St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-10
Many Prominent Experts Re-
late Their Exciting Ex-
periences.
Billy Florence Recalls Some
Very Interesting Mo
mentS.
Billy Connor, the Mexican
Onyx King, and others
Tell Tales.
How Many Big Hands We're
Beaten and What They
Cost.

in the mountain camp, on deck OF the
becalmed yacht or in the dull watches
of the seaside hotel says the New York
World. If all the good poker stories
that have been told could be collected
and put in book form, the result would
be volume Of ABSORBING interest.
CAPT. CONNGR's THRILLING STORY.
II must confess that am not poker
player, and have not lost any time at
Che card table," said Capt. Conner, of
the st. James hotel. "A magnificent
Mississippi river steamer was on her
way to New Orleans with cabin full
of passengers going 10 Mardi Gras.
The usual brass band that played STIR
ring airs at each town landing was
aboard. In the cabin were passengers
from all points along the river and some
from distant cities. OF course, there
was poker playing in the social hall of
the gentlemen's cabin, which was III the
front part OF the steamer.
when the boat landed at NatcheZ
big game was in full blast. A stranger,
rail-, handsome and well dressed, came
aboard. He had an honest. open cOun-
tenance, and won confidence the minute
any one looked at him. After he had
registered at the clerks desk and been
assigned to a Stateroom, he lit a cigar
and slowly Sauntered around. When he
came to the table where the big game of
poker was being played be sat down be-
hind one of the players. Now, 1t hap
pened that the man he sat behind was
not a professional gambler, out
his opponent across the table was
blackleg of the most expert
and cunning kind. The non-pro-
fessional, though, had plenty Of money
and bet freely. The handsome stranger
sat quietly behind the professional
and gave pointers to the gambler oppo-
site. He did it in such quick and tele-
graphic way that no one saw or even
Suspected him. The gambler, though,
saw and understood his signs thorough
". Finally the professional player
began to lose. If he had good hand
the gambler would either pass out or
bet and win. The stakes were raised
and several thousand dollars were on
the table in one pot. After the
non-professional had dealt the
cards he picked I'D his hand
and found four hearts and
club. The antes and raises were too
high to go out. and so he drew one card
to a flush and the gambler drew four
cards to a king high. The latter didn't
catch pair and the flush was not made.
In an instant the tall stranger commu-
nicated the fact to the gambler that his
opponent had a bobtail flush and only
queen high. Betting began in a bluffy
kind of way by the gambler putting up
a cool 81 900. The professional saw
it and went $4,000 better. They kept
raising each other until $4,000 was
up, when the gambler was called. He
took in the money with a king high and
the game came to an end.
The next morning the tall, hand
some stranger was Strolling on the hur-
ricane deck when he was met by the
gambler, who requested the pleasure of
meeting him alone in his (the gambler's)
stateroom. When they arrived there
the gambler carefully bolted the door
and said: Now, pard. l wish to divide
with you. Here are $4,000, half of our
winnings The tall stranger drew
back Indignantly and replied: Il do
not understand you. What do you owe
me $1,000 for?' Then the gambler eX-
planned that he always divided with
other professionals who gave away the
hands of gentlemen at the card table.
Without being embarrassed in the least
the stranger said: i just gave you
pointers because happened to sit be-
hind that man. If l had been be-
hind you would have given your hand
away to the other fellow. That is the
way l do; | don't want any money
With that remark he walked out of the
Stateroom. defy any one to match a
phase of character similar to that of the
handsome stranger. He got off at New
Orleans, and lives III New York to-day"
ssrUI,a nuvv TZiu0sSss Stories
Senior Cooper, the Mexican onyx king,
saws: "Poker is seductive game, and
so | never play 1t. Still, | know the
fine points of the game. One time
was going to Europe in a steamer and
witnessed remarkable game of poker
Some men are born cautious and KEEP
cool under trying circumstances. A
we'll known lawyer. noted for his Sclen-
tific way of butting at the poker table,
was one of the principals in the game
on this steamer. Three other men, sup
posed to be gentlemen, but one was &
professional gambler in disguise, were
engaged in the game. 1t was one Of
those five-dollar ante games, with NJ
limit. A One-hundred-dollar bet on
pair of trays or deuceS was not unc0m
mon. | knew the lawyer, and wanted
to tell him that suspected he was play
ing against one sharp at least but
could not get the opportunity. On the
afternoon of the first day of the poker
game a group of interested spectators
stood around the table. l was behind
the LAWYERS chair. The betting wa;
lively, and the lawyer won $4,000 in tel
minutes, and chiefly from the sharper
/ saw that the gambler was losing OF
purpose to bait the lawyer and make ;
big winning. The gambler dealt thu
cards, and the lawyer got three aces
He drew one card and got another ace
"Oniy the S. antes were up, and thu
LAWYER sat there with four aces in hi
hand, the biggest hand that could b,
dealt, except a royal sequence flush
which they had agreed not TO play whel
they began the game. The other play
ers passed out, and the lawyer careleSsl,
bet 50. 4 little hestancy on the par
OF the gambler, and he coolly wen
$1,000 better The lawyer suspected
trickery, but where could it be? H,
held four aces, and invincible hand
and yet the gambler evidently knew
what he was doing to bet so large
sum. 1t was trying situation. n,
one spoke. The lawyer counted GU
$500, but did not put it up. He pause'
and carefully looked at his five card
again. In an absent-minded way h
skinned the five cards through hi
hand, when 10. the trick was ex
posed. The lawyer had been givel
six cards by the sharp. TIL
sixth card was carefully glued to tn
fifth card, and as the cards were mad
of fine, thin linen, the double thickness
was scarcely noticeable. Any playe
having over five cards when hands ar
called loses or forfeits all of his rights
even if he has put up all of his money
Well, the gamblers four-ace trick wa
exposed, and the game closed by tn
lawyer denouncing him as a black!e
and cheat. 1t takes nerve to keep ffoI
betting four aces. Only a shrewd Law
yer would have detected the trick"
De Wolf Hopper Has Been There
De Wolf Hopper, the comedian, says
"If there is any game that will brin
out ones true nature it is draw poke
L do not speak as a coy neophyte, for
have dallied with the golden possibil
ties of a Jackpot until my bettlr