Evening star., 1895-03-23
AN OLD SCHOOL GAMBLER
He Freely Bet His Life on Hand Of Four
Kings.
But He Lost In the Deal and Had
Lively Account to Render TO
the Other Fellow.
Erom the St. Louis Democrat.

From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Old John West or Utica John." as he
was better known In the carly days OF
Texas, is in Fort Worth. Texas. and will
reside there in the future. West Is eighty
wears old and one Of the Oldest cowboys In
Texas, having spent the last sixty-three
wears of his life on the plains Of that state
and New Mexico. West, in his day, was
one Of the most widely known all-round
sporting men in the west, and deiisnts IN
telling the story Of "how he lost his life.
"I guess the old man muttered. that
I'm the only man living that ever lost his
life. but 1 did it, and I'll tell you how 1t
was. 1t was about thirty years ago and all
the big sporting men of the west were emf
grating toward Butte City. A crowd Of us
cowboys left northwest Texas one day TO
go up to Butte for a little gambling spree;
When we got up to Butte ana were al
settled down we got in with all the gam
bIers, and in less time than 1t takes to tell
about 1t we were numbered among the
toughest set o. men in the community.
He Got His Hand.
'It was agreed that every man who won
q game was to pay for the drinks. In
those days everybody drank whisky and
It naturally came about that we all got
drunk before morning. Well, when 1 start
ed 1 didn't have but $4,000, but by
O'Clock next morning it was trailing near
on to 10000. Then lost my trail and be-
gan to lose. BY o'clock my pile was down
to $4,000 again. We were all drunk and
making a good deal of noise. and every
table in the house closed down to come and
see us play. It was poker. Hand after
hand came tough and every one came
tougher. You might know how tough they
were when a pair of jacks took jack pot
Of s., 900. 1t was getting daylight and when
I got down to $1,000 1 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
would.
"There was five Of US in the game. The
ante was S. and 1t took s. more to make 1t
good. 1t was my time to say, and stayed.
The next feller stayed, and so did every
body A feller named Green said he didn't
have much of a hand, but he thought he'd
keep our company.
".How many cards do you want? said
the dealer.
"I'n take one,' said.
s"The next feller said one, and everybody
said one but Green. He wanted two
"Then the time came for betting. 1t was
An unlimited game. 1t was my say, and
bet $500. The next feller saw my $500. and
raised it $500 better. The next feller saw
him. and so did the rest, till 1t got to
Green when he raised it 5000. We all saw
that and the third man saw 1t $500 better
again. Then Green came up with another
$1,000 better. and everybody dropped out
but me and him. I borrowed 5000 from a
feller who saw my hand, and raised the
pot that much.
Excitement Ran High.
'Then things were getting exciting
around that table. 1t was the biggest pot
ever seen in Butte since Tom Owen lost his
ranch. Nobody said a word. and the peo-
pie around the table were nearly dunn
founded.
"I'll take that 5000 said Green, and
I'll go you my horse better
".IH see your horse said I, and I'll see
you three better Green only had two
more horses, so he saw me them, borrowed
$500, put 500 against my other horse and
went me the other 800 better.
Il didn't have no more money, so I bet
the very clothes my back, and Green
raised 1t his hat. Somebody yelled out, All
bets on the table and We stripped naked.
the barkeeper closed the door, and down