The Northern Pacific farmer., 1883-09-13
FROM POKER TO PULPIT.
The Career Of Steve Holcomb, a Re-
formed Louisville Gambler.

-sz--5YE
The Career Of steve Holcomb, Re
formed Louisville Gambler.
Ffou the Louisville Courier-Journsl.
The frequent passer on the south sid
of Jefferson, between Fourth and FIT
streets, has noticed man who is usu
ally standing in front of the Gospel Mis-
sion rooms. He is tall, thin, and with .
form that is just beginning to stoop unde
the weight Of the years which have thin
ned his hair and sprinkled in it a 'lev
threads ofsilver. His complexion is sal
low, his eyes dark blue, and an intellect
ual-looking forehead imparts characte
to the face. That man is Steve Holcoml
the sometime noted gambler, and nov
the zealons city missionary. At one
time he was one of the coolest and mos
daring gamblers in the south, ove1
which he travelled for nearly score O
years, losing and winning with the vary.
ing fortunes OF his calling. He became
perhaps, the most noted and successful
poker slayer in dozen states, ant
scores of anecdotes are retailed of the
wonderful luck which attended his play
a;n nS No o. st1ks ats, was S too hEh no Ea%s to9
!n6 w ootoi Aln!: AAo AuCk u
which men of his calling speak and be-
lieve IN so frruly, always attended his
playing, and with anything of economy
he might have become millionaire.
A reporter of the Courier.J Journal met
him the other dav and had long talk
with him over his past history. He
told his story with simplicity which
left no doubt OF the genuineness Of his
feelings.
II was born in this city," he said, Gin
1888, end have spent the most of my
life here ever since, though I lived
in Nashville and other cities in the south
think was born gambler. My repu-
tation got to be pretty bad in this re.
Bpe(t, and when wanted to marry
which l did in my 21st year-I had to
run away with my wife. We went to
Nashville, and the war breaking out at
professional gambler. = 1 had done we'll
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 l was able to start a bank of
my own with money borrowed from
some friends. I had good run of luck
in very short time. And made great
deal of money, though never able to
accumulate more than few thousand
dollars at time. The reason for this is
because faro had such fascination for
me that was continually playing against
the bank"
"What games made you the most
money, Mr.. Holcomb?" asked the re-
porter.
games, but I suppose more at poker
than at anything else. I studied that
game for twenty years, and l under
stood it pretty thoroughly"
"Did you ever learn a SYSTEM that
would always win the game?"
Eyes: met a: man once who had stud
led out a system which beat me, a.
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 tho squarest lot of poker
players I ever knew. There was ring
Of us there, all good players. But
man named Buchanan came up from
some place in the south, who beat every
one us. He won all the mouey had,
about 81 900 or 5000 in two or three
nights and did the same with all the
others. / watched him closely, for I
knew he wasn't as good a player as any
of us, but I 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 to.ether. and, as l had very
large acquaintance all over the south we
could make fortune easily: Buchan-
an was rather green, and the idea struck
We travelled together, good deal and
won pile of money. might easily have
got rich, but I had such passion for
faro that couldn't help playing, and
would lose every dollar that won when
I 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 the quarrel next day, but
we mover travelled together after that.
He kept the secret of his 'system,' and
don't suppose that any one besides
myself knows it to this day.
II came back to Louisville after that
and settled on Fifth street, where l
took an interest in two games, one with
Henry Johnson, the other with a man
fast, and I was we'll to do when l was
converted and quit gambling. 1t came
about in a singular way too," he contin-
ued musingly. "The Rev. Bruce Alex
ander, now living at Middleton, came to
me one day and wanted to rent house
I owned at Shippingport. Learning
that he was preacher. I remarked
that there wasn't much difference be-
tMecn US, as was gambler. He put
his hand on my shoulder at that and re-
marked that he hoped the meeting
would be profitable to us III more senses
than one. His words impressed me
and went to hear him preach, and
from that day I was changed man. I
gave up my interest in the two games l
was running and sent word to my part
mess for life. What gambling imple-
ments I owned I would not sell, but
gave away to friend. I had hard
time after that. went into several diff.
ereut kinds of business, but, though 1
had quit all my bad habits, my luck was
changed, and I lost at everything
touched, The little money I had was
soon exhausted in this way and in
charity, for from the time I was con-
verted did everything could to re-
claim my former companions: I got
down to my last dollar, and, after fall
ing to obtain employment, Brother
Alexander, who has always stood by me
drew out $6l he had in bank. and with
IL WtuG w oAAVOA OAOOn3 WV ouo:
got there penniless, and while
standing around the gambling saloon
of an eld friend I heard that a waiter
was wanted at a hotel. I got the place
and washed dishes for a beggarly pit
tance, though I could have got an inter-
est in big game that was going on there
at the time. Then 1 was cook in a min
ing c,mp, an1 at last saved up enough
money to buy an outfit and 60 prospect
ing. I failed at that, too, and after
tramping over the mountains I came
back and went to cooking in brickyard.
AS soon az could got back home, but
when reached here was again with
out cent. Well, sir, try as hard as l
could. I couldn't get thing to do here
though knew SO many people and was
willing to work at anything. At that
time was living with my family in
f56m, and they were suffering-but l
wont cay anything of that. About that
time Major Hughes was elected Chief OF
the Fire Department., and as he had al
ways been q friend of mine, thought
I'd ask him for job. He never hesita:
ted, but gave me place as soon as /
asked for it. I stayed in the department
for two years, reading and studying to
make up for my neglected education.
At the end OF that time, which was
two years ago, I was approached by
Brother Morris, who said the church
would support me if would come here
and take charge of the mission. It was
Just what 1 wanted, and came, and am
now trying my best to do some good.