St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-12

success at draw poker won for him the
pseudOnym Of Poker McCooI,' and /
venture to say If one were to take trip
down the river to-day he could find q
small army of ante-rebellion slaves who
were either won Or lost at poker by Nc
Cool.
''MeCool spent much of his time at
New Orleans, and he became con-
spicuous equestrian figure there in
time. He owned big black stallion,
for which he paid 81, GOO, and when he
was astride of the animal he was an
attractive Object-he and the horse. He
thought much of the animal and money
could not have touched him. Well. on the
afternoon am speaking about McCOol
got into a poker game (good old draw
poker it was) with wealthy gambler
named Brady. Neither McCOol nor
Brady belonged to temperance Or
ganiZation, and feature of the game
was the frequent turning of the low
card for drink. It was about sun
down when the deal began which ended
the game and left McCooi afOot and
bankrupt.
1.-The deal was Brady's, and the first
card had been given to each of them
when McCOol wanted card turned for
another round of drinks. Brady turned
it, and four-spot fell to each. With
recklessness and gambling infOrmality
throughout. McCooI threw large
sum of money on the table and Brady
called it. 1t seemed to be merely bet
before the draw, and the players tacitly
understood in what manner it would be
won or lost. McCool called for another
card to be turned and it was DONE Each
got five-spot. McCool made another
addition to the pot, which Baady COW
cred, and third card was turned. Each
got six. Up to this time the players
had intended that, after deciding the
question of drinks, the draw should be
proceeded with: but now the tgame took
tie the hands without drawing, The fifth
card was accordingly turned. and
it was deuce. There was an immense
pile in the pot, and the interest among
the crowd, which was packed around
the table, was so intense and the silence
so deep that the ticking of the tall clock
behind the bar sounded like hammer
striking OH an anvil. Both men sat
deeply absorbed in study. McCool's
buried card was SIX spot, and he was
certain enough that his pair had Brady
beaten. Bradv'S buried card was tray,
and he had straight and sure thing.
His credit, sitting behind that hand,
was unlimited, and he was prepared to
play it out.
1.-The scene at this time was the most
impressive that l believe l ever wit
messed. l never saw an aggregation of
men so thoroughly impressed with the
fact that tremendous stake hung in the
balance. The betting proceeded slowly
but heavily until finally McCool had all
his earthly possessions represented in
the stake OIL the table except two OBJ
jects. One of these was his stallion,
outside, the other was his old negro
slave, who stood holding the horse.
Finally McCool ordered the negro to be
brought in, and Brady deposited $1,000
against him, at the same time raising
McCool S., 600.
AFTER some moments of cool study
McCOol told Brady that all he owned was
on the table with the exception of his
horse. He was willing to put him up
against the last bet that Brady had
| made. The proposition was accepted
and McCool ordered the horse to be led
in, and he was. The interest which
have described as attending the game
before now seemed intensified. ii that
were possible. and the picture there pre-
scented. with the faithful old slave stand
ing by his masters chair, the agony Of
the suspense which he was under
going plainly depicted upon hi
face, the magnificent horse, who SCENE 5
all but conscious of the wealth a
stake, and lastly the players and spec
tators, was one never to be forgotten.
When the betting was at last over and
nothing was lacking to decide the game
but the appearance of the two buried
cards, McCool called for a glass of
liquor. 1t was not until he had emptled
this that he asked to see his opponents
card.
when 1t was shown down he silently
got up from the table and walked
through the crowd, which parted for
his passage. out into the street. He
| never sat in game that drew crowd
again, and it was but few months
from that time when he disappeared
permanently from tine river. He was
the first man to lose big money a. stud
horse poker and he has had my re-
spectful sympathy ever SINCE"