Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-04
SPINOLA'S CARDS.
How the Celebrated General Played-Some
"Reminiscences.
nAELEs FREDERICK HOLDER.

Boston Globe.
Gen. Francis Il. Spinola, the member
of Congress from New York, who died a
few weeks ago, was one OF the greatest
enthusiasts on the subject OF draw
poker that this country has ever known,
saws the World. From his earliest con-
nection with local and State politics he
was an ardent student of the game, and
at the national capital up to the time
of his death he was regarded as an au-
thority on it. The General loved to
play poker as a recreation, but he al
most invariably won, and he attributed
his success to the fact that he had the
game down to science.
Gen. Spinola liked nothing better
than sitting in $50 limit game. He
never told, or at least he had the repu-
tation of telling poker story that was
not founded Oh fact.
Ambrose Purday sat with a party of
friends at Delmonico'S the other night
taking a bite after the theatre, and in
some or other the generals name was
mentioned in connection with poker.
There" said Mr.. Purdy, "now
you're talking about man who knew
more about that game in five minutes
than most people will ever know. Draw
poker was Gen. Spinola'S hobby, and he
had it figured down to an all-spice on
human nature basis. There is more
human nature in poker than il any
other game played with cards, and it
was because of his c.ose attention to
the game and thorough comprehension
of its possibilities that the general was
so fortunate at it.
''He has been called in Washington
the luckiest player of his time, but it
wasn't luck altogether that made the
general win. He had certain rules
which he always followed strictly. They
are very simple, and | believe man
who follows them will in the long run
come out considerable ahead"
There" said he, els the set of rules
Gen. SpinOla gave me years ago, and
believe by following them have helped
myself considerably, in financial way.
| will read them TO you.
Never raise one-card draw unless you
have full hand.
Never sit in d game unless your stomach
is right and your mind at ease. My eXper-
fence is that the best time to play is after d
good dinner.
Don't stay in jack pot with less than a
pair of sevens, unless you are the only man
in except the opener.
Always draw to u four-straig ht or four
flush.
Don't bet unless you have something to
bet on, unless you think the other players
think you have
Don't try to make your money win if the
cards are not running for you.
These rules are the only ones that the
General ever had" continued Mr.. Purdy,
land any poker-player will Immediately
see the force of them. do not suppose
there is man in the country who has
had as many thrilling experiences at the
poker table as the general had.
"Perhaps the most remarkable hands
ever held by four men in game were
dealt some years ago in quiet $40 limit
game at the old Blossom Club, which
was then the Tammany Hall social or
ganizaton. happened to be there on
the night in question. The General, Ike
Oliver and Jake Sharp, of Broadway
railroad fame, all of whom are now dead,
and Dick Flanagan, the eX-Coroner,
were playing The General never tired
of telling the story, and while it seems
almost impossible, | can bear witness to
its absolute truth.
"Oliver had been playing in pretty
hard luck for an hour or two, and he
called for a new deck of cards, which
he proceeded TO shuttle carefully, and
which were in due time cut and dealt.
1t was the Generals age. As was Gus
tomary, he made it s. to come. On
picking up his hand Sharp raised it $40.
Flanagan skinned over his cards and
made il $50. Oliver didn't look at his
hand until Flannigan'S money was in,
and to the surprise of everybody, he too,
raised il the limit. The old General
smiled as he made good the raises, and
remarked as he dropped in an extra
blue chip, AS you all seem to be in a
raising mood, Ill boost her myself
ITO make long story short, they
kept boosting each other for a long
time, and at the Generals suggestion
they all called. Oliver called 'cards?'
The General shook his head, and, with
Il grin, observed: I'D spoil my hand if
| took any 'Nuff here, said Sharp.
These will do me, chimSd in Flanni-
gan. and, with shrug of his shoulders.
Oliver put the pack in the middle Of