms with off,
GERS ofthe fort. In the persons of
Captains Grant and ingalls,. and
one or two others, the Major found
kindred spirits.
A Few evenings after his arrival
at the fort, a poker game, or tex
aiming papers" as Ingalls called
lit, was made up. 1t consisted OF
Colonel Morris, G. w. Rankin, now
Colonel in the United States army,
at one timecommander at Fort Ell
lis, Montana Territory, Captain q.
S. Grant, Captain Rufus Ingalls,
and Major Owens. The game open
led with some pretty heavy bets,
and usual bad luck to some Of the
parties; Captains Grant and In
gals being the first of the party
that were reduced, in mining phrase
to bed rock. 1t was Colonel Nor
ris' deal, and Captain Ingalls, with
that desperation that characterizes
poker players who have a run of
bad luck, in the absence of chips,
(Which were represented by $40
gold pieces took from his finger a
valuable ring and anted it as a
blind. Major Owen sat upon In
gals left, and passed, not having
Il hand that would enable him to
see the blind. Grant, who occu-
pied seat next to the Major, pick
ed up his hand and discovered a
pair, and with smile that was
cIrildlike and bland, said he would
see the blind.
Ingalls, to Grant-Make me see
the tangible evidence.
| Grant to Ingalls, What is the
value of the ring?
Ingallas-T Twenty dollars.
Grant had no chips, but he did
have a good pair. He showed his
hand over Owen. Tho Major look
ed at it; there was a pair, sure
enough-and good pair at that.
The Major had chips, but Grant
had none. In this emergency the
Majors kindly aud generous dispo-
sition asserted itselt-for he played
poker not for gain, but for the
amusement it afforded him. He
had plenty of chips. He felt that
He that hath chips
And giveth his neighor none,
Shall have none of my chips
When his chips are gone.
He said to Grants aYou have no
chips: here are two twenty-0ollar
gold pieces take them aad see the
blind"
The Captain took them and call.
ed the blind. Ingalls, borrowed
from his neighbor and made the
blind good. The cards were dealt.
1Grant took two cards, holding up
an outsider to niger with in case
it came to show down. Ingalls,
took three cards, drawing down to
his hand like a bold and sagacious.
player. 1t was Grants first bet;
having failed to strengthen his
hand in the draw, he played them
all the same by shooting Off his jaw
for $3.50. Ingalls, eyed him close
"; he had not helped his hand in
the draw; he believed, however,
that he had the top hand. There
. was something in Grants manner
that convinced Ingalls, that Grant
vas blufiing. So, following his.
"pre'' with firm grip upon his.
pair, he called Grants bet OF $780,
at the risk. Of breaking his jaw.
, The hands were laid upon the ta-g
bic. ingalls, had q pair Of queens
) with a king, and Grant had pair.
Of queens with an ace. Grant exs|
hibited generalship in holding up