The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-07-02
THREE.CARD MONTE.
Card Monte Sharp" Canada Bill" }"
who Reaped a Harvest OF 500, 900 by
Making Victims Of Unsophlsticated
Travellers on Railroads.

a Few "Reminiscences OF tho Great Thrcc.
Card Monte Sharp" Canada BILL"
who Reaped a Harvest OF 100000 by
Making Victims OF Unsophisticated
Travellers on Railroads.
Three-card monte is swindling game
at which it is impossible to beat the
operator, and it has been so thoroughly
exposed that there ought not 10 be any
victims. Nevertheless the monte spider,
seeking human flies of present wealth,
dexterously handling his cards and skill
fully talking the while, makes his liv-
ing about as easily as he did in the days
of the war, when money so plenty. An
old railroad conductor, now passenger
agent for the Chesapeake and Ohio road,
but who ran train on the Baltimore
and Ohio road during the war, relates
that he knew Canada Bill " to gather
in $4,000 in one train from Martinsburg
to Baltimore. distance of one hundred
miles. Canada Bill "is a name well
known to the gambling fraternity, al
though he who was known by that title
was some years ago laid to rest. His
death, which cut off from the earth the
smartest operator of three cards that
ever was seen, took place when he was
trifle more than forty years of age.
Just as well to die now," said he, when
told that medicine could not save him.
Might rs we'll cut the game, because
the cream of the monte has been skim
med. There won't be another. war,
and they amt going to build no more
Pacific railroads, and it's hard for me to
play for ten when I used to catch hun
dred twice as easy" When his last
minute came he sat up in his bed and
called out: Fifty dollars to ten you
can't pick up the ace," and then he fell
dead.
That is the story told of his last mo-
ments, and may be true if the old say
ing has no exception that the ruling pas
sion is strong in death. Bills great
boast was that he had beaten minis
ter. Chicago newspaper reporters of
the year 1874 remember of the excite
ment the city editors of the papers there,
except one, were thrown into by the ex-
elusive publication by that one of the
story of Il well-known minister who be-
cane victim to Canada Bills" wiles
on train on the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific railroad. He7had lost nearly
thousand dollars. Canada Bill did
not bear the reputation of having been
the most expert dealer, but he did that
of having been the most skillful operator.
In the slang.of the profession, she could
ring in suckers better than anybody"
and here is a sample Of his proceedings
that came under the observation of the
writer a few years ago: The Illinois
Ctoto Eo;r 1,a11 nt nooof,,r woo s,,ct
over, and the Grangers we've filling the
trains, homeward bound. Bill, wearing
cowhide boots and coarse clothes, got
into the train just moving from the sta
ton and attracted attention by saying
in loud tone, "Well, no farmer has a
show with railroads. They kill his stock
and laugh at him when he wants pay
for it," whats up?" asked his clever
capper, and Bill related: II brought
three head of Durham calves down here
from Winnebago county and 1 got pre-
miums on all of them. I was having
them put on the cars 10 send home"-
by this time the attention of every gran
ger in the car was attracted" when
the consarned fools let one of them break
Il leg on the bridge from the cattle pen
to the stock car, and they had TO kill it
to put it out OF misery. Wouldn't have
have taken 5000 for the calf, but the
railroad tells me l was shipping at
reduced rates and amt got any claim"
The conversation that ensued and the
statement that Bill had made put him
on the best possible terms and in the
confidence of all the Grangers, and
so when lie presently spread his over
coat and said first, I'll sue the road,
anyhow" and then, found this little
game that'll be funny for the Winnebago
folks, anyway" he had no lack Of listen
ers and interested watchers, and after
that is accomplished the work of the
three. card monte man is easy. Human
nature, rich with avarice, does the rest.
Bill drew out his cards and proceeded
to tell how he had won $3.50, after losing
$50, Just rs easy" he went on,
"as this. Now, here's the money" and
he pulled out pig-skin pocketbook, tied
up with twine, which lie undid and ex-
posed pile Of notes to the amount of
several hundred dollars. mo discount
on that; easier made than turning long
furrow" His capper asked for explana-
ton and Bill told him all there was in
it and lost forthwith 800 to his accom-
pliee. By this time half dozen pocket
hooks were out and bets came in freely.
In half an hour the train reached Tolono,
where passengers change for Chicago,
and Bill, about 5000 ahead, got up, re-
marking: "Well, gentlemen, I'm going
to Chicago to see lawyer about recov-
ering for that calf. Good night" And
before the astonished Changers could
realize the situation he had disappeared
through the door. Half an hour after,
ward he was seen on the north bound
train, dressed in the height of fashion
and looking like anything but the
coarsely-clad man on the Wabash road.
1t is said that Canada Bill made
100000 during his career rs card
thrower, but when he died, in Council
Bluffs, Iowa, he left just enough of money
to give him u decent funeral. Like many
of his profession, lie found ut the faro
table his greatest pleasure, and his win
nings went from him more easily than
they came. tIe was Il great player of
draughts. and won much money that
way. Of his early life not much is
known. He was born and lived for
some years at Peekskill, N. Y, on the
Hudson river. just below Poughkeepsie.
He was often arrested. but never stayed
long in prison. After the war his field
of operations was mostly on the Pacific
railroads, west of Omaha.
Himself q man of daring and personal
courage, he often had to face men more
desperate than himself, but his presence
of mind never deserted him. and when
everything else failed he was rs ready
with weapon us his adversary. He
never drank to excess and had no in
innate friends. Some years ago he visited
Philadelphia. 1t was in the days when
faro fourishcd here and the strict orders
Of the police had not substituted poker
in private for faro in gambling rooms.
Bill came with $4,000 in his pocket. He
was the guest of a well-known Sansom
street sporting man, and Bill remarked
to his host: "I'm only going to lose
$500 night, so I'll stay ten days" He
went into p Ninth street room that
evening and left the entire $4,000 on the
table in less than two hours. For a
month or two he operated in this vi
cinity. Every week he would come back
from his trip with 5000 or $500, and at
every visit he left it all before the box.
One night he put out $500. and when it
had gone he turned in his chair and said
to the owner of the house: Lend me
SlO0; I'm going to Chicago" He sent
the money back the next week, with u
letter which read: "Much obliged for
the money. Chicago is good enough for
Canada Bill. ."-Philatlelphia Times.
A Sheep Butts Mirror.
Quite a commotion occurred in far