The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-07
LOST ALL AT POKER.
PROPERTY NOW WORTH MILLIONS
STAkCD ON FOUR QUEENS.

How Sicollet Island, at Minneapolis, Pass
ed Out of Possession OF Pierre Bottinsau,
His Connection With tho Early History
of Minncsota.
There recently died ut his home in
Ked Lake Falls man who was so thor.
ouShly identified with the early history
or Minnesota that TO relate it without
mentioning his name would be like try
ing to make bricks without straw. This
man was Pierre Bottineau, tho Offspring
OF French father and an Indian moth
Rr, and he possessed all the characteris-
tics Of both races
Dlr. Bottlneau was native Of what
is now North Dakota, having been born
4 2 miles west of the place where Fargo,
N. d., now stands At the time Of his
birth Lord Selkirk formed a colony of
Swedcs and Scotchmen near Fort Garry,
md when Bottineau was 10 years of age
these people began an exodus for other
points. Young us 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 tho 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 tho early days. He was
we'll acquainted with almost every foot
of the Dallotas, 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 a warm friend
IF James j. Hill, the railway magnate,
having met him at st. Paul when that
place was little more than trading
point and where N1r. Hill was employed
as Il freighter.
In 1871 Mr.. Bottineau took ND n
claim on the spot where st. Paul now
stands. but after having held it for a
short time traded it for 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
small sum Il largo 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, gamo which he
Thought he understood, but which other
tpeoplo understood better than he did.
! There is story, which the elder resi-
dents oflMinneapolis declare to be true,
that Bottineau was once the solo owner
or Nlcollet island, lying III tho Missis-
Isippi river, which divides Minneapolis
unto 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 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
a small fortune, even for that early day.
Ever since the game had begun Mr.
lBottincau had been losing steadily, but
iat last he was dealt hand upon which
lhe hoped to regain all his losses and win
something besides. He was given four
Queens pat, and drawing one card, Sc
cured an ace, leaving only four kings
with which his hand could be beaten.
AS he SAVIOR thought he did, which
Amounted to the same thing-one of the
players discard king, he considered
his hand invinciblo and played it ac-
icordingly. His opponent also considered
his hand a good one and promptly raised
every bet made by Bottineau.
Soon all the players but Bottineau
and his opponent dropped their hands
and retired from the game, after which
they sat and watched tho conflict. The
table was heaped with money and tho
personal belongings of the two men,
who wero wishing they had more to
wager upon their respective hands. At
last all the men possessed lay on the
table in front of them, and it was Bot
itiueaus bet. Carefully looking over
his cards, he thought y moment and
then remarked that all no had left was
lNicollet island, which was onco the
home of Father Hennepin, one Of the
earliest settlers of Minnesota, his log
cabin having stood upon little mound
in the center of the island up to few
years ago, when it was pulled down to
make room for the residence of Colonel
King.
This island Bottineau was willing to
bet against $500. The bet was called by
tho man on the opposite side Of the TIA
bile and Bottineau laid down his four
queens with smile Of triumph Oh his
face. With shout his opponent laid
on tho table face up, four kings and
tray. There was dead silence for Il
moment. Then Bottineau called for
writing materials, made out deed to
tho island and left the place. Since
that day he never touched card or