Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
BEATING THE GAMBLER.
An Innocent Man from Indiana |
Proves Too Much for q Skilled An
taUonist.

Proves Too Much for a Skilled An
tagonist.
Old benedict Kirk, the king of the
Mississippi river gamblers, was born
here, writes a Maysville, K y, cores
pendent of the Philadelphia Times,
and received his first lessons in cold
decking and stripping at the quaint
old town of Washington, which is
four miles south of here, on the Lex
ington pike. In those days Washings
ton and Circleville, O., were the chief
commercial towns of the new west,
Cincinnati was only struggling VII
lage and Chicago a pioneer camp.
Washington was the seat of Mason
county, and during court term there
was gathered there all the leading
planters, lawyers, merchants, and
sporting men of the blue grass coun-
try.
Young Kirk had 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
ulSO Ills VALLEY, cauO AC
upon an extensive trip south.
From that hour his fame was assur-
ed, and his fortune fuctuated 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 at
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 a
most eventful one, and he died poor.
One of his favorite piastimes was to
clown" a fellow-gambler usually by
combining with him to fleece an out
slider and then giving away the game.
Once he found himself in Louisville
after a protracted siege at faro, with~
out a 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 a genuine jayhawker about emf,
grating to Kansas came aboard. He
plenty Of money, and Bene-
dict selected him as a victim. He
formed the fellows acquaintance,
and the jayhawker was delighted
with his new-made friend. It hap>
pened that there was another gambler
aboard the boat, and he too, cast en-
vious eyes upon the Indianian. He
knew Benedict Kirk, and, watching
his opportunity, called the great gam
bier aside.
Benedict" he said pointing to the
Indianian, "your friend seems to have
plenty of money"
"About S., OO0," answered Kirk.
'!Why don't you get it,"
II would, but 7 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
800 to start the game"
The gambler placed in his hands
the required 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 poker?"
ga little"
"Well, suppose we play game.
am Benedict Kirk, and that fellow
forward there" nodding toward the
other gambler, wants me to fleece
you. He is going to furnish the mon
ey, and after we have been playing a
while I will deal you four kings.
Discard the useless card and draw
another. Then bet every dollar that
you have. and I'll seq you with 1non>
ey that I'll borrow from my friend up
forward. You'll win and we'll
divide up"
The Indianian had heard Of Bene-
dict Kirk, and he agreed to go into the
game. The gambler who had staked
Kirk sauntered up to the table where
Ghey were playing, as though out of
idle curiosity, and stood SO that he
could see BenedIct's hand. For a
half hour the game moved along slow
ly the bets being small. Finally
Benedict dealt, and when he raised
his hand the gambler saw that it con-
tanned four aces. The Indianian made
good his ante and called for one card.
Benedict drew one. Then they began
to bet, cautiously at first. Finally,
when it was Benedict's turn to bet, he
said:
eve got hand here that 7 would
back with million if I had it. I hate
to call you, but I'm afraid shall have
to-"
This was the gamblers cue and he
was quick to take it up.
''IIl loan you any sum to back that
hand" he said, and laid roll of notes
beside Kirk.
The betting proceeded, and when
nearly every dollar Of the gamblers
money was on the 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
gam bier, who had been backing Mr..
Kirk. This hand beats yours. -Four
aces"
Kirk turned up his cards, but to
the S11r1o1,iSe and dicor1ISi. of tn e,oyo III ay