The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-31


Old John West. or Utica John" as he
was better known in the early days OF
Texas. IS in Fort Worth, Texas, ana VIII
reside there ia the future West IS eighty
years old and one OF the Oldest COWBOYS IN
Texas. having spent the last sixty-three
years Of hts life on the plains or mat Sld'e
and New Mexico. West in HIS day. was
one Of the most wid%y known all-round
sporting men I'm the West and delights IN
telling the story of "how re lost his life
Il guess" the old man muttered that
I'm the only man living that ever lost his
life. but / did 81, and I'll tell you now IL
was II was about thirty years ago ana
all the big sporting men Of the West were
emigrating toward Butte city A crowd
OF us cowboys left northwest Texas one
day 10 go up to Butte for little gamD-
ling spree When we got up to Butte ana
were all settled down we got in with ali
tho gamblers, and In less time than II
takes TO tell about 1t we were numbered
among the toughest set O. men IN the
community.
he GOT HIS HAND,
1T was agreed that every man who won
a game was 10 pay FOR the drinks. In
those DAYS everybody drank whisky, ami
Il naturally came about That we all got
drunk before morning. w ell Whth
started didn't have but $4,000, but 10y
o'clock next morning II was trailing near
on 10 $4,000. Then 1 lost my trail and be-
gan TO lose BY o'clock my pile was
down 10 $1,000 again. We were all drunk
and making a good deal or noise ana
every table in the house closed down 10
come and see us play. 1t was poker
Hand after hand came tough and every
one came tougher. You might know how
tough they were when pair or JACKS
took a Jack pot Of $1,000 II was getting
daylight. and when / got down 10 AVW !
picked up my five cards and what do you
think were under them -Four Kings.
Yes, sir. four kings. wouldn't bet on
that? You can bet 1 would
"There was five OF us in the game. The
ante was s.. and II took s. more TO make it
good. IL was my time TO say and stay
ed The next Teller stayed, and so ala
everybody. A feller named Green said
ne didn't have much Of a hand, but he
though he'd keep our company.
"'How many cards do you want" said
The dealer.
"In take one / said
''The next feller said one, and every
body said one but Green. lie wanted two.
.oThen the time came for betting. 1t
was an unlimited game. 1t was my say,
and l bot 500. The next Teller saw my
800 and raised II $500 better. The next
Teller saw him, and 50 did the rest. till
II got 70 Green, when he raised II $500.
We all saw that and the third man saw
II 500 better again. Then Green came up
with another goo better. and everybody
dropped out but me and him. l borrowed
1900 from a Teller who saw my hand, and
raised the pot that much.
EXCITEMENT RAN HIGH.
Then things were getting exciting
around that table Ii was the biggest pot
ever seen in Butte since Tom owen lost
his ranch. Nobody said a word, and the
people around the table were nearly dunn
founded.
"T'u take that 5000. said Green, and
I'll 80 you my horse better
I'm see your horse said /, and I'll see
you three better Green only had two
more horses. 80 ne saw me them, borrow
ed $500. but $500 against my other horse,
and went me the other 800 better.
81 didn't have no more money. so l bet
the very clothes on my back, and Green
raised IL his hat. Somebody yelled out
All bets on the table, and we stripped
naked, the barkeeper closed the door and
down went our bets on the table. q saw
Green's hat. and then raised him my sad
die He saw this threw that other 500 on
the table and yelled out: Cover IL with
something, 1 don't care what
This was getting too exciting. and
commenced 20 study. CHANGING 10 the left
/ saw the corner OF discarded card. and
AZ was an ace. Then / thought / had a
dead-sure thing, and commenced borrow
ing again. SO cid Green. had every