Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-07-19
FROM POKER TO PREACHING.
a Once Noted aid Daring Gambler
Now city Missionary i'm Louisville.

Now city Missionary i'm Louisville.
The frequent passer on the south
+ side of jefferson. between Fourth and
Fifth streets, if he is at all observant,
2 has noticed man who is usually
standing III front Of the gospel mission
rooms. There is nothing remarkable
either i'll his appearance or the mere
fact of his presence in that locality.
He is tail, thin and with form that
is Just beginning to stoop under the
weight Of the years, which have thin
ned his hair and sprinkled in it few
threads of silver His complexion is
sallow his eyes dark-blue, and an in
tellectual-looking forehead imparts
character to a face which without be
ing unusual IN either contour or ex-
preston, has yet something which,
when once seen, a man is not likely
TO forget That man is Steve Hol-
comb, the sometime noted gambler
and now the Jealous city missionary
Almost everybody either knows or
has heard something of the man or his
history. At one time he was one of
the coolest and most daring gamblers
IN the south, over which he travelled
| for nearly score of years, losing and
winning with the varying fortune of
his calling. He became, perhaps, the
most noted and successful poker-play-
er IN dozen states, and scores of
anecdotes are retailed of the wonder
| full luck which attended his playing.
/ No stake was to high, no game to dar-
ing to deter him The luck of which
3 man Of his 90 linz e,,,~al l. a,I bo1,o,-o
/ in so firmly, always attended his play
/ ing, and with anything of economy
he might have become a millionaire
He was reserved for something better,
/ however, and a light business trans
action with administer led to his attend
ing the latter's church and becoming
converted. He says:
L was well to do when | was CON
verified and quit gambling. 1t came
about IN singular way. too. Rev
Bruce Alexander, now living at Mid
dletown, came to me one day and
/ wanted to rent a house | owned in
/ Shlpplngport. Learning that he was a
/ preacher, | remarked that there wasn't
much difference between us, as | was
a gambler. He put his hand on my
T
hoped the meeting would be profitable
to us III more senses than one. His
words impressed me. and l went to
hear him preach, and from that day
was changed man. | gave up my
/ interest III the two games | was run
ming and sent word to my partners
that | intended quitting the business
for life What gambling implements
owned | would not sell, but gave
away to a friend. | had a hard time
after that. went into several differ
ent kinds of business, but although |
had quit all my bad habits, my luck
was changed and lostat everything
/ ! touched The little money | had
was soon exhausted in this way, and
in charity, for from the time | was
converted l did everything | could to
reclaim my former companions got
down to my last dollar, and after fall
ing to obtain employment, Brother Al
eXander, who had always stood byme,
drew out SCI he had in bank, and with
1t went to Silver Cliff, Colorado.
| got there pennilesS, and while stand
ing around the gambling saloon of an
old friend | heard that waiter was
wanted at hotel | got the place
and washed dishes for a beggarly pit
lance, though could have got an in
terest IN a big game that was going on
there at that time. Then | was cook
in mining camp, and at last saved
up money enough To buy an outfit and
90 prospecting. failed at that, too,
and after tramping over the noun
tains | came back and went to cooking
in brick-y yard As soon as could |
got beck home, but when reached
here was again without cent. Well
sir, try as hard as | could. | couldn't
get thing to do here, though | knew
so many people and was willing tc
work at anything At that time
was living with my family in a room
and they were suffering -but | Wont
, say anything of that About thai
/, time Maj. Hughes was elected chief OF
the fire department and as he had al
ways been a friend of mine, | thought
I'd ask him for job. He never
hesitated a minute, but gave me &
place as soon as | asked it. | stayed in
the department for two years, reading
and studying to make up for my neg
lected education. At the end of thai
r time, which was two years ago was
approached by Brother Morris, who
said the church would support me if
would come here and take charge OF
the mission 1t was just what | want
ed, and l came at once, and am now
/ trying my best to do some good
am poor and haven't a dollar in tn,
world, but am contented at last; anC
mean to accomplish what | can in tn,
remainder of my life.
NO. | can't say anything about the
tricks of gamblers, for | believe il
would do no good. l am working
hard among the gamblers, who hay,
confidence in me, and it won't do t,
abuse them. 1t wouldn't do any good
, either, for every young man woulC
, think himself forewarned as soon a,
he knew the tricks, and would b'
. llorc anxious to play than ever. Gam
bling can't be stopped by such a way