Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-01-22
A BIG POKER GAME.
WINNING 4 WHOLE TOWN BY THE TURN
OF \ CARD.
Biz Stakes il al Exciting Game Played IL W!ud-
Swept DaAoa-How Judd La aaores
DeuceS Deity Raaei
the Pot.
), n.n-L.n.,m L,L.rgn N-r,t.

- Paul L.0fr ia fiiGHyo HuHit
AwaY back in the lifties, when the
northern portion of the territory OF Dakota
was hardly more than Il bleak waste Of un,
cultivated lands, the own Of Pembina was
founded by Enos Stutsman. Some readers
of the Hrrdd may remember him. lie was
a man as remarkable for his eccentriclties
rs he was for his physical detormities.
Enos enigrated to Dakota from the buckle
berry districts of Connecticut, and located
in the Upper Red River valley, where he
tiled ard proved upon 800 acres OF govern
ment land, which was the ground on which
Pembina now stands.
Enos was a prodigy. lie had the head
and body of a giant, but his legs were
hardly more than a foot long, and he was
unable to travel without the aid of two
short and powerful clutches. He was a
shrewd, calculating fellow, aud soon be-
came the recognized leader among the
handful OF emigrants who had taken up
their residence in his ueighborhood. As a
political diplomat he has never had an
equal in the territory, and for four consec-
utiye sessions he was chairman
Of the Council, the upper branch
Of the Territorial Legislature, and
the cid war horses who weathered
the political battles Of early days in the
Territory, when the old stOry-aud-a-h half
shanty ut YanktOn that did humble duty
as a capital building rang rs often with the
report Of u revolver as with the voice of q
lLSmakcr, to-day testify in glowing terms
10 the wonderful ability of EnOs Stutsman
~ a parliamentarian. Eight years ago he
WIS taken suddenly i'll ana died. lie was
buried in the lonely cemetery on the hill
side a halt mile north Of Prmhina. The
only monument that stands to his memory
is the county Of Stutsman, which is now
Que Of the most prosperous districts in the
northern half Of Dakota.
Among his other accomplishments En0s
had acquired n thorough knowledge OF the
game OF draw poker, Tor which he hal IN
uncomfortable passion, and many ale the
stories told by his old aCquaIutancss ui his
reckIessness ut the card table. lie num-
hered among his most intimate friends
Judd La MOuTe, a pioneer who owned Il
line Of stage coaches plying between Grand
Forks and Prmbiua. The advent Of the
railroads killed Judd'S coach line finally,
and he settled down into Il profitable gIJ-
Gerry business IN Pcmblua, which he now
manages, glyinga share of lis time u local
politics, keeping q sharp eye on Territorial
affairs generally.
Probably the sliGest game of poker ever
played in the Territory was the one con
tested by these men in -. The game
was played in the old Leyer Hotel IN
IanktOn aud lasted from O'Clock Friday
evening till 3 o'clock Sunday morning, and
at the close OF the game Judd La Moure
had won Is, 500 and the town site Of Penn
bina, the greater par, OF which he owns to-
day. The game created public interest
and during its progress the people of the
town visited the room and watched the
two men as they fought like hull dogs over
the piles OF red, white and blue chips TIA"
Legislature was n session, AID Is Stats
man, who was chairman Of the Council,
refused to leave the game, that branch Of
the Legislature adjourned until the follow
ing Monday and the members watched the
game 20 the finish.
When the game started Alien Mckenzie,
Sheriff Of HuTIrlgh county, aud Major FL.
wards, editor Of the Fargo .iygU,. were
interested in il, but after @ lrw hour, tua-
sic, with no change in their fortune, these
men dropped out and lett the battle TO
Stutsmau aud La Mourr. LIrly in the
game the formers luck was wonderfully
good, and he played with q brilliant reck-
~lessaess that surprised his friends. later
on the tide turned against him and the
chips began to How in the direction of Ia
MOurc, who sat with his SLOUGH hat
pulled down over his eyes, closely
watching every move Of his opponent.
Slowly but surely Stutsman's chips
went over to La MOuTe's side OF the table,
aud work what trick OF a~rtiiice he would,
he could not turn them back. Matters
went thts way until past midnight Sltur-
day, when Stuts threw two 500 bills on he
Pile Of chips in the centre OF the table and
called a 500 bet made by La MUuTe.
Stutsman neld a king full Oh queens, aud
he felt sure that the pot WAS his, but when
La Moure threws Town his cards there were
four deuccs, and Stutsman, grittiug his
teeth, exclaimed, "D Il it, Judd, the devil
himself couldn't beat you tonight. I'm
broke; you've got my last dollar
Cant help it, Slut. 1t come my way
and l had to rake IT in, - replied Judd, as
he showed 4 big roll OF Stutsnan's money
into his pocket.
Stutsman eyed the roll obviously, and
Just a il went ont Of sight lie struck the
table with his fist and said.
Judd, I'll tell You what III do.
You've won s $500 Of nay money. If
you'll put -, 500 more with it I'll stake
the town site OF Pembina against it and
we'll play for it in a lump to win or losca.
one deal
do you mean it, asked Judd, incTed-
ulou,.y.
you bet do, replied Stutsnan, EN-
p~hatically.
"All right, its a 20, " said Judd, As he
threw down s., 200 in bills and drew =
check for -, 600 to make up the balance.
My word is good, amt it, Judd, ~ ask
ed Stutsman, looking across the table.
''As good rs gold, " replied Judd.
Then, ~ continued Stutsman, I'll ! lose,
I'll deed you 32O acres OF land in the cen
ire of the town of Pembina,"
The men shook hands. According to
agreement the hand Wa to be dealt by T..
4. Williams, OF Bismarck, Speaker Of the
House Of Representatives, the cards to be
thrown un the table lGce up. When the
| five cards had been dealt each man Wa
! to discard aud draw, the cards being
thrown face up by the dealer as before,
and when the caIds had been dealt the man
| holding the highest hand was to take the
pot.
Excitement ran high, aud to prevent any
! lickrry on his pat Williams was seated
in ,iy centre Of the table, with his legs
turutl under him like a Turk, III the full
/ g}arc Of the oil lamp that was suspended
nom The ceiling. The friends Of the two
men crowded around the table, end VII
Hams WAS threatened with summary treat
meut i. lie should IN any manner manipu-
late the cards SD 4. - give either mar an
ADVANTAGE. Deity Williams shurlIed the
cards, and squar,lg them slipped one from
the toy OF the pack and laid II down under
|.IuNl's nose. Il was Il deuce. SUITS
man caught the queen ri
,p,dcs. The next card came cu.
and Judd caught another deuce. The
four spot Of spades turned up under Shuts