The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-20
WON TIE TOWN STE.
From the New York world


hardly more than bleak waste of un-
cultivated ground, the town Of Penn
bina was founded by Enos Stutsman-
Stutsman was a man as remarkable
for his eccentricities as he was for his
physical deformity. He emigrated to
Dakota from the huckleberry districts
of Connecticut and located in the up
per Red River valley, where he FLED
and proved up on three hundred and
twenty acres of land. 1t was the
ground on which Pembina now stands
He had the head and body of giant.
but his legs were hardly more than
foot long, and he was unable TO travel
without the aid of two short and pow
erful crutches He was shrewd, cal
culating fellow and socn became rec
ognized leader among the handful OF
emigra+ts who had taken up their
places in his neighborhQod. As po-
in the territory. For four consecutive
sessions he was chairman of the coun-
ell in the upper branch of the terri
torial legislature, and he was one of the
most famous draw-poker players in the
territory.
He numbered among his close friends
pioneer named Judd La Moure, who
owned line of stagecoaches running
between Grand Forks and Pembina-
The advent of the railroads killed
Judd's coach line finally, and he settled
down into profitable grocery business
in Pembina- 1t was these two men
who played the stiffest game of poker
that was ever played in the territory.
The game was played in the old Levee
from 10 o'clock on Friday morning to 8
o'clock on Sunday morning. During
its progress the people of the town
assembled in the hotel and watched
the two men as they fought like bull
dogs over the pile of red, white and
blue chips. The legislature was in
session at the time, and as Stutsman,
who was chairman of the council, re-
fused to leave the game, that branch
of the legislature adjourned until the
following Monday and the members
watched the game to the finish.
Early in the game Stutsman's luck
was wonderfully good, and he played
with a recklessness that surprised
every one. Later on the tide turned
against him, and the chips began to
flow in the direction of La Moure, who
sat with his slouched hat pulled over
his eyes, watching every move of his
opponent. Slowly but surely Suits
mans chips went over to La Moure's
side of the table, and work what trick
or artifice he would he could not turn
them back. Matters went on this way
until past midnight of Saturday, when
Stutsman threw two $50 bills on the
pile OF chips in the center of the table
and called 500 bet made by La
Moure. Stutsman held king full on
queens and he felt sure the pot was his,
but when La Moure threw down his
cards there were four deuces, and Suits
man, gritting his teeth, exclaimed:
"Judd, 1 tell you what FL do You've
won SO, 500 of my money. If you'll put
So, 800 with it FL stake the town site
of Pembina against you. and will play
for it in lump to win or lose at one
deal"
The men shook hands. According to
agreement the hand was to be dealt
by E. A. Williams, of Bismarck, the
speaker of the house of representa-
tives, the cards to be thrown on the
table face up. When the FIVE cards
had been dealt each man was to dis
card and draw, the cards being thrown
face up by the dealer as before, and
when the cards had been dealt the
highest hand was to take the pot. Ex-
element ran high, and to prevent any
trickery on his part Williams was
seated in the center of the table with
his legs turned under him like Turk,
in the full glare of the oil lamp that
was suspended from the ceiling. The
friends of the two men crowded around
the table and Williams was threatened
with summary treatment if he should
in any manner manipulate the cards so
as to give either man an advantage.
Deity Williams shuffled the cards and
squaring them slipped one from the
top of the pack and laid it down under
udd's nose. 1t was a deuce. Suits
man caught the queen of spades
6The next card came off and Judd
caught another deuce. The four spot
Of spades turned Up under Stutsman's
nose and his brow wrinkled little.
Again the cards fell and Judd placed |
the ace of diamonds beside his two
ieuces, while the jack of spades looked |
up into Stutman's face Once more
the dealer laid down the cards, and |
Judd claimed the queen of clubs. while |
his opponent caught the ace of spades
Stutsman's face began 10 brighten. |
he saw possibility of catching a !
flush. but the next card to him was a
heart. However, Judd had not bet
.ered his hand and held his deuces.
irawing three cards.
Stutsman's friends tried to prevail on /
him 10 draw four cards to the ace, but |
lie wouldn't listen to them, and. dis
.arding the heart he drew one card.
,oping to fill the flush The onIookers /
rere wild when Williams threw three |
ards to Judd. They fell face up-the |
queen of clubs jack Of diamonds and |
en- spot of clubs He had not bettered |
lis hand, and his opponent smiled /
-rinly as be saw how severely fortune
must snub him now IL she failed 10
,ring him winning hand; for if he
,aired any OF the four cards he held he
rust beat Judd's chances; besides
here was possibility Of his filing
lush Judd had evidently lost hope
nd he rested his arms on the table |
nd doggedly watched Williams as he
urned TO Stutsrnan and slipped card
rom the pack All stretched their
Iecirs TO catch sight of the card II
sas the eight spot OF clubs
The game was over. Judd had won.
I