The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-09
BEATEN AT HIS OWN GAME.
An Innocent Indiana Man and the King of
River Gamesters.

An Innocent Indiana Man and the King of
River Gamesters.
Maysve (Ky) Letter.in Philadelphia Times.
Old Benedict Kirk, the king of the Mississippi
river gamblers was born here, and received bis
first lessons in cold-decking and stripping at the
quaint old town Of Washington, which Is four
miles south Of here on the Lexington pike. In
those days Washington and CirclevliIe o., were
the chief commercial towns OF the new west;
Cincinnati was only Struggling village ana
Chicago pioneer camp. Washington was inc
seat of Mason county, and during court term
there were gathered there all the leading plant
ers, lawyers, merchants and sporting men OF the
blue grass country.
Young Kirk had a talent for cards, and before
he was seventeen years Of age he had no equal
about Washington. He sighed for other worlds
to conquer. visited Circlevilie, and went as TAR
up the river as Pittsburg. His methods filled
his wallet, and he determined upon an extensive
trip South.
From that hour his fame was assured, and his
fortune iuctuated from extreme poverty to opu-
lent 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 summer resort of the
wealthy Southerners, Benedict mingled 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 to
game.
Once he found himself in Louisville, after a
protracted siege at faro, without dollar lie
became disguised with the Falls City and board
ed a down river steamer. 1t touched at some
little town on the Indiana shore, and genuine
jayhawker about emigrating to Kansas came
aboard. He displayed plenty of money,
and Benedict selected him as a victim:
He formed the fellows acquaintance, and
the jayhawker was delighted WIN
his new made friend. 1t happened that there was
another gambler aboard the boat, and he, too,
cast envions eyes upon the Indianian. He knew
Benedict Kirk, and, watching his opportunity,
called the great gambler aside
benedict" he said, pointing to the Indianian,
your friend seems to have plenty OF money"
about S., 000," answered Kirk
"Why don't you get it,"
II would, but lost my last dollar at faro in
Louisville"
I'm pretty we'll 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 800 to
start the game"
The gambler placed in his hands the required
sum, and Kirk reioined 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 poker!'
"A little"
"Well, suppose we play game. I am Ben
edict Kirk, and that fellow forward there" nod
ding toward the other gambler, wants me to
fleece you He is going to furnish the money,
and after we have been playing a while l will
deal you four kings Discard the useless card
and draw another. Then bet every dollar you
have, and I'll see you with money that I'll Dor
row from my friend up forward. You'll win and
we'll divide up"
The Indianian had heard OF Benedict Kirk and
he agreed to go into the game The gambler
who had staked Kirk sauntered up TO the table
where they were playing as though out OF idle
edicts hand. For half hour the game moved
along slowly, the bets being small. Finally
Benedict dealt, and when he raised his hand the
gambler that it contained four aces. The
Indianian made good his ante and called for one
card. Benedict drew one They then began to
bet, cautiously at first Finally, when it was
Benedict's turn to bet. he hesitated and said:
GIVE got hand here that | would back with
a million if | had it. hate to call you, but I'm
afraid shall have to-"
This was the Chambers cue and he was quick
to take it up.
OH loan you any sum to back that hand, my
friend he said, and laid roll Of notes beside
Kirk.
The betting proceeded aud finally when nearly
| every dollar OF the gamblers money was OF thu
| table Kirk called the Indianian'S hand.
| -Four kings" cried the jayhawker, spreading
| out his hand and reaching for the pot.
Hold on there!" interposed the gambler. VIII
had been backing Kirk "Ihis hand beat
yours. -Four aces
| Kirk turnttu up his cards, but to the surpris
| and dissuseof the gambler there were three
! aces a five and seven spot.
| "Confound the luck" cried Kirk, in we'll sim
! ulated establishment, II discarded the wron
cara.
The gambler, rot e.@ring to accuse h'rk o
double dealing but confio> III VIA. ne nau Jee
made the victim of one of TIA greaG sanole et
shrewd tricks, turned up his hee. WIN "d ga,
and retired to his statero Tn ~
gathered up his winnings. ,ao;
Now comes the funny part of the story, '"'
Kirk, who told me this incident himself seyera
years ago. When got opportunity to see
my jayhawker friend alone and asked him for
my share Of the winnings he laughed at me.
"I won the money, and it's mine, he said, but
as you are broke ] don't mind giving you back
$l00.' [ saw it was no use arguing the question
with the countryman, and | took his 800. /
never saw him afterwards, but he was the only
man that ever got the best of me at my own
game. 1 left the boat at Memphis, made stake,
continued on down to Vicksburg, and three DAYS
after my arrival there had won a cool $50 600 in
cash and forty head Of negroes and good plan
tation. That was my last visit to Vcksburg. A
committee of citizens waited on me and gave me
three hours to leave town. Gentlemen | said,
bowling politely, you are too magnanimous,
require only three minutes and jun ping into a
little pirogue that was tied to the levee, / tossed
the owner $50 gold piece and padded to the
other sdo of the river"
LADY WILDE'S HOME.