Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-25
A BIG P0KER-POT.
ONE GAME IN WHICH MONEY IN THE
TREASURY WAS PUT UP.
Tho Story OF an Er-Guard Of tho Treasury
Department in Washington-S45,-
000.O staked on . Turn.
Washington Stnr.l

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 unpleasantness. well. gentle
tlemen," remarked the latter. "the big
gest hand ever played in this country. or
in any other as for that. was one l saw
played 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 re-
Piled. AT that time" he resumed. Il
was IN command of number of veterans,
not one of them a complete man, as re-
CARDS the usual complement OF arms aud
legs allotted by nature, who lad been.
together with myself, selected by
the War Department at the request
OF the Secretary OF tho Treasury,
10 guard the Treasury vaults. Some
half dozen Of these men were nightly
locked up by me IN the vaults. The time,
az You NAV imagine, passed slowly and
tedlously enough for men not long return
ed from the danger and excitement OF war,
and one night pack of cards was pro-
duced 10 while away the time. Very natu-
rally the game suggested was the seductive
one of poker. Mono of the boys were very
flush. so tho limit was fixed at an exceed
ingly low figure.
WELL SUPPLIED.
The game continued right through the
night until about o'clock IN the morning.
when about the only man pecuniarily able
n trrn Ns.r raH
somewhere ont West. There were two
others. however, who, although broke.
were very anxious to continue playing.
Ono was one-legged chap from
down East, and the other was a man
from New York, whose left arm was
missing at the elbow. Both OF
these men were. however, opposed
to borrowing. 50 the Yankee suggested
that each should supply himself with a GER
tain amount of Unclo SANS millions. when
lay about the vault securely sealed IN
packages containing from several thou
sands 10 millions of dollars, and play but
one hand. The novelty OF the idea caught
them at once and in a moment or TWO
each OF the three men had supplied him.
self with sl5,0OO0OO.
ANTE AND LIMIT.
It was agreed that 100000 should be
| the ante and $500 900 the limit. The New
| Yorker got tho deal, and the fellow from
New England coolv slapped down his
ante of 100000. When the cards had
been dealt the New Highlander called for
| three, the westerner SAID he was salts
fed with what he had. and the man from
| New York gave himself two cards.
| There were three antics Of SlOO,OOJ each
in. when the fellow from the West
made his bet of another @lO0.0OO.
| Tire New Yorker dropped in enough
to raise that insignificant sum Just
! double. while the Yankee came Ill at the
| limit There was then something over n
cool million IN the pot. The western chap
remarked that he had them right there,
and suggested that the limit be dispense
with. The Down Easter at first demurred,
but finally agreed. The Hoos!er-l re-
member now be was from Ind ANA pitched
In q five million bet, which tho fellow from
I New York saw and raised another halt
| million. The New Engiander made him
self SOLID and rested. Blood was IN the
| eve Of tho HoOsler, 50 he chipped IN
| five millions more. The Now ork chap
wa, game and responded with RAISE OF q
| couple of millions. Tho Yankee hesltated
| night there. but once more made himself
square. Tho fellow from Indiana then
| pitched III what he had left. Inc New
| Yorker remarked those were his senti-
ments exactly. There was. nothing lcft
| for the Yankee to do but to stay
in TO the finish, which he. did. 4
show of hands followed for the pot OF
S45. OOO. 900 To the surprise of every one.
the man from the East rakcd 1t IN on a PAIR
of kings. The New Yorker showed a par
of sovens, while the Hoosiers great 6luihng
| propensities were shown when be DIS
| closed the fact that he had nothing what
| ever. Right there. gentlemen, took pos
| session of the pasteboards. and no other
! pack ever made its appearance there again
while was in command. | made the boys
swear to keep mum. and | guess am the
first fellow TO give 1t away"