Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-06
LOST ALL AT POKER.
PROPERTY NOW WORTH MILLIONS
STAKED ON FOUR QUEENS.
How NicolIet Island, at Minneapolis, Pass
ed Out OF Possession Of Pierre B0ttineau.
His Connection With the Early History
Of Minnesota.

His Connection With the Early History
OF Minnesota.
There recently died at his home in
Red Lake Falls man who was so thor.
oughly identified with the early history
Of Minnesota that to relate it without
mentioning his name would be like try
ing to make bricks without straw. This
man was Pierre Bottineau, the offspring
of q French father and an Indian moth
er, and he possessed all the characters
tics of both races.
Mr.. Bottineau was a native of what
is now North Dakota, having been born
II miles west Of the place where Fargo,
\. D., now stands. At the time of his
oirth Lord Selkirk formed a colony Of
Swedes and Scotchmen near Fort Garry,
and when Bottineau was 10 years of age
these people began an exodus for other
points. Young as he was, Bottineau was
an experienced guide. skilled in wood
and prairie craft, and more than one Of
Lord Selkirk's colonists he piloted out
of the wilderness.
in many Of the early expeditions of
the United States government Pierre
was employed as guide and scout, and
was one of the principal members Of the
noted Sibley expedition, which crossed
the plains in the early days. He was
well acquainted with almost every foot
of the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wiscon
sin, and at one time was the owner of
vast tracts Of valuable land, which he
subsequently lost in one way or an
other. Mr. Bottineau was warm friend
of James J. Hill, the railway magnate,
| having met him at st. Paul when that
| place was little more than a trading
point and where Mr.. Hill was employed
| as n freighter.
In 1S41 Mr.. Bottineau took up a
claim on the spot where St. Paul now
stands, but after having held it for a
short time traded it for a horse and cow,
which he drove away to his home in the
wilderness. little thinking that the land
he had almost given away would in q
few years be the site of a great city.
Later ON Mr.. Bottineau purchased for a
small sum large portion of what is
now Minneapolis, but lost the greater
portion of it through the dishonesty of
purchasers and the rest through his
weakness for poker, game which he
thought he understood, but which other
people understood better than he did.
There is a story, which the elder resi-
dents of Minneapolis declare to be true,
that Bottineau was once the sole owner
of Nicollet island, lying in the Missis-
sippi river, which divides Minneapolis
into east and west Minneapolis, and
which is now one of the most important
business and residence districts in the
city and valued at many millions of dol
lars, and that he lost it during Il game
of poker. A party of men met one even,
ing at the home of one of them. so the
story goes, to play their accustomed
game. The stakes kept growing larger
and larger, until every jack pot contained
4 small fortune, even for that early day.
Ever since tho game had begun Mr.
Bottineau had been losing steadily, but
at last he was dealt hand upon which
he hoped to regain all his losses and wiz
something besides. He was given foul
queens pat, and drawing one card, Sc
cured an ace, leaving only four king.
with which his hand could be beaten.
AS he SAVIOR thought he did, which
amounted to the same thing-one of tn,
players discard king, he considered
his hand invincible and played it &c
cordinsly. His opponent also considered
his hand good one and promptly raiset
every bet made by Bottineau.
Soon all the players but Bottinea1
and his opponent dropped their hand
and retired from the game, after whicl
they sat and watched the conflict. TIL
table was heaped with money and tn
personal belongings of the two men
who were wishing they had more t
wager upon their respective hands. A
last all the men possessed lay on tn
table in front of them, and it was Bot
tiueau's bet. Carefully looking owe
his cards, he thought moment an
then remarked that all he had left wa
Nicollet island, which was once tn
home of Father Hennepin, one of tn
earliest settlers of Minnesota, his 10
cabin having stood upon a little noun
in the center of the island up to fey
years ago, when it was pulled down t
make room for the residence Of Colone
King.
This island Bottineau was willing
bet against $500. The bet was called b
the man on the opposite side of the t;
= BILE and Bottineau laid down his for
queens with smile of triumph on h
face. With shout his opponent lai
on the table face up, four kings and
tray. There was a dead silence for
moment. Then Bottineau called Il
writing materials, made out deed
the island and left the place. SIM
that day he never touched card
\ countenanced gambling in any form.
:. After drifting around the country +
( a time Bottineau came to Red Lal
K Falls, where he took up a claim al
;. where he remained up to the time
- his death, at the age of 81 years. I
81 gradually acquired other property al
left his heirs valuable estate. Wi
the death Of Pierre Bottineau pass
away the last of the old time Canadi;
voyagers and guides, such an importa
factor in the upbuilding of the mort
west. He was the father of % childre