The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-06

errand. All our bunting was flying. A
fine military band discoursed music that
Calypso and her nymps night have envied,
and a small cannon boomed out a salute
or welcome and farewell at every landing
to which We came and from which we de-
parted. At one of these landings we took
on tall gentleman, singuarly timid and
bearing, a clergyman. If any one address,
ed him he glanced around with a fright
ened air before replying, and his voice was
soft and low as any woman's. Two, or
three times a day he crept timidly into
the bar room, and siding up to the coun-
ter, he asked the barkeeper for "a glaSs
of water if you please" In the same
timid way he would cringingly walk to
the card table where a big game of poker
was always in full blast. He would look
on timidly for few minutes with an ex-
preston of horror and dsapproval, and
would then cringe out again, only to re-
turn presently as though he could not re-
sist the fascination of the game.
His peculiarities soon became subject
of general comment and mirth The gam
blers on board saw in the reverend gem
tleman rare prize If he could only be
induced to enter the game for he SEEM
ed 10 nave great abundance Of money,
having on several occasions displayed an
immense roll of bills when he gave gratui-
ties to the servants or the children
aboard, of whom he seemed extrava-
At length, as he stood watching the
poker game in his usual timid, hesitating
manner, one Of the gamblers invited
him to take a hand. He resented the
proposition with horror, but being press
ed ne seemed 10 pass through a severe
of man who loathes himself for yield
ing to temptation which he has not the
strength TO conquer, sat down at the card
table.
Well, to make a long story short he
sat in the game from two o'clock in the
afternoon till nine o'clock the next morn
leans by which time he had won every
dollar on board available for gambling
purposes, and had cleaned out gang Of
on the river. That tfrid. retiring eier7
gyman was the bola ten n ess, 3 dashinEi
gambler, James Alexander.
The only man who ever really got the
better of this admirable Crichton of the
card table was the late Commodore Van
derblt, who was himself one OF the cum
ningest of gamblers at all games of cards
as well as in all forms of stock specula-
ton. Alexander and his friends got the
Commodore into a little game of poker IN
the hope of plucking him, on the Misss-
sippi one night. But the shrewd old wa
terman had a wonderful run of luck and
cleaned them all out to the tune of about
thirty thousand dollars. Had he retain
ed the money in his possession, Alexander
and his gang would never have permitted
him to land with it. But he sent for the
captain of the boat who was one of her
largest owners, bought his interest then
and there paid him all his winnings and
saw them all securely locked up in the
office safe.
Alexander once told me a very good
story of a sporting event on which though
wholly disconnected with cards, he won
large sum. 1t was in st. Louis just af-
ter the war. Cock fighting was the favor
lite sport in that city at the time, and
was never interfered with by the police
There was a large cock pit on Market
between abirds'' took TOOK place. Then. by
the way, no one ever spoke of chickens
or cocks. Everybody called them birds. :
matched mat his best Sird against f6at Of
a well-known sporting man of Jefferson
city. The articles Of agreement stipulated
that the fight was to be between birds. ="
No mention was made of chickens or
cocks. Taking advantage of this fact the
jefferson City sport procured an eagle to
friends who was a so a friend of Jim and
truer to the latter than the former, be-
trayed the eagle dodge TO Jim. Not to be
outdone, Butler privately procured an ca
gle. fastened it to the floor so as to rem
der 1t powerless, and by judicious train
ing soon had his game chicken taught so
that it woud fight an eagle with just as
much courage and confidence as a BIRD
of its own species. The night of the bat
tie arrived, and, when 1t was learned by
the immense crowd present that an eagle
was to be pitted against Jim's bird" ev-
erybody was anxious to bet ten to one on
the eagle. Jim and two or three friends
who were in the secret, among whom was
Alexander, had an abundance of money
and took every bet that was offered. The
birds" no sooner came to the scratch
than Jim's chicken made a bold pass at
the eagle and cut his head clean off 1t
record. Jim's bird coming off without
a scratch or the loss of feather.
One of the gentlemen have named told
me story of we'll known New York
bank president who during the first Cal
ifornia gold excitement, spent several
years on the Pacific coast and still re-
tains the fondness he then acquired for the
noble game of poker.
Early one morning mine informant en-
tered the bank with two companions and
asked for the president AS he had not
arrived the services of the cashier were
offered.
gotiate a loan for $1,000 quicker than
ever a congressman drank glass of cold
tea"
What collateral have you?'' asked the
BEST in the world You see, have
been sitting all night In a poker game
across the way and there are 800 in the
pot. There are three or four strong hands
out, and as I've put up every cent have
the boys have given me thirty minutes
to raise stake on my hand. It's here in
this envelope" calling attention to a seal
ed envelope, which he was holding in sight
of his companions, who never took their
eyes off of 1t. Just look at It, but don't
give it away to these gentlemen They
are with me in the game and came along
to prevent any tricks with the PASTE
boards" The astonished cashier opened
king.
ut will be impossible to grant your
request" he said. I'VE don't lend money
on cards"
But surely you're not going to see me
raised out on hand like that?" We are
got a dead sure thing" Cant help it
sir; your request is unprecedented" said
the cashier, and the detected pokeris.
passed sadly out.
On the corner the card players met the
bank president, who was just coming from
a quiet little all-night game at an up
town club. They stated the case TO him
No sooner had be grasned the facls thar