The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-16
THREE-CARD MONTE.

lHINEE-CANU MUNlE.
A Few "reminiscences Of the Great Three Card
Monte 'Sharp," Canada Bill
Philadelphia Times.
Three-card monte is swindling game
at which it is impossible to beat the op
orator, and it has been so thoroughly ex-
posed that there ought not to be any VIC
tins. Nevertheless the monte spider,
seeking human flies OF present wealth,
dexte1ously handling his cards and skill
fully talking the while, makes his living
about as easily as he did in tie days Of
the war, ~hen mo ey was so plenty. An
old railroad conductor, nov passer ger
agent for the Chesapeake & Ohio road,
but who ran train on the Baltimore s.
Ohio road during the ar, relates that he
knew canada Bill'' to gather in $4,000
IN one train from Martlnsburg to BaIti-
more, distance Of one hundred miles.
"Canada Bill'' is name we'll known to
the gambling fraternity, although he w
was known by at title was some years
age 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 for
ty years of age. "Just as we'll to die
now," said he, when told that medicine
could not 'save him.. "Might as we'll cut
the game, because the cream of the mon
tie has been skinned. 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 ~hen used to
catch hundred t~ ice as easy When
his last minute came he sat up in mis- bed
and called out: Fifty dollars to ten you
can't pick up the ace" and then he fell
dead.
T at is the story told of his last mo-
ments, and may be true if the old saying
has no exception tat t. e ruling passion
is strong in death. Bills great boast was
that he had beaten minister. G, icago
newspaper reporters of the year 1874 re-
member of the excitement the city editors
OF the papers there, except one, were
thrown into by the exclusive publication
by that one of the story Of well-known
minister WI became victim to "Canada
Bills wiles on train on the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific railroad. He
had lost nearly thousand dollars. Can
ada Bill did not bear the reputation of
having been the most expert dealer, but
he did that of having been the most skill
tul operator. In the slang of the profes
ion, che could ring in the suckers better
than anybody" and here is sample OF
his proceedings that came under the OBJ
servatlon of the writer a few wears ago
The Illinois State fair held at Decatur,
was just over, and the Changers we're fill
ing the trains, homeward bound. Bill,
wearing cowhide boots and coarse clothes,
got into the train just moving from the
station and attracted attention by saving
in loud tone, swell, no farmer has
show with railroads. They kill his stock
and laugh at him when he wants pay for
it." "What's uP?" asked his clever cap
per, and Bill related: II brought three
head Of Durham calves down h re from
Winnebago county and 1 got premiums
on all of them. 1 was having them put
on the car to send home'-by this time
the attention Of every granger in the car
was attracted-"whcn enc of the con-
sarned fools let one of them break 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 taken
5000 for the calf, but the railroad tells
me 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 conf
dence of all the grangers, and so when
he presently spread his overcoat and said
first Ill sue the road, anyhow" and
then. II found this little game that'll be
funny for the WinLebago folks, anyway"
he had no lack of listeners and interested
watchers, and after that is accomplished
the work Of the three-card monte man is
easy. Human nature, rich avarice, does the
rest. Bill drew out his cards and proceed
ed to tell how he had won $3.50, after losing
$50, "just as easy" he went on, cas- this.
Now here's the money!" and he pulled
out a pig-skin pocketbook tied up with
Irvine which he undid and exposed a pile
Of notes to the amount Of several hundred
dollars. sNo discount on that: easier
made than turning along furrow.'' His
capper asked for an explanation and Bill.
told him all there was in it and lost forth.
with $40 to his accomplish. By this