The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-14

.Shueu 10 De caught, and Grain at once
ately Boyd leaped to his feet seized two
chairs, and threw them into the air, One
VI them struck Boyd as it fell, and he
aTew the pistol he had ready. crying:
tram, you hit me with chairn'
had been drinking somewhat" SAYS
1fain IN teiling the story, 'but my in
ssinos a. criminal lawyer came TO my aid
In flash. saw that his purpose was to
claim self-defence in shooting me. So.
without stirring from my seat. pointed
my finger at Boyd, who had covered me
with his gun and said: Boyd, YOU know
that isn't true. l haven't touched you.
III you want to fight I'll accommodate YOU
anywhere you like, and with any weapons.
within an hour of this time. Let's night,
if need be, but there's no occasion for
murder"
Grains GOODNESS of action saved him.
and the duel never came off because
friends interfered. He lived to secure
Boyd's acquittal on charge of murder
subsequently. Later on, however, Boyd
was killed with mis- boots on in a row.
The congressman from the Northwest
are nearly always great poker players.
Pettigrew, of South Dakota, has figured
TO great extent in newspaper card-play-
ing stories. Not long ago yarn was cir
culated to the effect that he had lost his
entire fortune at the game in Washington
City, but there was no foundation for such
statement The senator himself saws
that he used to poke" a great deal when
he first came to Washington City as a
delegate from the territory. He thought
he knew how then, but contact with ex-
perts here convinced him that he was mis-
taken, and he has quit. The other day he
remarked: LET the newspaper BOYS make
me figure in their poker stories as often
as they like, but want them always to
make me out winner. 1t is wicked TO
lose at gambling"
When Tom Bowen, of Colorado. was in
the Senate he was rated the most expert
poker player in congress, and most of the
stories used to be hung on his name One
of the most original was an account of how
he worked his own photograph INTO a
hand in a jackpot as a fourth jack 1t is
said that on one occasion he was at
Helena, Mont, as one of a special
committee appointed to look up mat
quarter. 1t was poker-playing
commute, and the most satisfactory relax
alton from its arduous labors was found at
the card table, the government supplying
the necessary refreshments. One evening
the statesmen were playing together when
a
mission to come into the game, and threw
a 500 bill down on the table with reck-
less air of wealth. Tom Bowen who was
banking, took the bill and handed over to
the newcomer one red chip.
Cant have some more chips, gents 2"
asked the travelling man, plaintively.
you've got what you bought" replied
Bowen. 1.-THE smallest denomination is
500 each"
Excuse me, gents, said the drummer
turning little pale, and not perceiving
the ruse to keep him out; 81 guess
won't come in this evening""
A good many congressman are credited
with making considerable additions to
their incomes by their skill in poker; in
fact, there are some of whom it is said that
poker produces their income, their sala-
ries providing merely their stakes in the
game. There is no more sure source of
profit than skill in this noble pastime,
which is susceptible Of higher scientific
development than any other form of play,
notwithstanding the fact that the ignorant
and fatuous imagine it to be all chance.
Henry Clay's wife was once asked if it did
not affilct her very much to have her hus-
band gamble at cards. mot at ALL" she
replied. HE nearly always wins" Poker
is a statesmanlike game. Nevertheless.
the nation, and who indulge fondness
for the sport usually keep it very dark,
fearing prejudice on the part of the pious
element among their constituents against
this innocent, but much abused amuse-
ment. Many tales are told of a method
adopted by lobbyists of conveying brides
by Intentionally losing money at the game
to senators and representatives. Even
when the legislator whose honesty is thus
assailed has no notion of accepting money
for his vote, he cannot help feeling under
a sort of chivalric obligation to man
whose cash he has won.
Representative Miller, of Illinois, has
story about game of poker that he wit
messed which was somewhat disturbed by
the incessant kicking of a young dude
who made great fuss every time he lost
pot, protesting that he never saw such
hard luck, and so on. Seated next to him
at the table was an elderly man with
grizzIed beard, who wore his hat slouched
over his eyes, his right hand thrust
into his coat He had lost enor-
mously, but he said nothing, and no
emotion exhibited itself upon his face.
Finally, the youth who complained of his
iIl-fortune, pulled in a good-sized jack
not saying as he did 80: That's the first
I've won for two hours. / never saw such
turning to the man with the SLOUGH hat,
he exclaimed 81 sayi Are you made of
stone or iron2 You must have lost pile
and yet you sit there like an Egyptian
mummy. and never a word escapes your
The elderly man with the grizzled beard
smiled a CHASTITY smile. Then, drawing
out his hand from the bosomsof his coat,
he showed five long. horny fingers covered
with blood. He had been tearing his own
flesh beneath his coat with his nails.
The most thoroughly fashionable poker
playing ever done in Washington City was
at the house of a widow of means and
fashion, who was received everywhere in
society here. Three nights in the week
there was game at her house, in which
not only the SWEETEST Of the young men
about town took part but young ladies
also of the most aristocratic families. 1t
was run on the system that the men were
expected TO lose as rule. If any one of
them happened to win once or twice, he
was not invited again. The girls were per-
mitted TO gain this, serving as the bait to
them The mistress of the establishment
found in poker her ruling passion, and
was so skillful that it was believed she
cleared her expenses by it each winter.
sideboards, at which the players
might help themselves, and moth
ing much was thought of il If
a young gentleman took more than he
ought. The men took turns in setting up
on different evenings baskets of cham
payne. Anything more thoroughly de-
moralizing could hardly be imagined. In
no other city could such goings on have
been permitted, nor could it have been