The record-union., 1895-07-06
AN HISTORIC GAME.
Fifty-Seven Hours in One Sitting at
Poker.
Thousands of Dollars Changed Hands
Over and Over Again-A Three
Thousand Dollar Nap.

Twenty-seven years ago there were
half dozen men in New Jersey who
never failed to play pretty stiff game of
poker when they came together. They
were Oliver Wilson of Barnegat, Silas
Caniels OF Philipsburg, Hosea Brockway
of Princeton. James Howe of Ewings.
John Strange of Titusville and William
Tomlinson of Burlington.
All these men were rich, and when
they were once Interested in a game OF
cards they bet with an abandon that as
tonished those who happened to be look
ing on. In those days star chamber ses-
sions were unknown. The players were
as likely to get into red-hot contests with
the pasteboards in hotel barroom or
the sittng-room of Il tavern as any
where.
At that time deer-hunting in Atlantic
County was looked upon as being the
best sport it was possible to find in the
State, and in the fall hundreds of men
went to the pines for the purpose OF hunt
ing. The headq uarters for these hunters
was McDonal0's tavern, barn-llke
structure in the midst of the woods,
whore sleeping, eating and drinking ac-
commOdations were furnished at Filth
avenue prices.
Rough rs it was, Andy McDonald's
tavern was patronized liberally Oy big
gang of free money spenders. and during
the deer-hunting season the establish
ment was the scene every night or drink
ing contests, goOd-natured hstlc encOun-
ters, rifle practice. IN which bullets were
shot across the barroom at a white ring
chalked on the wall. These bullets went
plumb through the board, and when 1t
was thoroughly peppered aud splintered,
it was taken out and new one put In. In
that way one side OF the barrOOm was
kept new and fresh-looking.
One night Silas Daniels, John Strange,
James Howe and Hosea BrockWay met
at the tavern. 1t had been good day
with the hunters. a half dozen deer had
been killed, aud a good deal of poor
whisky was finding its way across the
bar into the stomachs of the fortunate
hunters and their friends. John strange
was the lion of the hour. tie had shot
and killed two bucks within two hours
time, and that was thing never before
known to have been done IN that region.
He was proud of that achievement. and
was celebrating rather lively by tossing
hot-apple whiskies down his throat.
Strange was considered one of the best
poker players in the State. His nerve
was as steady as the foundation OF the
earth, and when he took notion to raise
q bet it usually went up to point where
it took good deal more than ordinary
pocket money to come IN.
When The crowd was properly keyed
up, Andy Mcdonald. who was chief dis
penser of joy behind the bar, and who
always had an eye out for his own welfare,
said:
"Mr. Strange playin' any cards now
days?"
NO" replied Strange: 81 hain't had
what you might call real lively settln'
for good WHILE"
Silas Daniels stood at the speakers ell
bow. The last time he sat in game with
Strange he was big loser, and he was
little anxious for revenge. He saw that
Strange was feeling his drinks, and came
to the conclusion that it was good time
to try to get back some of his losings. SO
when the ball was started by Mcdonald,
Daniels kicked it along by saying:
Feel like playing few hands now.
Stranger"
You know me Daniels" replied
Strange. Pm always lookin' for chances
of that kind"
The two men walked over to table
that stood on one side of the room. At
the table sat James Howe and Hosea
Brockway engrossed in game of seven
up. "Gentlemen," said Strange. what
do you say, shall we max Q this game four
handed?'
81 reckon 'twould be more interestin'
than if two fellers played Alone" replied
Howe.
Bring along the chips, Andy" shouted
BrockWay, land a brand new pack of
cards. Strange is out tor game tonight,
and l guess we'd better give it to him."
The cards and chips were produced,
and at 8 O'Clock the four men began what
proved to be the most remarkable game
of poker ever played in the State.
The news spread rapidly through the
barroom that Daniels. Strange, Howe
and Brockway had got into a game of
poker, and every man went to watch it,
The players were feeling their toddies
pretty keenlv, and the game opened with
a bet of $1,000 in bank notes made by
Daniels. Strange looked out of the cor
ner of his eye for moment, then laid
down his cards. Brock way did likewise.
Howe called the bet, and won it with
three deuces. Daniels was bluffing.
When he laid down his cards he had only
ace high.