The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-10-01
RICE'S POKER GAME.
He Won $3.50, 900 According to His own |
Unsupported story.

He Won $2sO,OOO According to His own
Unsupported story.
New York Sun: The reported big win
ming of Jim Reschler at a milling house
at Long Branch the other night has started
ali the old sports to recounti < their valor-
Gus deeds with cards. So far the story told
by Uncle Dan Rice overtops them all.
Uncle Dan is the old circus clown. He is
quite vigorous in spite of his seventy odd
years. No one knows exactly how old
Uncle Dan is. He says be doesn't know
himself, but is looking for some one famil-
lar with New York history to enlighten
Iim. Il was born on the last day they
picked blackberries in Chatham square,"
ne says, ''and any body who knows when
that was can tell how old l am.
when they talk about winnin' money
at cards" be said, .'tney make me tired.
Why, they don't bet big money nowadays.
They amt got the money IN the first place,
and II they have they amt got the nerve 10
put 10 no What's $50 900? Shot Why, /
won S2S0O0O one night, playin' poker. /
won il from two smart gamblers, too, Can
ada Bill and George Il. PettibOne. On,
they were cunnin', but your Uncle Dan
was too smart for 'em. l could outbet
'em, ye see. | knew 'em. George Petit
bone taught me to play chuck-a luck, and
HO0 my money, Out got even Win nifn-
Ut WAS this way. l had my circus in
Cincinnati IN 1851. The cholera broke out
ard we had 10 get away. So 1 loaded the
whole burned circus on boat and started
for Pitisburg. Drew all my money from
the bank and put it aboard l had about
$3.50, 600 In cash. Carried it in a safe in
my stajerOOm. People was dyin' on the
lower decks, and Canada Bill, PettibOne,
my ringmaster, named Fowler, went up
stairs TO play poker. Did that 20 keep our
q Hnr.fr .
We started in at quarter limit.
Then we gOt TO playfn' no limit
game, and had 'em then. | had dollars
to their buttons. About 4 O'Clock in the
mornin' we got 70 bettin' on q hand. All
had big hands. We played with a short
deck. Took everything below the tens out
and threw 'em overheard. Bill and Petit
bone had everything on the table-mOney,
watches, diamonds and eyerJ thing. l told
Fowler 10 watch 'em, and | went back To
my stateroOm sud got $3.50 900 out o. tre
safe. My wife says-gOOd woman my wife
she says:
Where you gOin' with that money!
armfuI
''Goin' to bet it, says.
mo, you amt, she ssys.
Yes am | says, and / slammed the
door.
ii threw it on the table. There SAWS
TO Blu and Pettib0ne, Il raise yOu that
They demanded a sight. 1 wouldn't give
Il 70 EN- Ii was no limit game, don't YOU
see, ana they couldn't see my hand with
out putin up the money. They didn't have
any more.
"Ihey drew bowie knives Yes. sir.
bowie knIves-great big long fellers.
whispers 20 Fowler, / say: 'Swipe the
swsg and sherry your nibs' That's slang.
you know Then L says to Bill aud Petit
bone, says: Hold on, hold on: don't less
have any trouble and while | was sayin'
that picks up a chair and hits 'em both.
On, damned 'em good. Lord, | was a
strong young feller then. People came
runpln' out in their night clos'-greRt ex-
cltsment. The cspin wanted to throw Bill
and PettlbOne overheard. but l wouldn't
let him. gave 'em their watches back.
handed my wife big diamond TiIR.
4, I1at SHUT her up. Then 1 promised her
have