Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-09-24
BEATING THE GAMBLER,
The Game that was Played Between an
Innocent Man from Indiana and the
King Of Mississippi River
Gamblers.

spoken of below "Uncle" Tom
says the incident related is true, and
that Benedict Kirk was one of the
''nerviest" sports that ever boarded
a river steamer to ply his avocation.
Mr.. Hughes was on the boat and
witnessed the game spoken of in the
following article:
MAYsvILLE, KY, July 3O-Old Ben
edict Kirk, the king of the Mississippi
river gamblers, was born here and
received his first lessons in cold deck
ing and stripping ut the quaint old
town of Washington, which is four
miles south of here, on the Lexington
pike. In those days Washington and
Circlevllle, o., were the chief COM
mercial towns of the new west. Gin
cinnati was only struggling village
and Chicago a pioneer camp. WASH
ington was the seat of Mason county,
and during court term there was gath
cred there all the planters, lawyers,
merchants and sporting men of the
Blue Grass country.
Young Kirk had a talent for cards,
and before he was II years of age he
had no equal about Washington. He
sighed for other worlds to conquer,
visited Circleville and went as far up
the river as Pittsburg. His methods
filed his wallet, and he determined
upon an extensive trip south.
From that hour his fame was as
sured, and his fortune tiuctuated from
extreme poverty to opulent riches.
He won at the card table thousands
:. of dollars, but as speedily lost his
easily acquired riches trying to beat
faro. When tue Blue Lick Springs
became the summer resort of the
wealthy southerners, Benedict min
gled with them freely, laughed at
their jokes, listened to their stories
and won their money. His career
was most eventful one, and he died
poor. One of his favorite pastimes
was to "down" fellow gambler
usually by combining with him tC
fleece an outsider and then giving
away the game.
Once he found himself in Louis
vile after protracted siege at faro
without q dollar. He became dis.
gusted with the Falls City and board
ed a down river steamer. 1t touched
at some little town on the indiana
shore, and a genuine jayhawker abou
emigrating to Kansas came aboard
He displayed plenty of money ant
Benedict selected him as victim
He formed the fellows acquaintance
and the jayhawker was delighted will
his new made friend. 1t happened
that there was another gamble
on board the boat and he, too, cas-
envious eyes upon the Indianian
He knew Benedict Kirk and, watch
ing his opportunity, called the grea
gambler aside.
"Benedict," he said, pointing t.
the Indianian, ''your friend seems t.
have plenty of money"
i "About $5,OOO," answered Kirk.
why don't you get it?'
Il would but l lost my last dolla
at Faro in Louisville
"I'm pretty well fxed,' cried th
gambler, eagerly, displaying a larg
roll of bills and a sack of coin. ''Yo
play and will stake you.'
agreed" said Benedict. "Giv
me 500 to start the game.
The gambler placed in his hand
the required sum and Kirk rejoine
the Indianian. When they were alon
he leaned forward and said:
My friend, you are an innocen
good hearted fellow and like you
Can you play poker?''
"a little"
"Well, suppose we play a game.
am Benedict Kirk, and that fello
forward there" nodding toward til
other gambler, "wants me to fieeC
you. He is going to furnish tn
money, and after we have been pla,
ing awhile l will deal you four king
Discard the useless card and dra
+, another. Then bet every dollar yo
have, and I'll see you with none
that I'll borrow from my friend L
forward You'll win and we'll d
vide up"
The Indianian had heard of Ben
dict Kirk and he agreed to 60 I'M
the game. The gambler who ha
staked Kirk sauntered up to the tab
where they were playing, as thoug
out of idle curiosity, and stood
that he could see Benedict's han
For a half hour the game move
along slowly, the bets being sma
Finally Benedict dealt, and when
raised his hand the gambler saw tn
it contained four aces. The India
ian made good his ante and called f
one card Benedict drew one. Th
they began to bet, cautiously at fir
Finally when it was Benedict's tn
to bet, he hesltated and said:
I've got hand here that l won
back with a million if l had it.
hate to call you, but I'm afraid
shall have to-"
,: This was the gamblers cue and
= was quick to take it up.
"I'll loan you any sum to ba
that hand. nv friend" he said, q