The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-06-21
Poker I'm Kentucky.

Poker playing in Frankfort has in
creased wonderfully in the last week or
two. Everybody wants TO catch even,
and games 90 on in private rooms in
which the musical clink Of the ivories
was never before heard. The games
are larger, too, than they were. Nearly
everybody plays, and it is something
amusing 10 watch the expression on o
solid, staid old members face as he
sees opposite him man whom he never
dreamed of meeting in such place.
Games are played everywhere-in pri-
vate houses, in hotels, in regular gam
bling-rooms All kinds of games are
played. There are twenty-five-cent
games, where q few old chaps sit around
the table all night and tell stories be-
tween the deals, risking just enough to
keep them awake. Another very popu-
lar game is ten cent ante and two dollar
limit. This is q snare and deiusion, how
ever, as the small Mount Of the 'simit"
would seem to ind ;ate that not very
much could be lo t, when in reality
500 can very easi'y change hands dur
ing sitting.
In the regular p ,ler rooms there is
generally no imi-, and here the big
winning or losingis made. A game was
played during the late convention at
which well-known Louisville gentle
men won 81 900 and three gold watches.
He showed me one Uf the gold watches
few days ago, and the name on the In
side might create q futter IL published.
Last Tuesday night at 1880 O'Clock
five gentlemen, three of them legisla-
tors, sat down to the time-honored
round-table and began to play. Time
flew by so rapidly that at two O'Clock
they all agreed they had better play q
little longer. 1t was big game, "$5
call S25" and table stakes. Aces were
worth 500 and two pair anything under
$500. Hour after hour passed, and the
cold, dull daylight began to peep in at
them through the closed shutters, and
still they played. One member was
g, 800 behind at five o'clock and an
other 1,5o0 behind. Breakfast was
ordered. They gulped it down, and
again with pale, haggard faces they sat
about the table. Twelve O'Clock, high
noon, and they were stili at il. The air
in the room was sitting, but they cared
not for that. 1t was q beautiful day
without, the air balmy and warm, but
the frightful fascination of the game
kept them there in the close room under
the poisonous gas jets, necessary be-
cause the windows must be kept closed,
turning the cards and betting the chips.
Six O'Clock came and one Of the party
was gone, utterly broken down. He
left 81, 900 in the hands of the Philis-
| tines, and staggered off to bed. AT
eight o'clock there were only three OF
the party left, with faces as white as
ashes and nerves all shattered by drinks
and the awful excitement of the game.
Just at two O'Clock Thursday morning
the three men separated, after thirty-six
hours of incessant play, and $3 900 had
been won and lost. One Of the men was
sick for two days; another has not re-
covered yet 1t was terrible expert
ence for all of them.
A very ridiculous story Is told of q
| certain member who does not live a
thousand miles from Louisville. He was
playing with q little party, and opened
a Jackpot" for %. Everybody staid
out except one man. The member drew
two cards to three tens, and failed to
better his hand.
The other s.stood pat" The member
made small bet, and the other raised
him $40. The member threw down his
cards and then his opponent laid down
his ''pat" hand, and, to the enexpressi.
BILE disgust of the member, 1t hadn't
even pair in 1t. 'sSir," said he, al
will play in no game in which such
trickery is resorted to. Take your ILL
COTTON wealth." And he strobe out.
OF course somebody must win. A
| member of the Lower House Is said tc
have won 81 $50 this session. The sharks
have had fine time this winter, fol
there are any amount of little fishes
here. Men have been here all winter
with no ostsasible occupation, and they
all pack money away with them. 1t i
q very low estimate TO say that at leas
Sc, 900 has been won and lost this sea
Frankfort (Ky.) Special to ht
Louisville Commercial.