New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-17

: Old Benedict Kirk, the king of the Missis-
sppi River gamblers, received his FIRST lessons IN cold
nson Kg gu Ms eaeeT most eventfu one and he
died poor One OF his fayorlte pasmes was to down
an outsider. aud then giving away the game.
Once he found himsetin Louisville, after protracted
s sSSs at dlsg T W WS tnS f%s
boarded a down.riyer steamer Tt touched at
some little town the Indiana shore and genuine jay
bawker about emigratlng to Kansa. came aboard; He
displayed plenty OF money aud Benedict selected him as
ayhawker was delighted with his new friend II hap
pcned that there another gambler aboard the boat
knew Benedict Kirk and called the great gambler aside
"Benedic" he said pointing TO the Indlsnian, "your
friend seems 70 have money"
a About $4,000" answered Kirk.
fwould, but lost my last dollar at faro III LOUIS
I'm pretty well nxcd:" cried tho gambler, eagerly,
displaying largo ron 81 DIS ana sack Oh eo'"
Agreed - said Benedict Give one hundred to
The gambler placed in his hands the required sum- and
Kirk rcOined the Indianian When they were alone no
Nv friend YOU are eood-heated fellow, aud Ike
you: Can you play poker
We'll suppose we play game; am benedict XIX .l
and that fellow forward there" nodding foWara tne
furnish the money, aud after we have been playing
awhile VIII deal you four king' Discard the useless
card and draw another Then bet every dollar tha you
have and ri SOC you with money that ri borrow from
my friend up forward You'll WIN and Wen divide up
agreed % 20 into the game. The gambler VINO had
saked Kirk sguntcred up 10 tho table where they were
pavng az though out OF idle curiosity ana stoOd so
That he could sec Benedlcts hand For half hour the
game moved along slowly. the bets being small Finally
benedict dealt and when he raised his hand the gambler
saw that il contained four Tho Indianian made
good his ante and called for card. Benedict drcw
one Then thcy began 10 bet, cautiously nj nrst Finally
when Il wa. Benedcts turn. he hesita. ed and said
ave got "A hand here that would back with mliion
had H. hate 10 call you but m afaidl snail nave
TO-" 49,
This was the gamblers cue and he was quick to take
tin - &c.,, Of,
I'm loan you any sum TO back that hand my friend,'
he said. and laid down a roll ~ notes
Tho betting proceeded aud finally when nearly every
dollar OF tho gamblers money was on the table MIX
called the Indiauian's hand .,,
Four kngsw cried the jayhawker spreading out MS
hand and reaching for the pot -,
= Hold on there - interposed the gambler, who had
been backing Kirk This hand beats yours -Four
aces 70
Kirk turned up hi. cards, but to tho surprise and
disgust OF the gambler there were three aces hYe ana
Contonnd tho luokp cred Kirk. IN well simulated a.
tonishfpeut discarded the wrong card"
The gambler not daring 20 accuse Kirk OF double deal
ing but confident that he had been made the victim Or
heel with an oath retired TO his statcrOo The In
dianian gathered up his winnings.
"Now the funny part OF the stff7y," said klrk
who told me this incident htDsciI several years ago
"WhenI got opportunity 70 see my iayhawkcr friend
alone and asked b!i for my share OF the winnings NC
laughed ~ alc -
Jaw IL was no arguing the question with the coun-
tryman. and took his 500. | never saw him aflcr,
ward but he the only man that ever got tho best OF
me at my own game