The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-08-19
BEATING THE GAMBLER.
The Game That Was Played Between an
Innocent Man from Indiana and the King
of Mississippi River Gamblers-A Very



of Mississippi River Gamblers-A Very
Lively Career.
Maysville, KY, letter.
Old Benedict Kirk, the king of Mississippi
river gamblers was born here and received
his first lessons in cold decking and strip
ping az the quaint old town of Washington,
which is four miles south of here, on the
Lexington pike. In those days Washington
and Circleville, Ohio, were the chief COM
mercial towns of the new West. Cincinnati
was only struggling village and Chicago
pioneer camp. Washington was the seat OF
Mason county and during court term there
was gathered there all the leading planters,
lawyers, merchants aud sporting men of the
Blue Grass country.
Young Kirk had talent for cards, and be-
fore he was seventeen years of age he had no
equal about Washington He sighed for
other worlds to conquer, visited CircIeville
and went as far up the river as Pittsburg.
His methods filled his wallet, and he deter
mined upon an extensive trip South.
From that hour his fame was assured, and
his fortune fluctuated from extreme riches to
opulent riches. He won at the card table
thousands of dollars, but speedily lost his
easily acquired riches trying to beat faro.
When the Blue Lick Springs became the sum-
mer resort of the wealthy Southerners, Bene-
dict mingled with them freely, laughed at
their jokes, listened 10 their stories and won
their money. His career was a most event
full one and he died poor. One of his favorite
pastimes was to down afellOw-gambler us
ually by combining him to fleece an outsider
and then giving away the game.
Once he found himself i'm Louisville after
protracted siege at faro, without dollar.
He became disguised with the Falls City and
boarded a down-river steamer. 1t touched at
some little town on the Indiana shore, and
genuine jayhawker about eInigrating to Kan
sas came abroad. He displayed plenty of
money, and Benedict selected him as a Wet
i'm. He formed the fellows acquaintance
and the jayhawker was delighted with his
new-made friend. Ii happened that there
was another gambler aboard the boat and he
too, cast envious eyes upon the Indianian.
He knew Benedict Kirk, and watching his
opportunity called the great gambler aside.
Benedict" he said, pointing to the In
dianian, your friend seems to have plenty of
money"
About s., 900" answered Kirk.
''Why don't you get it?''
81 would, but lost my last dollar at faro
in Louisville"
I'm pretty well fixed, cried the gambler,
eagerly, displaying large roll Of bills and a
sack of coin. '.You play and I'll stake you"
Agreed said Benedict Give me one
hundred to start the game"
The gambler placed in his hands the re-
quired sum and Kirk rejoined the Indianian.
When they were alone he leaned forward
and said
MY friend, you are an innocent, good
hearted fellow and like you. Can you play
pokerf'
"A little"
"Well, suppose we play a game. / am
Benedict Kirk, and that fellow forward
there, nodding toward the other gambler,
wants me to fleece you. He isgoing TO fur
nish the money, and after we have been
playing awhile / will deal you four kings.
Discard the useless card and draw another.
Then bet every dollar that you have, and I'll
see you with money that I'll borrow from
my friend up forward. You'll win and we II
divide up"
The Indianian had heard Of Benedict Kirk