Connecticut western news., 1894-09-27
GAME.

Indian Gulch," said an old pioneer from Mariposa county as he leaned against the bar of a down town hotel
 ''P'r'aps, though, he added, glancing around inquiringly, "you fellows never heard of him.
 A withered old miner from Nevada county hinted that "mebbe he was re- lated to the Bill Cox who was hanged at Red Dog in 1861" "
 This the Mariposa man disputed on the ground that Seth during his life time was too square a man to have even been thirty-eighth cousin to the chap who had come to such an ignomin- ious end at Red Dog.
 "Why, shop he went on, turning from the Nevada man to the four other bystanders, Seth was as square a man as ever met in California. He would fight, if necessary, and would drink as much as the next man, and what more was wanted in those days?''
 But that ain't what I was going to tell you about You see Seth had one fault, and that was stubbornness of the cussedest kind. All one had to do was to take stand on anything, and Seth would as naturally take a hitch on the contrary side and outhold your hand somehow, even if you had all trumps.
 Seth was marshal of Indian Gulch, up our way, as far back as 1862, and being so stubborn he carried things pretty much his own way. If they didn't go his way, they were not likely to go any way."'
 The man from the butterfly county paused to gaze through the bottom of his tumbler for a moment, and then re- stunned.
 "Now, shol Just to give you an idea of how stubborn Seth was, I'll tell you of little incident. He had discussion with a miner about turkey buzzards, and just because the miner said they were stinking things Seth maintained that they were second to nothing in the poultry line. We'll, the miner thought he'd take fall out of Seth, and the next day brought him turkey buzzard and dared him to eat it. Yes, wagered him $20 on it. Did he win? Why, sho!
 Seth ate the buzzard, and as he was picking the bones inquired if there was anybody else around who was anxious to pay him for eating one of the most delicious morsels ill the world. That was Seth all over. He'd never give in on anything he undertook, sho!" and the Mariposa man refilled his glass. ,
 "One day." he resumed briskly, just as the Nevada man was about to say something, "a new miner, who said he hailed from Chinese Camp, ambled into the gulch aud made himself quite popu- lar before night, treating everybody time and again at Red Ryan's saloon. As Marshal Seth thought it his duty to make the acquaintance of the strange pilgrim who was so well heeled appar- entity with dust, it wasn't long before Seth and the newcomer, who said his name was Dan Fletcher, were bucking against each other at poker.
 -'Now, sho. that was all right, but Dan, while they were playing, began to tell how he had made the pilgrimage all the way from Poor Shoat to Angels and cleaned out every poker sharp on the road Seth, in his bullheaded way,
 
 that journey Dan would have had to take to the wilderness for want of clothes, he would have been so cleaned out.
 "Then there was hurricane of an argument, and finally Seth boasted that he'd put everything he had up against all Dan had and play poker until one or t'other was busted. Dan jumped at the offer, and arrangements were made.
 ''The game was to be played in a room at John Hanson's hotel, and each mans wealth was represented by 25 $20 pieces, which they used as chips. Seth, as marshal, proclaimed holiday in town until he had cleaned Dan out, then he promised big hurrah. The whole town was gathered around Han sons place, and at intervals of an hour signs were hung out as to the game. | One time it would be Seth is a hundred ahead and at another Even game, with Dams ante up There was lots of betting on the result. Red Ryan wa | gered his saloon against a claim that | Seth would win. And, sho, all the | time Seth and Dan sat there tipping their cards like machines and not notic- ing anything outside of the gamep' After stopping to clink glasses with his interested audience the man from Mariposa took fresh twist ill his rem- | iniscences.
 l About 10 o'clock that night Dan was | out $500, and when some of the boys took up supper for the players, for they hadn't eaten anything, you know, he growled out to take it away, as no man could play cards and eat and drink too. Seth was so stubborn that he wouldn' t | stop either, for fear Dan would think he was weakening. The boys set down the supper and left lem. In the morn, the untouched supper. All they wanted was half a dozen new decks of cards. They had worn out four packs Sho! nc mistake
 Well, now, there's no use drawing out the agony on thing that turned out so serious as that game. As any. body at Indian Gulch can tell you tc this day, Seth and Dan played there fol five days and for five nights, a-seesaw ing and a-seesawing, but each as stub born as the other and determined not te give in. They hadn't touched the meals we took up to 'em, and they hadn't slep either. You may say it's impossible, but just go to Indian Gulch, and you cal prove it. The two men were like skel etons, and Seth was so weak that ht could not deal the cards and swear a the same time.
 "On the evening of the fifth day some of us boys met at Ryan's and decided il the interest of humanity to interfer, and make Seth and Dan quit until the, got into condition. But, sho, when w went up in the morning they were botl ' stretched out on the floor dead. Yes