Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-02
A MONARCH BLUFFED.
King Kalakaua Gets the Worst of q
Poker Game.

From the Honolulu Begun.
Elijah Dumbees, an American, came to Hon.
olulu last week on the steamer Sea Gull from
San Francisco. He registered at the Civilian
House, and for few days has been familiar
figure about town. Yesterday afternoon he
dropped in to see the king, as all newcomers
are apt to do. King Kalakaua invited the
genial American to stay to tea, and Mr.. Dunn
bees consented. During the meal the Ameri-
can told his host the story of q gambling game
on board the vessel that brought him to Homo
lulu, and boosted that he could outplay any
man on earth in game of poker. King Kala-
kaua replied that he occasionally INDUCED in q
social game himself, and when the meal was
over, the two adjourned to the throne room,
and the king ordered q mental to bring out
pack Of cards.
The Yankee drew forth half dozen gold
pieces and made little pile in front of him
with them. The king followed his example,
and the chips were divided. Dumbees dealt
and kalakaua changed three cards. The Amer
lean kept his full hand, to the surprise of his
opponent. Dumbees bet blue chip on his
hand, and after little hesitation our great
and good ruler advanced its equal and went
him five better. Then Dumbees counted out
four reds and placed them in the center of the
table. His majesty remarked that bluff didn' I
go in that part Of the world, and pushed out
enough to balance his opponents bet and then
doubled the amount on the raise. Dumbees
put up another hundred better, and the king
began to weaken. He called the hands and
laid down three kings. Dumbees had pair of
five spots
Kalakaua brushed the chips over to his side
OF the table and ordered an attendant to bring
In pail of beer. Then the cards were dealt
again and the game went on. For an hour the
Yankee lost steadily, and then there came a
halt. Dumbees had dealt the hand and neither
changed card. The Begun reporter shifted
his position in the transom of the door over
looking the game and kept his eye open for
fun. The American reached down into his
pocket and laid in front of him small noun
tain of coins and bills. Then he deliberately
bet twenty blue chips that his hand was the
superior of the two. Our respected monarch
thought otherwise, and after careful inspec-
ton of his cards advanced him twenty better.
Dumbees advanced him back again. and the
king returned the compliment. Then the
Yankee counted out every cent he had on the
board and placed it in the pot.
Kalakaua trembled, but he didn't want to
have it said that an ordinary American citizen
could bluff royalty, and he slowly equaled the
pile and then doubled it. The pile of chips,
coins and bills hid the table from view, but the
Yankee never faltered. He went down into his
pocket again and counted out little more
money. The king said he had enough, and
made his pile equal his opponents. Then he
looked at Dumbees, and that individual laid
down pair Of jacks. The king spread his
cards on the table, and our reporter heard him
mutter gloomily:
1.-TWO tens"
The American left for home on this morn
ing's boat. but the rumored deficiency in the
treasury department is in no way connected
with the poker game. 1t was started by mali
clous person engaged on the editorial staff of
the HOnOlulu Eil5