The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-27
GOOD POKER STORIES.
,yrEREsTING TALES ABOUT TIE
GREAT AMERICAN GAME.

ros.s- Of Ohio Tells of a Poker Game
80 Was only a Game of Euchre-
comedian De Wolf Hopper Tells OF a
$50 that Would Cause ANY Man
- Lose Faith in Human Nature
rditor Frank EattoD, Smith NJ.
waed. Capt. Billy Coanor, the Mezi-
oan ONYX King. Max O'Ren, and
Others Relate Their Experience.
tOopUriahted, 1901
NV, YORK. July 26.-No game is likely
a. sncceed the great American game of
draw poker, and at this season of the year
:, eorve3 TO while away an idle hour on the
rail in the mountain camp, on the deck of
che becaImed yacht, or IN the dull watches
Of the seaside hotel. If all the good poker
stories that have been told could be collect
od and put in book form, the result would
ba q volume of absorbing interest. Below
will he found a few good stories told by
mon whose names are household words:
pr1y FLORENCE TELLS SOME GOOD
STORIES.
..Whlle poker is considered a national
,,ame must confess" said Billy Florence.
ssba actor. that / have seen it played
chiefly in an international way, l. e., on
board British steamships carrying Ameri-
can passengers. l only play cards en- route
"a Europe to pass away the time-nothing
else, and then l do not gamble. Once, some
wears ago. was playing a theatrical en-
gsgement in Louisville, KY, and was III
Sjted to visit and participate in late sup
rer after tie performance was over. Among
those Who were to be at the supper was the
noted editor, Henry Watterson. The
theatrical performance was very long,
and it was getting near midnight when |
arrived at the bachelor apartments. |
had no sooner arrived than | noticed some
little excitement among the gentlemen
present. 1t seems that game of draw had
ended and q count was being made OF
moneys. | had no alternative but to wait
developments, and they came soon enough.
A big dispute arose across the table and In an
instant Watterson was on his feet, pistol in
hand, and trying to aim at his antagonist,
a well-known gentleman. | knew that
blood was going to be shed right there, so
Jumped up and threw my arms around the
editor Others caught his arm and kept it
up 50 if the pistol was discharged it would
only damage the ceiling.
THE other gentleman was ferocious, and,
although he was held by strong men |
thought he would break loose every second
and fire right into US. Great beads Of per-
spiration stood out upon my forehead. |
pleaded with the Kentuckian not to shoot
that he would regret it. The more pleaded
ard tried to keep his pistol arm up, the
more he attempted to break away. Every
Instant | expected to hear the crack, crack
of revolvers and 10 see the Keeling form of
gentleman perforated with large bullet.
| pictured the direful consequences and
the blame. The latter would partially,
at least, rest upon me, because |
vas the guest of the evening ana
the gathering was in my honor. In
our struggle to keep the two men apart,
tables were overturned, chairs were
knocked down and the money on the table
somehow disappeared like magic. Finally
/ caught Wauterson's pistol in my hand,
and then the lamentable truth flashed like
an electric shock through me, to wit: |
was being guyed and the whole fight was
concocted to fool me- The pistol was
nothing but bootjack, one that is small
and when folded resembles the shape of
pistol | was completely taken i'll and
need scarcely say that the smiles were on
me. That was the most exciting game of
poker that | ever INDUCED in.
"a funny game of poker was played in
Texas just at the beginning of the war;
Col. Jack W., who afterward lived in New
Orleans, was the hero of this poker story
He was colonel of q Texas regiment that
had just been mustered into the service
They had been in camp some time when it
was discovered that about half the men in
the regiment were rather sUraight-laced and
orthodox in their views, while the other
half were fond of sport, cards, dice, dog
tights and any game of chance. One night
laundering big game of draw poker was
going Oh in the colone's shanty. Candles
were lit and five men sat around an impro-
vlsed table. deeply absorbed in the game, and
betting largely but cautiously A good
deal OF money was in the jackpot when
Col. W. opened it for $50. Three others
stood the open and one passed out, leaving
only four to draw. Now the colonel by some
miracle of luck held full hand Just as
ire dealer asked him how many cards he
would take, there came rap at the door
and voice asking il Col. w. was in. There
was no mistaking the voice of the chaplain,
and in second every candle was extin-
gulshed. The colonel whispered: Don't
touch the pot or move card until | get
I'D of him. He went to the door and the
chaplain came partly in. The colonel held
the door with one hand and with the other
he kept tight grip upon his five winning
cards. After the interchange of few
words the chaplain said in a mournfu
voice:
Well, kernel, the boy is dead and we
want to give him big military funeral
The boy was young man who came from
t1e upper part OF Texas and enlisted when
Inc regiment was first organized He was a
GOOD soldier and a veteran, although no
battle or sklrmish had been thrust upon the
regiment. The colonel wanted the bow to
nave military funeral, and told the chap
IAN to go ahead and do it in style. Then
ne whispered aside TO the four PLAYERS not
70 touch or disarrange the cards. Instead of
gong, the en- lplaln dallied to get informa-
tlon about military funeral. Now, under
oruinary circumstances the colonel would
nave Kept the candles lighted and per-
United the game TO go on, but he was
elected colonel on the strength of being very
Sralght-laced, and he did not wish to ap-
pear III different guise to his constituents
at least one-half of them.
Amt music used, kernel, in a military
funeral" asked the chaplain.
Inc colonel said: Yes, waltz him off
with hddles and drums And added that
the body would be borne on the shoulders of
Tour or six soldiers. In fact. the colonel was
not so well posted himself. 1t was the first
military funeral in Texas during the con-
federecy.
Amt we got to shoot over his grave,
kerneln oo'
Yes, think that is the correct military
code III such cases, replied the colonel.
by this time the strain upon the coloners
patience was so great he could hardly re-
ram from slamming the door in the chap
laln's face.
Amt We