The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-30
Con. Forests Galno OF PoI<er,

Several years ago General Forrest visited
Nashville, and stopped at the old City Ifo-
tel. That night several gentlemen called
to see him, among them gentleman now
connected with the Banner. The room had
been crowded during the early part of the
night, and Forrest had received the usual
attention bestowed Oh him. Now, however
he was sitting off by himself and appeared
worn and tired out. Our informant, wish
ing to have Il talk with him about himself,
sought him and entered into conversation
with him.
General" says he, I've heard you were
Il great poker player in your time"
"Yes," says the general, 81 have played
somc," and his eyes began to sparkle with
the memory Of old times, and he at once
seemed interested in the subject, for be ii
known that no one was fonder Of recount
crlng his wonderful exploits.
GLOW much, general, was the largest
stake you ever paycd?'
81 once called SIS, 600 IN Now Orleans"
'Did you VIM"
"Oh, yes! won it,"
"What was your hand, gcncral2"
cit was three kings"
'But," says he, 'Ihc hardest game l
ever played was at Memphis. Just after
the war closed me and my wife went to
Memphis, and stopped at. the Worsham
House. The next morning we got our
things together, and cmpticd all OF my
papers out of my trunk on the floor, and
Mary, U'm not certain his wife's name was
Mary, but that will do for the talc) went
over and over them, hunting for something
to raise money out Of cmpticd my pock-
cts and Mary empticd hcr'n, and between
| had ST flor hn,fi,1
crythlng we found that every man who
owed us was either dead or broke. l had
not one single paper on which | could raise
Il cent out'n.
''Aftcr we got through the pile l looked
at Mary and Mary looked at me. Now
what's to be done, Mary says |. Il don't
know, says she, but the Lord will provide
You see Mary was one Of the best women
III the world, and she had heap of faith
in her religion. looked at her straight for
long time, and at last says: 'NIary, you
are a mighty good woman, and Pm going to
tell you something. There's to be big din.
ncr at -- this evening" and Pm invited.
They always play poker at that house, and
you have always been agin ne playing, and
l reckon you are light about it. But things
have become desperate with us, and some
how feel if you wouldn't be agin me, but
"ouil Pray loI lnc, COulu make raise
tonight
"Says she: Bedford, l cant do it. It's
wrong for YOU to do il, and Pd II heap rNth-
CT you wouldn't
'But Mary, says l, 4 never was in
such Il fix before. llcrc we arc with no
money but $3.50, and that won't pay our
iof swear i won on bcI SiV on ~ acre credit. i'.' Il Iai
lose that III come home; and if win then
we'll have something to start on
"Wcll, argued and argued with her,
but she wouldn't say yes. But at last she
says:
Bedford, know your mind is set on
| it, and know you arc going to bet, wheth-
CT am willin' or not !; 50 | won't say moth
ing more about it,.
"I}ut, somehow felt when started that
she was for nc, and jist knowcd how
| twould be-
"Well, l went sometime before dinner,
and, sure enough, they were ut 1t. They
had three tublcs-onc had quarter ante,
one Il half, and one dollar and half. l
wanted my seven dollars to last rs long rs
l could make il, so l set down to the quar-
ter table. We bet on until dinner, and by
that timc'1 had enough to do better; and
after we had cat, | sat down to the dollar
and-a-half table. Sometimes l won, and
then again I'd lose on until about midnight
and then l had better luck. l knowd
Mary was setting up and praying; l felt
| like it, and it made me cool. set my hat
down by my side on the floor, and every
time I'd win pd drop the money in the hat.
We played on, and l didn't know how
much Pd won. l didn't keep any count,
hut know'd was winning.
81 thought may be I'd won hundred
dollars, or may be two hundred dollars, but
| didn't know. | set there until day broke
and then we went home. / took my hat up
in both hands and mashed it on my head
and went home without taking it off. When
got to my room there sat Mary in her
gown, and the bed wasn't mashed She'd
set up all night waiting for me. She SEEM
cd tired and anxious, and though she look
cd mighty hard at me she didn't say word.
l walked right up to her, and pulling off
my hat with both hands | cmptied IL all
right in her gown. And then we set down
and counted it,"
''iIow much was there, general 2"
"Just fifteen hundred dollars even."
"And that" added the general, rs he
walked off, ''give me start"