The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-03-15
HE BET TO A FINISH
A Game of Poker Played in North
Dakota in Early Days.
THREE SETS OF FOURS
Stanley HuntIey Broke Major Edwards
In Game Which Bismarck Has
Been Talking OF Ever Since.

Nearly every newspaper reader in
this country remembers "Spoopendyke, D."
whose dlsagreements with his better
half we're the subject of the same highly
humorous papers, which were widely
published some years ago. Not every
one knows, however, that the stories
of the domestic misfortnnes of "Spoop-
endyke" were written by Stanley
Huntley, one of the brightest of news
paper men, who poured forth the trials
of troubled heart when he wrote the
far-famed sketches. For Huntley was
sadly mismated
The best of those "Spoopendyke pa
pers were written at Bismarck on the
upper Missouri river 1t was In the
boom days when the Northern Pacific
was under construction and Custer was
in his glory on the frontier that Huntley
wandered into Bismarck, in an aimless
way took fancy to the wild frontier
town and founded the Tribune, still in
existence and power in North Dakota
journalism. Bismarck was a wild town
"a sort of hades on wheels, as
Cheyenne was once nicknamed; and
Huntley quickly demonstrated his abil-
lily to set the pace for the town, while
at the same time he turned out one of
the brightest newspapers in the far
west. He made many friends and his
newspaper venture met with fair fnan.
cial and great political success. Incl
dentally he made a record as a poker
player in territory which has seen
more high poker played than any other
section In the Union.
Huntley's boon companion, and the
only one who could manage him when
he was on high roarer," which was
at frequent intervals, was one Dennis
Hannifan. Hannifan was Familiarity
called Denny" and has been handed
down to fame without nom-de-plume
In the Spoopendyke" papers. Many
games these two played together.
Well, there came a time when the
rigorous climate of the far Northwest
and the hard, wild frontier life had
told on Huntley, and seeds of consump-
tion was planted In his system. He
realized that his span of life was nearly
run, and that his few remaining days
could only be enjoyed to the utmost in
a softer climate, where he should live
qniet life. He determined to sell
out. The Tribune had developed into
valuable property and the serious ques-
tion was to find one who could pay
spot cash and pay anything like the
real value of the sheet. Huntley
though of Major A. w. Edwards of
Fargo, then owner of the Fargo Argus
and politician of the Red River valley
Edwards was formerly an insurance
man in Chicago. He had settled in
Fargo, built up the great paper of
the Red River valley and like a true
Chicagoean was endeavoring to corral
the entire political situation of the
telegraphed Edwards that the Tribune
was for sale and If he wanted it to
bring some money and come over to
Bismarck on the next train. Edwards
made up his mind that he wanted the
paper and with $1,000 or $4,000 in his
pocket he started on the night train
for Bismarck.
Before Edwards could reach Bis
marck the Lounsbery brothers of Bis
marck and number of local politicians
raised the money to buy the Tribune
and kept its ownership at home. Then
huntley started out and squared up all
his outstanding Indebtedness, after
which he and Denny Hannifan con-
Quoted Bismarck through as wild a
nights orgy as the town ever saw In its
EXTREMITY checkered career.
HuNTLEY ISSUES A CHALLENGE.
When at noon the next day Ma or Ed
wards alighted at the depot, which was
railroad headquarters, principal hotel
postofice and town loaing place, he
met Huntley, and learned that the
coveted Tribune was in the hands of his
rivals. The majors face showed his
disappointment, ana Huntley said: az
am sorry for you, major, but was Of
fered big cash price, take 1t or leave
1t, and dared not refuse. will give
you your revenge, however; will play
poker with you, major"
A game was made, and in the parlor
of The depot hotel, known far and wide
as the Sheridan House, the two PLAYERS
sat down. Round the table sat Huntley,
Edwards, Denny Hannifan, Alex Nc
klnzie, now the big political boss, and
Handsome" Eustis, a son of the
present minister to France. 1t was the
greatest game ever played in Bismarck,
and promises to be historic game In
frontier annals for ages to come.
Stakes were high and big hands were
the rule. Thousands changed hands
like pennies in a Clark street crap
game. Cards were dealt ats p. m.
wednesday, and without adjournment
the players were still at 1t at daylight
Thursday morning. Then McKinzie
drOpped out evan and an hou- 49,.