The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-11
Big Games at Poker.
Nashville American.

The passengers who travel the Cum- berland these days are seldom reminded of the exciting scenes wit messed around the gaming tables on the boats which traversed the stream thirty and forty years ago. Gambling in those days was heavy even in the Cumberland, and old river men retain recollections of them which they never tire of repeating to choice coteries, but it was on the Mississippi that the ideal gambler fiourished.
 For years gambling on the Missis- sippi has been theme written upon and read with interest. How the ideal planter got through with his patri- mony how sixty or seventy bales of cotton or fifteen colored people changed hands in few hours; but the gambler is always portrayed as slender, 1.-the and we'll formed youth with black hair, dark eyes, high boots and dirk, dashing cavalier sort of a fellow who would brook no insult. The bluff, good -natured, go-easy man of about thirty five, that did the win ming, has been ignored. Gambling was heavy, and all the large cot ton and passenger packets had forward the cabin a room about 20 by 25 feet, called the social hail. This hall was fitted up in the most luxurious style, with bar, chairs and card tables. At these tables all day and night the planters, river merchants and officers were wont to tempt fortune. The favorite game was draw poker but in those times the gentlemen would bet on anything, from what kind of fish a man would catch on his line to steamboat race, and the more man lost the bigger lion he was. Even DOW gambling is carried on to a great extent on all rivers, especially on the Red and Illi- nois rivers.
 The most successful gamblers in onte- bellum days were George Brooks and "Bullet- neck" Green, so called from bullet that was lodged in his neck. This latter gentleman played at and won in the biggest game ever played on the Mississippi. It was game of draw poker between himself and three other planters. Green had about twenty thousand dollars on board the boat, but the other fellows had oversized his pile, and the game was $100 ante with no limit. Green held remarkable hand, and had staked his last dollar, but still no one would "call" him. So, motioning the captain of the vessel to him, he asked for loan, as he did not want to be run out of tho game. To this the captain as- sented, knowing Green to be very wealthy man, and he told the clerk to let him have any amount. When these preliminaries were settled the players went on raising the stakes un- til $200,000 was on the board, when one of the players called, and Green deliberately laid his cards face down on the table and said: "Boys, if 1 win this pot I will never turn another card;" then "showed up" four aces and king-a hand that can't be beat -as matter of course, winning. It is estimated that this man won over $250, 900 at cards.
 The gambler in the days of slavery seldom cheated, and when he did and was discovered at it he could be found a few minutes after with a bowie
 knife or bullet in him, more likely the former, for then it was favorite weapon, used with great dexterity,
 being thrown by experts over twenty feet and driven through mark on a two inch plank. It was very seldom a game was played without every par ticipant having his revolver or bowie on the table; but now the players are on the bunko order, and the ones they swindle less nervy. Who that have
 lived in those years and the present will not declare for Monte Carlo days?