River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-09-13
FROM POKER TO PULPIT.
The Career of Steve Holcomb, a Re.
formed Louisville Gambler

ally standing IN front OF the Gospel Mis-
sion rooms. He is tall, thin, and with g
form that is just beginning to stoop unde
the weight OF the years which have thin
ned his hair and sprinkled in it a few
threads ofsilyer. His complexion is sal
low, his eyes dark blue, and an intellect
ual-looking forehead imparts character
to the face. That man is Steve Holcoml
the sometime noted gambler, and now
the zealons city missionary. At one
time he was one of the coolest and most
daring gamblers in the south, oyel
which he travelled for nearly a score o.
years, losing and winning with the vary
ing fortunes OF his calling. He became
perhaps, the most noted and successful
poker player in a dozen states, anc
scores Of anecdotes are retailed of the
wonderful luck which attended his play
ing. No stake was too high, no game too
daring to deter him. The "luck" of
which men of his calling speak and be-
lieve in so firmly, always attended his
playing, and with anything of economy
he might have become a millionaire.
A reporter of the Courier-JOurnal met
him the other Cav and had a long talk
with him over his past history. He
told his story with a simplicity which
left no doubt OF the genuineness of his
feelings.
81 was born in this city," he said, Sin
1888, and have spent the most of my
life here ever since, though | lived
in Nashville and other cities in the south
| think l was born gambler. My repu-
tation got to be pretty bad in this re-
Epect, and when | wanted to marry
tFf fsE, I 4 5v,r D1lk T fn
run away with my wife. We went to
Nashville, and the war breaking out at
this time, | quit work and became a
professional gambler. | had done well
before this, both in playing and at my
business, but when | commenced play
ing faro bank | was soon dead broke.
But | lOafed around the saloons, and
gradually picked up the points of the
game till | was able to start Dank Of
my own with money [ borrowed from
some friends. | had a good rim Of luck
in very short time. And made a great
deal Of money, though never able to
accumulate more than a few thousand
dollars at a time. The reason for this is
because faro had such a fascination for
me that was continually playing against
the bank"
"What games made you the most
money, Mr.. Holcomb?" asked the re-
porter.
81 made a great deal at banking
games, but | suppose more at poker
than at anything else. | studied that
game for twenty years, and l under
stood it pretty thoroughly"
"Did YOU ever learn system that
would always win the game?
Eyes: ! met a,,man once who had stud
led out a system which beat me, al
though had been playing for twenty
years, and thought | knew as much
about it as any gambler living. 1t was
in Nashville at the time when there
used to be the squarest lot of poker
players | ever knew. There was a ring
of US there, all good players. But a
man named Buchanan came up from
come place in the south, who beat every
one f us. He won all the mouey had,
about 81 900 or 5000 in two or three
nights and did the same with ali the
others. | watched him closely, for
knew he wasn't az good & player as any
of us, but / couldn't see his trick with
spyglass, though | knew he had one. AT
last went to him and told him that if
he would tell me his System" we would
travel totether, and, as | had very
large acquaintance all over the south We
could make a fortune easily. Buchan-
an was rather green, and the idea struck
him favorably, so we became partners
We travelled together, good deal ami
won pile of money. l might easily have
got rich, but | had such passion for
faro that | couldn't help playing, and
would lose every dollar that | won when
/ went to playing. My partnership with
Buchanan came to an end rather sud
denly, at Shreveport, when lost sever
al thousand dollars one night at faro.
We made up tie quarrel next day, but
we never Travelled together after that.
He kept the secret Of his 'Fystem,' and
/ don't suppose that any one besides
myself knows it to this day.
81 came back to Louisville after that
and settled on Fifth street, where |
took an interest in two games, one with
Henry Johnson, the other with man
named John Morton. We made money
fast. and | was well to do when | was
converted and quit gambling. 1t came
about in singular way too" he cOntln-
ned musingly. "The Rev. Bruce Alex
ander. now living at Middleton, came to
me one day and wanted to rent house
L owned at Shippingport. Learning
that he was a preacher. / remarked
that there wasn't much difference be-
tween us, as | was gambler. lie put
his hand on my shoulder at that and re-
marked that he hoped the meeting
would be profitable to us i'll more senses
than one. His words impressed me
and l went to hear him preach, and
from that day / was a changed man.
gavs up nv interest in the two games /
was running and sent word to my part
ners that | intended quitting the bus
mess for life. What gambling imple-
ments | owned ! would not sell, but
gave away to friend. | had hard
time after that. l went into several diff
erept kinds of business, but, though l
had Quit all my bad habits, my luck was
and ! lost at everything |
touched, The little money l had was
soon exhausted in this way ana IN
charity, for from the time was con-
yerted did everything l could to re-
claim my former companions. 1 got
down to my last dollar, and, after fall
ing to obtain employment, Brother
Alexander, who has always stood by me
drew out SOL he had in bank. and with
Il I went to Silver Creek, Colorado.
got there penniless, and while
Standing around the gambling saloon
of an ED friend ! heard that waiter
was wanted at a hotel. / got the place
and washed dishes for a beggarly pitt
lance, though | could have got an inter-
est in big game that was going on there
at the time. Then | was cook in 4 min
inc camp, ana at last saved up enough
money to buy an outfit and so prospect
ing. | failed ut that, too, and after
tramping over the mountains | came
back and went to cooking in briCkyard.
AS soon as | could got back home, but
when | reached here | was again with
out cent. Well, sir, try as hard as
could, couldn't get thing to do here
though knew so many people and was
willing 10 work at anything. AT that
time | was living with my family IN Il
room, and they were suHering-but l
wont say ANYTHING of that. About that
time Major Hughes was elected Chief OF
the Fire Department, and rs he had al
WAYS been a friend of mine, | thought
I'd ask him for job. He never heslta
ted. but gave me place as soon as |
asked for it. ! stayed in the department
for two wears, reading and studying to
make ND for nv neglected education.
At the end OF that time, which was
two years ago, l was approached bv
BROTHER Morris, who said the church
would support me if | would come here
and take charge of the mission. 1t was
inst what wanted, and | came, and am
now trying my best TO do some good.
mo. | can't say anything about the
tricks of gamblers, for | believe 1t would
10 no good. | am working hard among
the gamblers, who have confidence IN
me. and it wouldn't do to abuse them
1t wouldn't do any good either, for ev.
erv Young man would think himself
f0rewarned as soon as he knew the
tr;cL-c ard would he more anxious 10