The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-30
POKER ysIrHoUrALIMIT.
RecOIeotiOns Of Some Heavy Poker Games
by an Old Stager.

"The pslmny days Of poker, so far as big
money is concerned, were during the war.
The officers and privates, IN fact the whole
army, devoted their hours of peace to its
wsretare. The soldiers were psid only few
times year. Many OF them would get their
money, lose it within day after the pay
master had left the camp and then 90 broke
for three months. The best officers were, of
course, the best players. Joe Hooker told
President Lincoln that no good general was
poor poker player. When money became
scarce they would stake other things. They
would put up their rstioas
sn6 personal property gained in
'foTsging.' I've seen the option Of peculiar
privileges IN pot in camp, the right to the
biggest find in the next house they destroyed
on their march, and so on. When 3 lot Of
Confederate currency was captured the
game was high. II was no rare thing for
private 20 capture bale of it and bet S25,-
coo or $4,000 of it on his hand. 1t was
worthless stuff, out it made the game en-
livening.
az asw United States paymaster," con-
tinued the narrator, close $S000O in gold be-
longing to the Government, in game with
"a professional gambler, on a Mississippi
River boat There was majority of Union
men aboard, and the gambler had to give up
his earnings, which we're won on the square.
/ remember the paymssters white face
when he saw his last gold eagle disappear.
He almost felt the halter around his mock,
for the penalty for breach of trust was
pretty severe.
''The river, immediately before the Wal"
the speaker continued, twas great
gambling house. The splendid steam
eTs plying between New Orleans
and the North were loaded with men
whose interas. wss deep in games of
chance. The planters were the most reck-
less g8mesters. They seldom hsd any ready
money, but would lose their cotton and live
stock and niggers with equanimity. l went
down on the Belle Key in 1853 from Mem
phis to New Orleans. At Natchez q great
planter got aboard with fifty slaves. He
Clipped into game with Northern Judge,
New York merchant and an army officer.
The stakes amounted ID 10 fine proportions
something ike $4,000 In one pot, which
| saw the Judge win. He held the best hands,
and before We reached the Crescent City
owned forty Of the planters niggers, valued
at from 81 goo TO =, 500 each.
but by sill odds the most interesting game
ever saw was on the Bell Lamar, in 1857.
There were circumstances connected with it
which made it On sll-sbsorbing event to the
few people who understood what It really
meant. The players were two only They
are both dead, and probably al their de-
sendsnts have followed them to the grave,
so I may mention their names and tell you
shout the train Of events which led TO
that game and its attendant tragedy. In
1866 there lived in q small town in Ken
lucky beautiful girl named Alice Crsyton.
She had a number of suiters, but of | of
them only two seemed 20 meet with passing
favor in her eyes. One was a rich young
planter named Horace Ellison, and the other
q young lawyer recently from the North,
named Converse. Ellison had the sdvan-
tage of his rival in looks and accomplish
ments. He had travelled extensively, was
we'll read, polished, and bore the reputation of
being dsre devil in affairs of gsllantry, and
was said 20 be not over upright or honorable
| in MS affairs with women. He was the sort
| Of man TO attract most girls. But Miss
| Crsyton preferred Converse, plain young
| fellow, nd.fnslly married him. Ellison, at
| ter swearing TO be reyenged, went abroad.
In the course of Il year Converse and his
wife went 10 New Orleans to live. Two
/ years after their marriage. Converse. return
/ ing home on the Belle Lamsr, after 8 BUSH
ness trip North discovered his old rival, El-
lison, among the passengers. All feelings of
/ resentment had died out in mis- heart and he
greeted Ellison heartily, the latter returning
the handmade with well simulated warmth.
| For day the two men chatted
altogether sgreesbly, to all appear
ances good friends. The next even
| lug Ellison proposed a little draw
| TO while away the mOaOtony of the voyage.
Converse readily assented, and they started
the game in a large staterOom. Four or five
others we're present, but they didn't join it..
AT first the ante was triAing. As Converse
steadily lost, he insisted on raising it with
each deal, and began drinking, a rare thing
for him TO do. His ill-fortune continued, and
after sesnce of two hours be began to Dor
row money of his friends in the room, hav-
ing lost all of bs own to Ellison. The latter
was cool and firm IS rock. He seldom
| spoke. and then in cutting accents, which
added to the fast growing enmity his oPPO-
nent felt toward him.
| 9" Perhaps IL Mr.. Converse would finger his
| glass less and his cards more, his game would
be more interesting and less easy to beat,
| Ellison remarked.
"'Mr. Converse can take care of himself
under all circumstances Converse retorted.
eyes, he demonstrated his facility for
looking after his own interests two years ago,
when he won great stake; but not by fair
play
al saw Converse's face flush. He under
stood the allusion TO the old rivalry between
aim and Ellison, and its covert insinustion.
| He started, as though to say something, but
stopped. The game went on, and soon after
Converse had lost every penny, and his
watch and diamond pin.
"Ellison laughed sneeringly. tMr. Con
verse should apply his method in lovemsking
to card playing, he said.
"sWhat do you mean, sirP
''What you please. Snail we continue the
gamer
"Converse was white with fury, The
| gambling spirit, mingled with hate and rage,
was on HIM. As if in answer to his unspok-
en- thoughts, Ellison said in his cold. exas-
| perating tones: "You lack a stake. 1 will
hazard al my winnings against the night
key of your house. We will play three hands
in five for it."
| "This monstrous proposition struck US all
| dumb. Converse bounded from his chair
and gasped. He was speeches. In fact the
emotions of this great experience had de-
| prived him of the power of words. Ellison
alone was unmoved. he sat quietly tossing
the pile of gold before him with his white
fingers.
/ "DO you consentf" he asked.