Morning journal and courier., 1892-08-12
DRAW POK RR Win FISH.
A New Game That Has Po..th,u,,s
IErnm the Rrn.nklxn YE ala

A New Game That Has PossfbfIfties.
lFrom the Brooklyn Ezgiel
Did anyone ever hear of fsh poker
Well, it's great game, anyhow, and 1t ID
questionable whether 1t does not beat on,
of sight the parents from which 1t sprung.
The first game of fab poker was played
about year ago by COLONEL Sim and two
prominent Baltimore gentlemen - Mr..
Brewer and DR.. Benzinger. They were then
on the coast of Maine, at little village
named yinal Haven, between Portland and
Rockland. Each day they went out to fsh
in large, comfortable rowboat, and each
evening found them at the card table, en-.
gagged In a sociable, friendly game of draw
for small stakes. Thus they had passed
three days and three nights, and the morn.
ing of the fourth day found them out in
the rowboat, hauling in fish at great rate.
They were conversing abou. the hands they
bad held on the previous night, and Mr..
Brewer said:
"Weu have glorious game after sup
per-"
The thought stirred all the sporting
blood in Colonel Sims veins. whats
the matter with having it nowF" he asked,
deliberately.
"WhatId exclaimed DR.. Benzinger, his
rich southern voice raised in fine surprise.
Leave this g-l-l-lorious fishing, this lovely
sceneryw
"How could wei' asked Mr. Brewer, IN
piteous appeal.
Leave Dothing,n said the colonel, de-
cisively. "Wen stay and play the game
right here" replied the colonel
His companions stared at him and wiped
their foreheads.
The colonel was perfectly cool and col
his cigar, and hauled out q magnificent
cod. Then he faced round and prepared
to expound his ideas.
why not make cod high-call IL aces
make haddock next, kings; cunners yellow
perchl, queens, and founders, jacksF"
"Whs. will We do with the conger cells
and skstesi"
Throw 'em out, they will delay the
game. II q man catches a skate or an eel
his hand is dead, "ssid the colonel, orscular-
ly.
each hand will last thirty minutes, Z"
continued the colonel. .'Whatever q man
catches in that time belongs to his hand.
Two pairs beat one pair, three of kind
beats two pairs, full hands bssis three and
four of kind beats full hand"
"How about the antet''
Each ante up dollar, aad at any time
any player can raise it and the other must
come in or lose the pot"
"By gracious, it's CO." cried both the
southerners. Then the fun began.
1t didn't matter how many cards a man
drew. Some caught seven in half an hour
and some only one or two, but all was not
lost to the low man till the half hour was
mp, as the lucky player would often lift a
skate or conger and thus queer his whole
hand.
Cc:onel Sinn caught pair of cod in the
first ten minutes, DIR. Benzinger got had
dock and yellow perch and Mr.. Brewer q
pair of founders. Colonel Sim promptly
raised the pot quarter and the others
came in. DIR. Benzinger got another yel-
low perch, and a little later smother had
dock.
"Whoopl" he cried; al got two pair. ~
He raised and the others saw him.
Colonel Sim aud Mr.. Brewer both had
bites, and pulled in their lines with frantic
haste.
'"Three fiounders" shouted Mr.. Brewer,
rising and performing a war dance on the
seat as he proceeded to raise the pot
again.
"Three codl" shrieked the colonel, plank
ing down another quarter.
The men were now fishing with desper-
ate eagerness. A loud, triumphant yell
from DIR. Bepzinger broke the silence.
Full hand on haddock, )" lie announced,
and mp went the pot again.
"Four fioundersI" shouted Mr.. Brewer.
"Four cod" was the colonel's response
The half hour was up. and four cod took
the pot.
The next hand began, aud proceeded
with varying fortune, and The game grew
more and more exciting. The fish bit as
though they understood and entered into
the sport and the vicissitudes encountered
were of the most tantalizipg description.
Mr.. Brewer caught pair of cod, DR..
Benzinger got three founders and the col
onel two pairs cod and paddock.
"'Rayl" shouted Mr.. Brewer as hepulled
up third cod.
His triumph WAS short lived. as the col
onrl filed his hand On haddock, and Dr.
Benziuger caught fourth founder
Got 'eml got 'em,' he cried. "Four
cod, by jinks." His taut line and hard
pulling showed that a very heavy fish Was
coming out.
DR.. Benzinger sat in the bow of the boat,
all anxiety. With final effort Mr.. Brew
er landed his catch. 1t proved to be the
biggest and ugli.st conger eel the partyihsd
ever seen. Wild shrieks of laughter arose
from the colonel and DIR. Benzinger as Mr..
Brewer and the eel, mixed up, wrestled and
and tore around.
Hes quee-quee-queered his handi"
exclaimed DIR. Benzinger. He kicked up
his heels in triumph, and a moment later
there was loud Splash.
His companions hshed DIR. Benzinger out
choking with laughter and salt water.
They all felt to weak to play any more and
the bow of the boat was pointed for home
Immediately.
Every day thereafter fish poker was
played with wild enthusiasm, aud the par
ty got more fun and excitement out of it
than all other sports put together.