Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-06-13
A HOT GOLD DECK.
a Poker Story of Early Days on the Pa
Cific Coast.

Virginia CRY, June 4.-ObsetVing OF
late in eastern papers many spottiGg snec-
do.es, have been reminded of a lively
game which actually occurred Just IS relat.
ed in the flush times Of placer mining IN
Californis, aud which think will interest
acme of the sports of the Atlantic States,
where now are not few OF our old timers,
many of whom will remember the names
of the persons mention.
In the early days Of CalIfornis-in the
good old times before the rsnchmen and
Judge SAWYER csms with their injunctiors
10 put q stop to hydraulic mining, and a
stopper on the men OF the mountains who
6rst lifted California out of the hide aud
tsllow trade and placed her in he sister
hood of Ststss-in those days when
the honest miner was dig
cling his bushels Of money
out of the gulches and bills, and making
life possible and profitable to thoee on the
ranches in the valleys, gold co;n and gold
dust were not held with the throttiing
grasp characteristic of this horticulture
and bucoic era. Then tee eager and
alert eye Of the calculating rancher sought
out the miner as he descended from the
heights ofthe Sierras, and HIS hand wa
extended in welcome while the man OF
nuggets and "chispas' was sill atsr oil.
In those days of old and days of gold.
Reddy d Andrews (Tom Andrews, a man
veil known to oil the old time Pacific
coast sports) owned immensely rich dig
gings at Forest City, Sierra county. They
frequently cleaned up from $4,000 tc
$4,000 at one time When O clean up
Was made one Of the partners would take
the dust to San Francisco to the Mint,
In making these trips they generally TOOK
turns. Ii was before the days Of the rail
roads-xas in the old, romantic, sociable
happy times of the steamer lines on the
rivers of the Golden State. Twas the reg
ulsr habit OF the partners, on getting Oh
the rolling humping mountain coach, &c
stay over night at Sacramento, taking the
boat the next afternoon at 2 o'clock FOL
San Francisco.
When it was the turn of Andrews to &C
down TO the Bay with the dust ne frequent
ly did battle with the tiger while lying over
at Sacramento, but Reddy's strong suit
WAS poker. Three sces was his Dig hand
When he held three aces he would bet his
bottom dollar and go his liver and lights
blind This was 80 we'll known that it hac
passed into a proverb among the Sacrs
m4nto sports.
On one occasion, when Rsddy had been
playing all night with sCmo 9aoramentC
man aud quit s., 900 ahead of the game, II
was concluded 10 follow him up. Ia pur
saance of this plan. some OF the sports with
whom be had spent the night-CharleJ
Dawson among the numher-t9id Reddy
thst they hid concluded, just for the fun
OF the thing, to take Little run with him
down to the Bay.
The boat had not proceeded for down
the river before, as the most natural thing
in the world, poker game was started. Ia
the game were Reddy, Foster, q hotel keep
er fcom one OF the southern counties, Char.
ley Dawsou, snd two other sports
A JOB had been pat up 10 raise cold
deck, and give Raddy his favorite hand OF
three aces. The game proceeded, aud at
the proper time Dawson raised the deck.
The cards wers dealt and Reddy go. his
three aces Dawson three kings, and the
others Indifferent hands Ia the draw
Dawson got the other king. Reddy drew
two cards, but having his three aces he
felt strong enough to fight an army, and
did not pick up or look at the two cards he
had drawn.
Betting began and Foster and the two
sports with Dawson did not come in.
Having four kings, and being confident
that R9ddy had only his three aces, Dsw-
son went in strong; and, having his three
aces, Raddy felt that nothing could whip
MIN. He WAS so sure that he was right
that he paid no attention to the cards lying
By his side, which be had gotten in the
draw.
The betting very shortly became red
hot. Most OF the loungers about the boat
we're soon gathered around the two men,
watching the game with bresthless interest
Among the lookers-on was Domingo
Zoe. q nervous and restless little sport, who
vac DAwson's friend and chum. Joe-s
Portuguese or SpanIsrG-Tas skipping back
aud forth in the restless way that seems
Of understood men-mani
over the shoulders of the
NO men at their cards ss often as an op.
offered, his eyes sparkling aud
dancing with excitement. He felt pretty
confident that the cards had been properly
SACKED. yet he would have given whole
1andfuls of gold for single peep at those
Rhich Reddy had not yet picked up.
Several thousand dollars had already
,een bet, and finally, as a stumper, Dsw-
on went 81, 900 better. Reddy promptly
aw the raise and sold: 81 go you another
z. 900 betterl"
Quite sbsent.mindedly he then picked up
he two csrds that had sll the time been
ying unuoticed By his side.
The weasel eye of Domingo Joe detect
d the other ace as the cards were lifted |
instantly an sshy pallor spread over his
geszen visage. 1t was almost ss though |
lie had been stricken with death.
However, the stroke psrslyzsd him only |
moment. Almost instantly berecovered |
is selEpossession, ard, thrusting both
!snds into his trousers pockets and assum-
np an Indifferent sir, he shesred of from
he party. Carelessly ssunterlng up and
own the boat, he began singing:
And the o,hsr fell in, too, boys,
And the other fell in there, too.
This was enough for Dawson. The words
Domingo Joe's pretended song came to
il ears as death knell Is turned pale,
hen red, threw down his cards, and said:
Take it ALL squeslT'
As Reddy rsked down the whole pile be
lrew a glance around the circle of pale
nd silent spectators, aud sang, as though
le words OF Domingo Joe had just reached
is ears:
And the other fell 10 too, boys,
And the other fell in there, TOO.
Dan DIS GUILE.