St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-27
MHLIONAIRES AT POKER.
A California Game in Which the
Stakes Exceeded Two Millions.

A California Game in Which the
Stakes Exceeded Two Millions.
New York Telegram.
Among the priced relics belonging to
the Union club in San Francisco is an
old round table. 1t is covered with
faded green cloth, has small slit in
the middle and would be easily recog-
nized by the most unsophisticated as
much-used poker table. The members
are proud of this old piece of furniture,
and point it out to visitors, at the same
time telling tales of the celebrated
games played on it by men now of ma
tional reputation. Members of the club
claim that the biggest pile of money
ever bet on hand at poker was heaped
up in the center Of this old table, and,
although that particular game nearly
ended in bloOdShed, it is now spoken of
only as a hinge joke.
1t was during the winter when the
Comstock lode was struck and bonanza
fortunes were being made by those
holding shares in the. great mine that
the game was played. Every night one
of the biggest shareholders of the Com
stock mine, a celebrated lawyer, a
United States senator and banker
were in the habit of meeting round the
old table for games of poker. Some
times an outsider would take hand,
but the game was too steep for ordinary
players, and most of the club members
found enough excitement in looking on.
One evening after the veterans had
begun playing gambling member of
club dropped in and asked to take a
hand. He seemed greatly amused
about something difficult to account
for, as during the first half hour he lost
heavily. At last he grew serious, and
when it came his turn to deal he de-
manded new pack, of cards, In a
moment a waiter with a scared face
brought fresh pack of club
cards. with the club monogram on their
backs. When the cards were dealt
each player in turn decided to stay in
and put up $40 ante until it came to the
dealer. He quietly laid his hand down
and decided to stay out. Each man
drew one card, and then the betting be-
gan fast and furious. ''Raise" followed
s'raise" in quick succession, until all
the chips and money were heaped in
big pile on the table.
1t was agreed that each player should
sign his name to a piece of paper stat
ing the amount of his raise, which should
be redeemed by check after the hand
was decided. Then the game went on.
Quickly the news spread through the
club that phenomenal hand was being
played and the card-room became
crowded. Members of the Pacific club
rushed into the Union club to see the
game. Men stood ON chairs and tables,
looking over each others heads in a
frantic endeavor to see the players. In
the meantime the gentleman who had
dealt the cards had left the table and
slipped out. The silence was profound,
except the scratching of the pencil, the
rustic of paper, and the sound of cards.
Il see you and raise you ten thou
sand!" exclaimed a player.
Every man at the table was worth
more than a million, and each player
had bet more than half that sum. There
were over two millions of cash on the
table. At last the lawyer made propo
sition. He said it was evident that no
one in the game was willing to call. so
he proposed that each one should put
up $4,000 more and then all show their
hands. This was agreed to. The SEN
ator reached out his hBnd and began to
draw the immense pot toward him, re-
marking as he did SO that, having the
best hand in the pack, he would take
the money. He had moved the big pile
but few inches wnen he was stopped.
Each of the other players also claimed
the best hand in the pack. The cards
were quickly shown. Each man held
four kings and an ace.
The young man who dealt the cards
left San Francisco that night, while
four gray-headed gentlemen patrolled
the streets armed with shotguns.