The herald., 1893-12-17
KEEP ON GOING, gentlemen,
If San Francisco is Too Good
for Your Presence
So Is the Great Southern California
Metropolis.
60 the Best Advice to Proffsr You is TO
Continne Your Journey to tho
Land Of the Rising
Sun.

the following account OF the doings
in that city OF trio Of adventurers who
are well known here, and who it is sup
posed will come to this city, now that
San Francisco has become too warm for
their comfort:
William Hurt, gambler and confidence
man, must move on and ont. just as
Poker Flat became TOO virtuous for John
Oakhurat, San Francisco is too moral for
Mr.. Hurt. With Mr.. Hart will wander
away "Colonel Jack Deane of Arizona" I"
the proprietor OF mythical acres beyond
the reach of the eye and herds OF phan-
tom cattle which Craze on all the far
green hills OF the imagination. Joseph
Fisher, known in New York by SOME
climatic change OF nomenclature as
"Joseph Foster" will also fare further.
doctor" Phillips will seek bis patients
in iess healthful localities. A few
other well-dressed. mild-mannered men
OF lively but dangerous wit will accom-
pany them.
They make this journey at the urgent
solicitation of Chief OF Police Crowley.
The chief feels that they will enjoy
travel, and that during their absence
citizens here will be safer in the enjoy
ment OF their own collateral securities.
These gentlemen will make no demur.
They will lift their carefully brushed
hats, smile in quiet affability and bid
Chief Crowley and San Francisco very
good day.
THE GENESIS OF GENIUS.
They are known here, these soft
spoken gentlemen. They are chevaliers
d'industrie. men who live by their wits,
cheerful workers-it seems harsh to call
such elegant gentlemeni eharpers and
,swindlers. In the ordinary affairs OF
Wife they are good fellows, but it doesn't
do to shuttle the cards or shake the dice
or play at billiards or enter into any
game of hazard with them. Some wiz
ard influence permits them to win when
ever they wish to, and. singnlarly
enough, they win all they possibly can.
Years ago William Hurt wandered up
from Santa Barbara, where his parents
were good comfortable people. not
specially noted for anything unless it
was minding their own business. He
got to standing about the street corners
and cigar stands and earned the ques-
tionable reputation Of being ''ten-cent
sport"
He fell in love with the sister of John
Herget, now known in the prize-ring as
Young Mitchell, and married her. Pos
ing as the rising pugilist's backer, he
brought off several successful fights
which netted small amounts. Incident
ally he said he was a drummer for large
whisky distillery OF Louisville. When
Young Mitchell was to have his first big
battle with Ryan, Hurt quietly gave out
the tip that Mitchell was to throw the
fight. But still more quietly he placed
his own money on his brother-in-law.
The police stopped the fight and the
put money in Hurts pocket and kept
his reputation intact, as, of course, he
couldn't be expected to control the
referee and the police.
Ryan wasn't satisfied with the result
and it was agreed to fight the battle out
near the Twin Peaks at early dawn.
Hurt cleaned up $500 by selling tips on
the place where the fight was to take
place at S. tip. AS matter of history
Mitchell won the fight.
TIE INFLUENCE OF DIR. CRAWFORD.
These coups somewhat improved Mr..
Hurts financial standing, but in row
over woman he was shot in the leg,
the leg was amputated, cork one sub
stituted-and of course this did not i'm
prove his physical standing. But he
was man who could live and learn.
At about this stage OF his career
dec Crawford came to San Francisco.
Crawford is known to those who live on
the night side of life as London Joe. .
He also has the distinction OF being the
Hmoothest confidence man in all the
world. He took rooms at the Palace
Hotel, fingered about. spoke to no one,
and tipped each servant or bellboy who
did anything for him with $5. Soon it
became the talk of the hotel that this
quiet, retiring gentleman was very rich
and we're free with his money. But he
never forced his acquaintance on any
one. He met Hurt, however, and
seemed to take fancy to him.
Just then the directors and managers
of the Sutter street railroad were having
q nightly poker game in the side rooms
OF the Palace hotel bar. They were not
averse to winning, and having heard of
the rich and liberal DR.. Crawford they
thought he would make satisfactory
companion in the game. Butw who would
introduce him? Mr.. Hurt was provi-
dentially and naturally on hand at this
juncture and assured the PLAYERS that
lie would be only too happy to arrange
an introduction. He did arrange it.
Would DR.. Crawford like to Join in a
little game of poker? Aw, we'll! De-
lighted " know! But, sw, don't play
poker, doncherknow. Not an English
game, ye know. Wouldn't you like to
come to my rooms for a bottle of, aw,
that very good wine and quiet rubber
OF whist?
THE GAME HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
But DR.. Crawford was finally and with
some difficulty persuaded to take hand
in the game he did not understand. The
first night he lost only 800. The next
night he ventured further and dropped
$500. Then he lost $500 at one sitting
Ike gentleman. Really, ye know, this
poker is most difficult game to under-
stand. Not at all, aw, like our English
whist for example.
But the very next night tie .confidinp
Englishman had go far mastered that in
tricate game that he won $1,000. Before
his compnnions at the round table real
lied what had happened the Englishman
had gathered in nearly $2O, 600.
From this time on William Hurt,s
methods improved. He continued to be
q pupil OF the modest DIR. Crawford. and
caught the drift of some of his patrons
studied methods. His clothing ouieted
down and the wire edge was worn off his
operations. No doubIe-cross prjze fipht
would tempt him again. He spent m dch