Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-11-08
LIFE in THE WEST.
The Greatest Game of Draw Poker ever
Played and the Result.

LIFE LIN lille NEoI.
The Greatest Game of Draw Poker ever |
Played and the Result.
M A. Shaffenberg, of Denver, the
former marshal of Colorado, arrested on
the charge of swindling the United
States out of good big heap of money
when in the discharge of his official
duties, and subsequent trial, arrest of
Judgment incarceration, and release
on bail, is still fresh to the majority Of
Western readers. Barely two years ago,
writes correspondent his elegant ~ an
sion was thronged with the Wit, beauty
and fashion of the metropolis. He was
one Of the leading spirits in all public
enterprises, and was one of the most
trusted. The Office in which he trans
acted the humble duties of the United
States marshal was laid with Brussels
carpet, rare picture from the old mas
tiers adorned the walls, perfume filled
the room; summOnses capiases, and
wrlts returnable were dashed off on
gilt edged note paper. All Of his domes-
tic appointments were on scale at once
grand and magnificent. When Mrs.
Shatfenberg took an airing, she sat in
carriage which cost its thousands, with
outriders before and behind, and an
Ethiopian, as solemn and grim as Poe's
raven, On the box; and when she walk
ed the street her outfit was 80 stunning
that all the world stopped to see.
On one occasion four men, Chaffee,
Shaft enberg, Browne and McCook, sat
down together for quiet game of
"draw" in one Of Ed Pierce's rooms,
on Larrimer street. They commenced
playing at S. ante, and $500 and ST. 900
raises were not uncommon. The game
progressed along very quietly, and
with no one very badly crippled until
midnight. when McCook went $50 blind
on Chaffee's deal, and in jocose tone
of voice he bantered Shaffenberg to
straddle it. The latter did so, and in
the deal secured a pair of tens, while
McCook captured three sevens. Browne
and Chaffee passed out, while McCook
made his blind good, saw Shaffenberg,
and went him $500 better. The mar
shall of the then Territory was not to be
snubbed in this manner. He thought
he detected big game of bluff in Nc
Cooks eye, and he not only stood the
raise, but nearly knocked the breath
out of his antagonists body when he
exclaimed in d calm, even tone of
voice: q see the pile and go you
$1,000 better.
The was a period of dead silence.
Both men regarded each other with In
terest, but there was not tremor, and
after moving his money into the pool,
Shaft enberg laid his cards down on the
table, and taking out knife, proceed
ed very deliberately to pare his finger
nails.
AS for McCook, he pondered and
studied. Three sevens in his hand be-
fore he drew, and yet here he had been
raised clear out of his boots to the tune
of $1,000. He didn't understand it;
there was mystery, and yet his judg-
ment and good sense told him not to
lay down. He looked at the marshal
and the marshal looked at him, and
then the governor brought his fist down
on the table with a rousing oath.
[ will stand the raise, anyhow.
Here's my check for $1,000. Deal the
cards."
McCook drew two cards and cap
tured pair Of tive-spots, while Schaf-
| fenberg was fortunate enough to secure
the other ten and pair OF deuces
Each man had what Prof. Schenck
would call "pretty little full" and
considering the amount of money in
the pool, each man was disposed to
gamble his last dollar on the strength
of his hand. They varied and kept
raising until each had put up all of his
available wealth, and there could not
hava been less than $4,000 in the pot,
and then Shaffenberg proposed to put
up bis Villa Park Property, worth at
$50, 1000, against the First National Bank
building, owned by McCook, and let
the best hand take the pile. The prop
osition was accepted, and Schatfenberg
won, of course, but he lost it all few
nights after in a single-handed contest
with Sam Browne, and was never able
to recover it. The game was regarded
as the biggest one ever played in Den
yer, and for months afterward was the
sensation in sporting circles.