St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-13
FOR HEAVY STAKES.

Exciting Poker Games In Which
Vast sums Are Lost and Won.
From the Chi Iago News.
From the way people talk of Kirk
Gums play against Pat Sheedy's game the
other day, when $4,000 was lost. " said the
man about town, lone would imagine that
the days of high gambling were passed.
Ihere is just as high play, both among pro-
fessionals and non-prOfessionals, as ever.
There is more money now than ever before.
and more reckless gambling. both in cards
ana speculation, is INDUCED in by greater
number OF men than ever before. The as
saults on faro by John Bowling and Jack
haverly. when these worthless were on the
turf few years ago. we've notable events
10 their day, but these encounters are dis
counted almost every night at the great
gaming hells of Long Branch during the
summer season. Faro, however is not the
rage among high rollers as much as for
merly. Poker has taken its place. and
there are games in Chicago where more
money changes hands every twenty-fOur
hours than is won and lost in all the public
faro banks in month.
at was at one of these private games In
a swell hotel that very well-known mer-
chant blew in Sl25. 900 in half dozen sit
tings less than four months ago. and sent
more good money after it in the hone of
winning 1t back. This party was obliged
TO sell his business TO obtain the shakels
with which to pay his debts of honor and he
is now about broke In every one of the
large downtown hotels from two TO dozen
private poker games are running nightly,
and at one caravansary near the board of
trade select cOteTie of millionaires has de-
tod xrvr fl,raa
of the history of the four kings and the
four queens for five years at least. and per-
haps longer. Now and then member Of
the party dies. goes to Europe. takes
vacation or draws out permanently, but the
place Is quickly filled and the game goes on.
Two or three tough old stagers are at their
post as regularly as the sun rises and sets.
They are very, very rich, and play for the
excitement and sociability of the thing, not
caring particularly whether they win or
lose. They settle monthly and there is not
usually very large balance either way.
though checks running up into five figures
sometimes pass around. There is more or
less quiet gambling at a majority of the
clubs. though to specify the clubs would be
to invite indignant denials.
THE great game at the head of La Sale
street distances everything. Speculation Is
carried on by few Of the dasking and
successful operators on a scale that would
have made the boldest hold their breath
few years ago. Before his withdrawal
from business lately the head of flourish
ing campmeeting association occasionally
took hand (fOr customer, of counsel at
livening up proceedings for buying or sell
ing ambition or two bushels for a turn, his
trades mounting to enormous totals. The
huctuation of cent a bushel meant gain
or loss of $4,000 on every LOCO, 900
bushels dealt in. 1t does not excite sur
prise for well-known spectators to make
deals in 1000, 900 and 5000. 600 bushels.
and the vicissitudes of day may leave any
of the daring manipulators OF the board
500, 900 richer or 500, 600 poorer. The
famous corners manipulated by Lyon.
Sturges. Keene. Handy, McGeoch and
others involved less aggregate property than
the ordinary deals run on Change nowadays
by the high rollers, and nothing is thought
of them. The world do move"