Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-09
BRATEN AT HIS Own GAME.
Benedict Kinks sad Experience with
Countrymsn from Indiana.


From ne Philadelphia Times.
Old Benedict Kirk, the king OF the
I Mississippi river gamblers, received his
I frat lessons in cold decking and stripping
at the quaint old town OF Washington.
Ky. His career was a most eyentful one,
and he died poor one OF his favorite pas
iines was TO down tellow-gambler,
usually by combining with him 70 fleece
an outsider, and then giving away the
game.
once he found himself in Louisville.
after a prntracted siege at faro, without "a
dollar. He became Disguised with the
Falls City and boarded down-riyer
steamer. 1t touched At some little town
on the Indiana shore and a genuine jay
hAwker about emgraing 90 Kansas came
aboard. He displayed plenty Of money
and Beuedict selected him as victim.
he formed the fellows acquaintance, and
the iayhawker was delighted with mis- new
friend. ~ happened that there was an
other gambler aboard the boat, and he,
too, cast envi0us eyes upon the lndidniau.
He knew Benedict Kirk, and called tue
great gambler aside.
Benedict" he said, pointing 10 the
lndianian, your friend seems 20 have
money"
"About $1,000" answered Kirk.
"Why don't you get ity'
81 would, but / lost my last dollar at
faro no Louisville"
"rm pretty well fixed, cried the gam
bier eagerly, displaying a arge roll OF
bills amt "a sack OF coin. ~ Ou play and
l'll stake YOU"
.'Agreedw said Benedict. "Giye me 500
% start t1e game.'
The gambler placed I'm his hands The re-
quired sum, and Kirk rej0lned the iudI-
Hnian. " hen they were alone he leaned
forward and sad:
My friend, you are a goOd-hearted
fellow, and l like you. Can you play
pokery'
"a little"
"Well, suppose we play game. | am
Benedict Kirk, and that fellow forward
there" nodding toward the other gam
bier, "wants me to fleece you. He Is
going TO furnish the money, and after We
nave been playing awhile 1 VIII deal you
four Kings. Discard the useless card and
draw another. Tnen bet every dollar that
you have, and I'll see you with money
that Pn borrow from my friend up for
ward. YOu'n win and we'll divide uU."
The Indianlan had heard of Benedict
Kirk and he agreed to 20 into the game.
The gambler who had staked Kirk saun-
tered up 10 the table where they We're
playing, as though out OF idle curiosity,
hRnd. For half hour the game moved
along slowly, the bets being small. FL
nally Benedict dealt, ard when he raised
his hand the gambler saw that 10 con-
tanned four aces. The lndianan made
good his ante and called for one card.
Benedict drew one. Then they began 10
bet, cautiously at first. Finally, when
10 was Benedlct's turn, he hesltated and
said
t.Tf,,o not a hapd boro fhot I ,vo,,y1 no 81
with a million if / had it. | hate to call
YOU but I'm afraid shall have to-"
This was the gamblers cue, and he was
quick 70 take it up. Ef9
"Fll loan YOU any sum to back that hand,
my friend" he said, and laid down roll
of notes.
The betting proceeded, and finally when
nearly every dollar of the gsmbler's money
was, on the table Kirk called the Indi-
anian's hand.
s'Four kingsl" cried the jayhawker,
spreading out his hand and reaching for
the pot.
"Hold on therev' interposed the gam
bier who had been backing Kirk. This
hand beats yours. Four acesw
Kirk turned up his cards, but TO thesur-
prise and disgust Of the gambler there
were three aces. q five and a.seVen spot.
"ConfOund the luckv cried Kirk, in
well simulated establishment, II discard
ed the wrong card"
The gambler not daring to accuse Kirk
Of double dealing. but confident that he
had been made the victim OF one of the
great gamblers ehrewd tricks, turned on
mis- heel with an oath and retired 10 his
staterOom. The Indianian gathered up
his winnings.
"Now comes the funny part OF the
story" said Kirk, who told me this moi
dent himself several years ago. "When
got an opportunity to see my jay
hawker friend alone and asked him for
my share Of the winnings he laughed
at me-"
Il won the money and It's mine," he
said, "but as you are broke ! don't mind
giving you back $780," l saw it was no
use arguing the question with the coun-
tryman, and TOOK bis 500. never saw
him atterward. but he WAS the only man
that ever got the best of me at my own
game"