Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-07

One Game in which the Money in the Treas
ury'Was Put Up.

One Game in which the Money in the Treas-
ury'Was Put Up
A group Of gentlemen were discussing the
national game Of poker at the city hall the
other day, giving instances Of the big hands
they had seen or heard Of Among them was
. one-armed veteran Of the late unpleasant
ness. well, gentlemen" remarked the latter.
1.-THE biggest hand ever played in this country,
or in any other. a. for that, was one saw
played right here in Washington shortly after
the close of the war. That game was played
where you would never have dreamed Of"
"Where was that?" he was asked.
'In the vault Of the treasury" he replied.
Sat that time" be resumed, 81 was in COM
mand of number of veterans, not one Of them
q complete man, as regards the usual compile
ment Of arms and legs allotted by nature, who
had been, together with myself, selected by the
War Department at the request Of the Secretary
OF the Treasury to guard the treasury vaults
Some half q dozen Of these men were nightly
locked up by me in the vaults. The time, as
you may imagine, passed slowly and tediously
enough for men not long returned from the
danger and excitement CT war, and enc night
pack Of cards was produced &c while away the
time. Very naturally, the game suggested was
the seductive one of poker. None Of the boys
were very flush, so the limit was placed
at an exceedingly low figure. The game
continued right through the night until
about 8 o'clock in the morning, when
about the only man pecgniarily able
to keep on was a one-legged fellow from sons
where out west. There were two others, how
ever, who, although broke, we're very anxious
to continue playing. One was aone-legged chap
from down east, and the other was n man from
New York, whose left arm was missing at the
elbow. Both of these men were, however.
opposed to borrowing, 80 The Yankee suggested
that each man should supply himself with a
certain amount OF Uncle Sans millions, which
lay about the vault securely sealed in packages
containing from several thousands to millions
OF dollars, and play but one hand. The novelty
of the idea caught them at once, and in a mo-
ment or two each of the three men had sup
piled himself with SIS 100000 It was agreed
that S1OO, 600 SHOULD be the ante and $500, 900
the limit The New Yorker got the deal and The
fellow from NewEugland coolly slappedd down his
ante of 100000. When the cards had been
dealt the New Highlander called for three, the
Westerner said he was satisfied with what he
had, and the man from New York gave himself
two Cards. There we're three antes of 800, 900
each in. when the fellow from the west mado
his bet Of another 100000. The New Yorker
dropped in enough to raise that Insignificant
sum just double, while the Yankee came in at the
limit There was then something over q cool
million In the pot. The western chap remarked
that he had them right there, and suggested
that the limit be dispensed with. The down
easter at first demurred, but finally agreed.
The hoosier-I remember now he was from
Indiana-pitched in fve-million bet which the
fellow from New York saw and raised another
half million. The New Englander made him
self solid and rested. Blood was in the eye of
the hoosier. SO he Clipped in five millions more.
The New York chap was game, and responded
with raise Of a couple Of millions. The Yankee
hesitated right there. but once more made him.
self square. The fellow from Indiana then
pitched in what be had left. The New Yorker
remarked those were his sentiments exactly.
There was nothing left for the Yankee 10 do
but to stay in to the finish, which he did.
show Of hands followed for the pot of S45,-
700. 600. To the surprise Of every one. the man
from the east raked it in on a pair of kings.
The New Yorker showed a pair of sevens, while
the boosters great bluffing propensities were
shown when he disclosed the fact that he had
nothing whatever. Right there gentlemen, 1
took possession Of the pasteboards, and no
other pack ever made its appearance there
again while l was in command. / made the
boys swear to keep it mum, and guess am
the first fellow to give it away"