Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1878-02-21
A BLACK HILLS GAMBLER.
From the College Hall to the Gamblers
Den-Hts Last Game of Poker and
Remarkable Disappearance.
[FrOm the Dakota Herald.1

From the Dakota Herald
James B. Anderson, born in the State of
Maine, reared in aff1uence, a graduate of
Yale College, and destined for the'bar. ar
rived in the great city of New York on the
10Th of July, 1876, and entered upon career
of dissipation, which eliminated in deter
mination to seek an adventure in the Black
Hills.
He started from New York with CON-
panion, having in his possession So, 200, and
arrived in the city of Deadwood without hav
ing drawn a sober breath. In Chicago he
paid visit to noted gambling place, where
he won $1,000. He left about midnight, and
as he was passing down Dearborn street to
his hotel, he was attacked by two ruf1ans,
who succeeded in hurling him to the ground
and were about to rob him when steps were
heard approaching, and the robbers hastily
decamped. In this adventure he had his arm
broken. He was taken to his hotel, where
the injured limb was set. At the end of three
weeks he was sufficiently we'll to proceed on
had preceded him. He arrived at the Ell
Dorado in September, and began anew his
career of dissipation.
Strange to say, he was most fortunate
gambler Drunk or sober, he invariably rose
the winner, and one time, it is said, he actu-
ally broke the bank, cleaning the place
out of nearly $1,000. Twice he was waylaid
and robbed, but he appears to have made
point of carrying but small amount of
money. The professional gambler grew to
fear and hate him for his extraordinary good
luck. 1t is said that while he was in the Hills
he won over $15,O00 and spent his money as
recklessly as he acquired it. But fortune de-
serted the reckless youth.
One night he entered gambling hell and
encountered a man named Broy. They were
introduced, had some wine together, and sat
down to game Of poker. They played with
varying fortune for two hours, until at last
Anderson proposed to make the ''ante" $500,
to which BrOy assented. The cards were
dealt and Broy offered $500 on his hand.
Anderson saw him and went him $500 better.
A crowd soon gathered about the table. Broy
saw the 5000 and went him $500 better. The
silence of death reigned in the gambling
house. Anderson looked at his hand and
cody raised his opponent 81, 900. The money
was deposited as fast as called for Without
hesitation Broy saw the $1,000 and went
$4,000 better The excitement became in
tense. A pin might be heard to drop while
the two men looked at the cards they held
The face of Anderson was very pale, while |
great drops of perspiration stood out on the |
brow of the gambler, Broy. 1t was an agon-
izing moment to Anderson, whose ''say" it
was. He looked at the pile of bills on the |
table, ''saw it," and then gazed into the hand |
upon which so much depended, and, in low |
voice, said: ''What will you do, Broy?"
The latter looked at the stake, and cried, pull |
ling heavily loaded wallet from his pocket:
II see you, and 60 you &5, 900 better!" BE |
deposited the money. Anderson looked at |
the pile with shiver. He covered the money,
however, and then, in low, cool voice, said
''And I call you" ''Four kings" cried Broy,
throwing down his cards. They were good. |
Anderson held four queens. He laid down
bis cards and staggered up from the table,
and walked unsteadily out of the room. From
that day to this nothing has been seen or
heard of James B. Anderson.