The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-27


clally when ones cash is short.
Maj. Blank was one Of the PLAYERS,
ana the way be won was aims: miracu-
lcus- Now, this major was in the habit
OF saying what came 10 his mind, even at
the most critical moment Of the game. A
big jackpot was opened and the major ard
two others stayed IN. One or two bets
were made aud one gentleman dropped out,
leaving the maJur and gentleman, who
had lost nearly all the evening, ill., IL was
the majors turn 20 say, and he bet heavily
ills opponent had small. sickly pile of
cEIps, the remnant of a pyramid, and he
gazed deSparlngly at them. Instead of
putting up his chips he began TO scratch his
head with one hand ana mediate. The
major gazed at him auxiously, waiting to
see what be would do, call or throw up his
hand. Tho head scratching continued and
the majors patieLce was soon exhausted
he half rose up in his chair and said in a
loud, determined voice: Wei, sir, we are
telling chips, not wits, and you Just stop
scratching your head 1t was too much,
and the other player burst into laughter.
THE major raked IN the Jackpot
JAKE SHARP AND HIS FRIENDS UPSET.
We'll, have seen some big poker games
at Albany while | was al asssmblYman,
says Hon. Lunk NJ. Weed. Zone night l
saw Jim Morrissey lose in cold cash 800, 600
But the most amusing game of poker |
know of occurred during the war at the
Delavan house, Albany, in room 454 The
late Jacob Sharp, of Broadway surface rail-
road notoriety, was the occupant of room
454, and he sat around the table with Harry
Genet prince Hail, Henry Smith and
Others whom l do not care to mention. OF
course there was great deal of war excite
nent and the federal forces were hammer
ing away at Richmond Va. These poker
players were locked in and betting heavily.
They were obliviouS to war and rumors of
war while engaged in such an absorbing
game.
THE news came that Richmond had
fallen, and certain aSsemblyman, whose
name Is lmmaterial, rushed along the CORR
dor with several others to the door of room
454. Finding it locked, in an instant the
assemblyman was boosted to the Skylight or
transom just above the door, He got half
way in, balanced for brief moment, and
without warning his friends pushed him
headlong into the room. He fell right
across the center of the table, the chips flew
in every direction, and $1,000 in bills
tumbled all over the floor. The legs of the
table snapped in two like straws, and the
lucky assemblyman was on his feet in an
Instant unhurt. At that moment the door
was pushed open, and before a dollar could
be picked up the room was filled with men,
The poker players got their money, but
great excitement prevailed, and much
amusement was extrs cted from the players
who, of course, did not fancy the rude way
they were interrupted, even if Richmond
had fallen.n
MAN O'RELL TELLS OF A DRAMATIC SCENE.
Poker 1 am not familiar with. although
know it is a great American game. L re-
member ludicrous, and TO me a highly
amusing Incident that occurred at a gam
bling table while | was standing by. Dur
ing the Frenco-Prussian war | was captured
and placed in a German prison. At one
time several of us prisoners were paroled
for few days and permitted to visit the
city OF Neisbaden. Big gambling was in
progress there then, and OF course we saw
the sights. Ole night stood near rouge
ct nor table and watched a number bet
their money. A German workman stood
by betting small sums, winning
and losing with Indifferent success.
Around went the little ball in the
slots of the wheel of fortune, and long be-
fore it had time to settle the workman had
put down all he had, 500 fir mes, on the red.
The black won, but before the croupier
could rake down the money the workman
selzed his 800 francs, and sayi e: Il will
not let my children aud wife starve; It's all
the money | have in the world he rushed
out. The fellows action was intensely
dramatic and natural, and yet the whole
scene was SO ludicrous could not refrain
from laughing heartily. For once the
nervy croupier did not know what to do.
he sat still III amazepent and permitted the
poor workman to go away No one be-
grudged the workman his own money!
HENRY wATTERsoN's GREAT NERVE.
j. NJ. Hill, manager Of the st. James
hotel, New York city, says: Il never play
cards on general principles. Still, | know
what game of Joker is if | should acct
dentally stumble on one. Now, as to rat
ting good players, who bet in Napoleonic
way that fairly lifts the hair on a novice's
head, suppose that Henry Watterson of
Louisville, Ky. would take the pre- mum.
He is breezy, and has dashy way that no
one can resist admiring. | heard of game
of poker he played where he was sadly
caught on big bluff He was at the table
with j. P. Dougherty, whom everybody in
this city ought to know il they
do not, and several other first-class
players. The mere fact that Watterson was
in the gam was Sufficient to indicate
that now and then big stakes were placed
on the table. 1t was jackpot poker, and
now and then the pot became alarminely
large. But Watterson did not grow dizzy
and he bet with cavalier sang froid. The
fact is, the great EDITORS poker nerve is the
admiration of thousands of players His
face does not change, no matter if he is
betting nigh on bobtail flush Some one
opened the jackpot and Watterson and
Dougherty came in, each drawing three
cards. When it came Watterson's TURN to
bet he coolly put up $780, The Jackpot con-
tanned several hundred besides, and no one
wanted TO give up at once. But the assured
way in which the editor put up bis bet
caused all to drop out except Dougherty.
He saw the bet and raised it another
hundred. Watterson never hesitated, but
went another hundred better All the
others at the table began to feel sorry for
Dougherty, for they imagined that the
editor had a big winning hand and was
drawing his opponent on After three 500
bets had been made Dougherty, to the
astonishment of those present, called Wat
terson. The latter put his hand on the
table and showed that he had been betting
on a pair of deuces. Dougherty raked in
something like $1,000 with n pair Of sewers
Every one present admired the editors
bluffing nerve, but great praise was be-
slowed upon Dougherty for his unbounded
confidence in a pair of sevens. No one can
tell when Watterson is bluffing or betting
on big hand, and that is one reason why
he is such great player.
"When Mr.. Wallon kept the st. James
hotel many years ago, be was very success
full He was like Midas, everything he
touched turned into gold. | was standing be-
hind the Office counter one day when John
T. Raymond suddenly entered the corridor
I'D M ybo