Evening journal., 1896-04-24
PISTOLS FOLLOW POKER
Bloodshed Narrowly Averted on
Liner New York.
TROUBLE OVER GAMES OF CARDS.
Three Passengers Lost 81 200 by the OPP
erations OF an Alleged sharper-They
Denounced Him, and lie Drew Re
voIvcr- Captain watkins Tact.

erations of an Alleged sharper-rhey
Denounced Him, and ne Drew Re
voivcr-cnptain watkins Tact
LONDON, April 9L-An exciting epi
sode which at one time was perhaps neal
bloodshed, occurred on the last voyage OF
the American liner New York the evening
before her arrival at Southampton.
Shortly after the vessel let New York a
we'll but oyerdressed individual, giving
his name to various fellow passengers as
Hill, arranged several poker games on sue
cessive evenings persuading, among 9th
ers, two young and apparently we'll to do
Englishmen and quite well known
American 60 join In the play. by last
Monday night no had managed TO win
some 81 200 from them. Then their sus-
picions appear to have boen aroused as to
his character and gaming methods,
On Tuesday morning the two young
EDgllshm>l, Mr.. N. r. Brown and Mr..
i. Cavendish Taylor, went 20 Hills cabin
and denounced him vigorously.
They also called upon Purser Howard
Hinsley to learn something of the man.
The purser told them he had given an
other name than Hin and had registered
only at the last moment before sailing.
Another passenger recognized him as
having gone over TO New York on the st.
Paul OF the same line only fortnight be-
foro and as having won considerable
sum during the passage.
Hill, or ----, did not resent the verbal
attack Of the two Englishmen, but just be-
fore tho dinner hour he appeared again In
tho smoking room, when somo fiery male
passengers were there As soon as no en-.
tered the two Englishmen took up their
station at tho smoking room door, and
Professor Norman Wyld Of Chicago, prob
ably by a preoonoerted arrangement, arose
I'm his place and formally called a meeting
Of those present Pointing to Hill, ho
charged him with being professional
gambler and with having used crooked
methods In winning money.
Hill at first seemed very uneasy, but
thon assumed an impudent aRgressiyeness
and ovon interrupted Professor Wyld's de-
nunoiation with frequent Hear Hearl"
the English method Of applause.
When Professor Wyld had finished,
young Brown continued tho denunciation,
applying nearly every epithet Of the cata-
logue to Hill and challenging him TO 90
out on deck and have it out there.
Meanwhile Hill had called In quick
succession for four or five drinks OF whis-
ky, and as Brown continued he put his
right hand In the pocket Of his sack coat
and half withdrew pistol
A Pistol In Sight.
one Of the passengers hurried out to
Pursor Hinsley's room and brought him
back. Mr.. Hinsley saw the pistol and
hurried TO Captain Frederick Watkins.
Captain Watkins, on going TO tho smok-
ing room, took in the situation at
glance, but with his'well known tact said
brusquely:
NOW, gentlemen, there's the dinner
boil. Please clear the room at once"
He had brief conversation with Hill,
who went TO his cabin and did not appear
at dinner. Hill went on deck afterward,
however, obviously under the influence of
liquor and showed pistol In each pocket
TO Purser Hinsley and to a passenger
The purser insisted that Hill should 90 to
his room, and he did not again show him.
solf until after all tho other passengers
had landed.
The next morning Mr.. Brown and Mr.
Taylor waited about the dook with po-
lioeman for somo time after landing. but
II Hill went ashore he managed to elude
their observation. .
The passengers held meeting and drew
up a leltor addressed 20 the company's Of
lcorS IN i1Onuon prhlslnR Oaptoln Wat
kins' tact and saying that, except for II,
there probably would have been serious
difficulty aboard The letter also suggest
cd that the company provide detectives TO
travel on their steamers and warn passen-
gers against professional gamblers who
travel to and fro.
IL is remembered that somo years ago
Captain Watkins, when senior officer OF
the line and captain Of the Paris, started
vigorous crusade against travelling gam
blers, warning passengers when he recog-
MED one Of the fraternity not to play with
him.
Hill. II he is one OF the sort, apparently
was not recognized by the captain. He is
described as obviously an American, about
35 years old with dark hair and mustache
slightly sprinkled with gray. He dressed
well, but fashily, with a large diamond
stud In bis shirt front and diamond rings
on his fingers.
Among the passengers on board were
Mr.. Alfred Conkling and his bride, Mrs.
p, A. Collins, wife Of the American con.
sui general at London; her brother-in in law.
John II. Burke Of Massachusetts, and
Professor Simon Newcomb Of the United
States naval observatory.
@ The occurrence caused great excitement
on board. There was one Mr.. Hill on the
list OF passengers but he is not the indi-
vidual above referred to, whose real name
was perhaps that given to the purser.