The record-union., 1892-07-02
POKEP WITHOUT CARDS.
An Amusing Invention of a Brook.
lyn Sportsman.
a Game Played on Ocean Fishing
Grounds In Which the Best Catch
Takes the Pot-One Player who
Failed to Fill His Hand,


known theatrical manager, is now feel
ing as clipper as ever he did in his life,
and has been in remarkably good humor
ever since he got out of Dr. S. Fleet
Spier's hospital, freed forever, he be-
heves, from the tumor which had formed
IN his neck. He was laughing and
reminiscent when a Brooklyn Eagle re-
porter saw him the other day, and in the
course of the conversation that ensued on
the subject of summer outings he told o
nsh poker story that proves the posi-
blIIties OF both pastimes.
Did anyone ever hear of fish poker?
Well, it's great name anyhow, and 1t is
questionable whether it does not beat out
of sight the parents from which it sprang.
The first game of fish poker was played
about year ago by Colonel Sim and two
prominent Baltimore gentlemen, DR..
Brewer and Mr.. Benzinger. They were
then on the coast OF Maine at a little vii
lage named Vinal Haven, between Port
land and Rockland. Each day they went
out to fish in large, comfortable row
boat and each evening found them at
card table engaged in a soclable, friendly
game of draw for small stakes. Thus
they had passed three days and nights,
them out in the row boat hauling out flsh
at great rate. They were converSlng
about the hands they had held on the
previous night and Mr.. Brewer said:
well have a glorious game alter sup
per-"
The thought stirred all the sporting
blood ia Colonel Sims veins. What S
the matter with having it now?' he
asked, deliberately.
"Whatn' exclaimed Mr. Benzinger, his
rich Southern voice raised in fine sur
prise, "leave this g-l-l-lorious fishing,
this lovely scenery 2"
How could we?' asked DR.. Brewer
in piteous appeal
Leave nothing" said the Colonel de-
cisiyely, "we'u stay and play the game
right here" replied the Colonel.
His companions stared at him and
wiped their foreheads.
COD WAS HIGH CARD.
The Colonel was perfectly cool and col
lected. He got bite, tilted up the end
OF his cigar and hauled out magnificent
cod. Then he faced round and prepared
10 expound his ideas:
"Why not make cod high-call it aces
make haddock next, kings; cunners (yel-
low perch, queens, and founders, jacks"
'W hat viii we do with the conger eels
and skates ?'
Throw 'em out-they will delay the
eel his hand is dead, y said the Colonel,
Oracularly.
''Each hand will last thirty minutes"
continued the Colonel. ''Whatever a
man catches in that time belongs to his
hand. Two pairs beat one pair, three of
q kind beats two pairs, full hand beats
threes, and four of kind beats full
hand"
How about the ante?''
Each ante up a dollar, and at any
time any player can raise it, and the
others must come in or lose the pot"
BY gracious, it's gop' cried both the
Southerners. Then the fun began.
1t didn't matter how many cards 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 up, as the lucky player would
often lift skate or conger and thus
queer his whole hand.
Colonel Sim caught pair of cod in the
first ten minutes, Mr.. Benzinger got a
haddock and yellow perch and DIR.
Brewer pair of founders. Colonel
Sim promptly raised the pot a quarter,
and the others came in. Mr.. Benzinger
got another yellow perch and little later
another haddock.
"Whoopp' he cried, 'rve got two
pair" He raised and the others saw
him.
Colonel Sim and the doctor both had
bites and pulled in their lines with frantic
haste.
Three founders % shouted the doctor,
rising and performing war dance on the
seat as he proceeded to raise the Dot
again.
Three cod % shrieked the Colonel
planklng down another quarter.
HAND QUEERED BY A CoNGER EEL.
The men were now fishing with des-
perate earnestness. A loud, triumphant
yell from Mr.. Benzinger broke the ST.
lence.
Full hand on haddock?" he announced
and up went the pot again.
-Four founders ?" shouted the doc
tor.
-Four cod?" was the Coloneps re-
sponse.
The half hour was up and four cod took
the pot.
The next hand began and 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 encoun.
tered were of the most tantalizing de-
scription.
DR.. Brewer caught a pair of cod. Mr..
Benzinger got three founders, and the
Colonel two pairs, cod and haddock,
'RahP shouted the doctor as he
pulled UP third cod.
His triumph was short-lived. as the
SolOneI ulleu MS nanQ on haddOck and
Mr.. BenZinger caught fourth fouuder.
Time was nearly up when the doctor
grew excited again.
Got 'em! Got 'em - he cried. 'Four
cod, by iinks." His taut line and hard
pulling showed that very heavy fish
was coming out.
Mr.. Benzinger sat on the bow of the
boat all anxiety. With a final effort the
doctor landed his catch. 1t proved to be
the biggest and ugliest conger eel the
the party had ever seen. Wild shrieks of
laughter rose from the Colonel and Mr..
Benzinger as the doctor and the eel mixed
up, wrestled and tore around.
He's quee-quee-queered his hand. -
exclaimed Mr.. Benzinger. He kicked
up his heels in triumph, and a moment
later was loud splash.
his companions fshed Mr.. Benzinger
out, choking with laughter and salt
water. They all felt too weak to play
any more and the boat was pointed for
home Immediately.
Every day thereafter fish poker was
played with wild enthusiasm, and the
party got more fun out of it than all
other sports put together.
1t Had a False Bottom.
a dealer in surgical instruments at
Paris had an Italian doctor among his
------- -------