The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-23
A BIG POKER POr.
One Cams in Which the Money in the
Treasury Was Put Up.

One Cams in Which the Money in the
Treasury Was Put Up.
From the Warrington Star.
A group Of gentlemen we're 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 IN
pleasantnes.. well, gentlemen. remarked
the latter, "the biggest hand ever played in
this country, or 10 any other, as for that,
vas one sa~ played right here in Wash>
ington shortly after the close of the war.
That game was played where you would
never have dreamed Of"
Where was thatf' ne was asked.
I'm the vault Of the treasury" he replied.
"At that tins, he resumed, "I was in COM
mAnd Of number Of veterans, not one of
them q complete man, az regards the usual
complement Of arms and legs allotted by
nature, who had been, together with my
self, selected by the war department, at
the request of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, to guard the treasury vaults. Some
half dozen Of these men were nightly
locked up by me in the vaults. The time,
az you may imagine, passed slowly and te-
dious enough for men not long returned
from the danger and excitement of war :,
and one night PACK Of cards was produced
the game suggested was the seductive one
OF poker. None of the boys we're very
flush, SO the limit was placed at an exceed
ingly low figure.
THE game continued right through the
night until about o'clock in the morning
when about the only man pecuniarily able
to keep on was one-legged fellow from
somewhere out west. There were two others,
however. who, although broke, were very
YiOTIa aODtin1fa raiavinn yWa
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 bor-
rowing, so the yankee suggested that each
man should supply himself with 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 q moment or two each OF the
three men had supplied himself with Sl5,-
900 900.
at was agreed that $4,000 should be
the ante and $500, 900 the limit. The New
Yorker got the deal and the fellow from
New England coolly slapped down his ante
of 800 900. 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 were three antes
Of $I00, 600 each In, when the fellow from the
west made his bet of another 500, 000 The
New Yorker dropped in enough TO raise
that Insignificant sum just double, while
the yankee came 10 at the limit There was
then something over a cool million in the
pot. The western chap remarked that he
had had them right there, and suggested
that the limit be dispensed.
THE Down Easter at first demurred but
finally agreed. The Hoosier-I remember
now he was from Indiena-pitched in
five-million bet, which the fellow from New
York saw and raised another half million.
The New Highlander made himself solid and
rested. Blood was Ia the eye Of the Aoosier
so he ohipped 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 himself square. The fellow from In
diana then pitched in what he had left.
The New Yorker remarked those were
his sentiments exactly. There was nothing
left for the yankee to do but to stay in to
the finisn, which he did. A show Of hands
followed the pot OF S45, 100000. To the
surprise Of every one the man from the
east raked it in on a pair Of kings. The
| Nav Yorker showed pair Of sevens, while
the Hoosier's great bluf1ng propensities
were shown when he disclosed the fact that
! he had nothing whatever. Right there,
! gentlemen. | took possession OF the PASTE
| boards, and no other pack ever made it's ap.
pearance there again while was in com-
mand. | made the boys swear TO keep 1t
mum, and l guess l am the first fellow to
! give il awayn