The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-04
Three-Card Monte.


connection caused by hot boxes, l made
the acquaintance of Geo. H. Devol, one
of the most famous, if not the most IA
nous gambler of the West. Only day
or two since l noticed in a st. Louis pa
per long account of how he and his
confederates waltzed a Maine Yankee
who was going South to buy planta-
ton for 81, roo at three-card monte. 1t
was the old story of a Texas stock-trader
who had been beaten out of $4,000 by
the little picture cards, and was explain
ing to the passengers how it was done.
He had learned the trick, Maine saw
through it, and wanted to bet that he did.
Devol was a Southern planter, who was
tired of planting and wanted to sell out,
and gently led Maine up to the biting
point. When he did bite, it was to the
extent of his pile of ready cash.
Devol is a gentlemanly looking man OF
Al, dark sandy hair, light sandy whiskers,
beginning to show the silver, quick,
piercing gray eye, ruddy complexion, of
rood address, and sweet talker. He
was born in Ohio, but for thirty years
has followed the profession of gambler.
Some years ago he worked on the roads
leading into Louisville, and is we'll known
there. While operating on the Short
line road, near Lagrange, he won about
1900 and five gold watches, aud ended
the game just as the train was leaving
Lagrange on its way to Cincinnati. The
victims squeaed terribly, and proposed
to have their treasures or blood. They
marshaled their forces and drew their re-
volvers. Devol skipped into the rear
coach, locking the door as he went. He
then went to the rear platform, and, al
though the train was running at the rate
of thirty-five miles an hour, selected a
clear spot and jumped. He rolled over
at lively rate, but picked himself up
unhurt, though his late friends fired a
volley at him from their revolvers. He
cut across the country and struck the
railroad at Lexington junction and
went back to Louisville.
Devol is full of anecdotes of his pro-
fession, and tells some good ones. He
tells of little game he had with A. NJ.
Waddell Of Louisville, and Billy Cheat
ham, of Nashville, eighteen years ago,
Devol and Dad Ryan were going down
the river. Waddell and Cheatham got
aboard at Smiihland. A game of poker,
$25 ante, was soon in progress. "Di-
rectly," said Devol, dad gave me the
item that he was going to cold-deck the
party. reached over and said to Cheat
ham, That is very fine single-stone dia-
mond you have there This movement
ENABLED Dad to ring in the cold deck
Waddell got three fours and an ace in
the draw and lost 81, 200 on the hand"
Six or seven years ago Canada Bill,
another famous three-card man, set up at
the mouth of Red River with lot of
horses to sell, mostly all of which be
had won, and . store, which he
had bought. 1t was right in the line of
Texas travel, and Bill was winning every
thing in sight. Devol suspected wrong
fully, as is afterwards proved) that Bill
had held out 5000 from divide of win
nings they had made together, and de-
termined to get even. To do this he went
TO New Orleans and manufactured a
sssucker" especially for Bill. He dressed
him up in rough clothes, gave him 81, 0O0
in money tied up in woman's silk stock
ing, and told him to play the game Of
greeny by gswking about Bills stable
md counting his money where Bill could
zee it. Devol put the ''sucker" OF al
Hogs Point, three miles below the mouth
Of Red river, while he continued on the
steamer. In due time the sucker" came
into Bills stable. and, getting into au
out-of- the-way corner, pulled out the
s>ocking which, BY the way, was keep
sahe nreeanted TO DevOl BY Q lady friend,
cd began to count the money. Bali
sAdropped on it, ct once, and took Devol
oet ana said: ssGeorge, here il sucker
viGA $4,000 or $500; lets take him."