The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-07-01

'laIm-and no one viii dispute it, 4
that our players. can match and \
Ont-bluff the world in this delusive, /
fascinating game. 1t was on the \
Mississippi river boats that poker 4
first became a science, requiring /
more coOlness than a soldier needs |
on the field of battle. OF these !
flush times there are stories innu. ,
afoat to-day full of pa.
thos, of tragedy aud of humor.
But grand as are the annals of our
poker history, they contain no
story so thrilling and sensational
as that of tile great poker game
lately fought at the quiet little vii
lage of Newburg, New York.
On warm and dreary day re-
Gently, just suited to such sport,
three gentlemen of Newburg, a
pretty little town on the Hudson,
sat down to that exciting and cut
throat amusement, triangular po-
ker. They were Mr.. Weed, Il gen.
tleman of fortune; DIR. Hedges, "A
dentist, and Mr.. Scott, a consump. |
tive young drummer. The spot Sc
lected for the game-Dr. Hedges
ofiice-was somewhat awe-inspir.
ing and cannot be recommended
as suitable to poker. The pres
ence of those innumerable little
saws and gimblets and other in
struments of torture that lay
around was enough to make the
teeth ache, the blood run cold, and
must have more or less disturbed
that serenity of mind necessary
for a successful bluff.
The game began, as usual, with
small bets, the ante seldom ex-
ceedng fifty cents, until a hand
was finally dealt that made every
player shiver with apprehension.
Mr.. Weed had drawn two, and DIR,
Hedges one card, while Mr.. Scott
stood pat. That there were three
good hands around the table was
soon evident for, after a little Skin
mishing, Mr.. Weed, laying an ivor,
chip on the table, declared tina
this represented $1,000 bill. Il
his surprise, DIR. Hedges covere'
) his bet with two chips and a raise
and Mr. Scott went another ivor,
! better. There was breathless 81
lence for few minutes as eacl
person deposited chip after chir
/. until there were fifty on the table
Mr.. Weed expressed tho opinio
! that he had about enough an
thought a $4,000 pot good enoug
for him, but alas unhappy maj
, he was between two fires. Dl
Hedges continued raising Scot
and Scott raising Hedges, all 0
which Weed "saw," until the
! finally got tired of $1,000 check
and went to betting $4,000 ever,
round. In about twenty minutes
the pot contained the large sun
of s45O,150-perhaps the larges
: amount ever risked at a singh
, hand. DR.. Hedges finally weak
ened and called, and the three gen
I tlemen laid down their cards witt
the following hands:
DIR. Hedges, king full.
Mr.. Weed, four aces.
Mr.. Scott, sequence flush, kim
high.
1t was the first time on reco'
when four aces ever encountere'
a sequence flush, and, as all oil
pokers players had predicted, tn
: result was tragic. There is onl
, one hand that can beat seduenc
: flush, and this Mr.. Weed unfort,
nately did not possess--a revolver
He tried the other dodge. q
course, his friends knew that b
. was only "funning;" nobod
could possibly believe that h
/ would risk sI5O,OO0 on a singl
= hand at cards. 1t was mere joke
. which, he hoped, they would FOL
: get. lie was willing, however, t
:, give Scott $1,000 so that he woul
! not be disappointed, but as TO
/" !, s15O,OOO--why, it was too ridicr
" lous!
, This modest offer was declined
but Mr.. Weed was given O chanc
:, to win his money back. He II
fused to try poker again-it was
game, he declared, that he he nel
er had had much liking for-an
proposedto tackle " faro instea'
A faro table was procured, and Nj
Weed at once devoted himself t
t, this game. But his luck did nc
is change or improve with a chang