The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-30
POKER BILLY HAD NERVE.
Capt Jack Crawford Tells of an Elk

Capt Jack Crawford in New York Journal.
The most exciting game Of poker ever
saw was in an Arizona town. back in the
seventies. There was a character there
named Poker Billy" an artist who was
so expert with the cards that no gambler
who knew him would sit in a game in
which he held a hand. His fame went
abroad. and one day a long. lanky indi-
vidual came into town, announced him
self as the champion poker sharp of Tex
as, and boldly asserted that he had heard
Of Poker Billy and had come for the pUr-
pose OF meeting him in a game and bear
ing his professional scalp back TO the
Lone Star State. The stranger had plenty
Of money, and a game was soon arranged.
The news Of the coming battle and of
this Texans avowed purpose spread like
wildfire through the then rough mining
camp. and great crowd collected IN
the clubrOOm Of the Alhambra saloon
to witness the contest
The game ran along very quietly for a
couple of hours, no heavy bets being
made by either party. Numerous cock
tails were ordered from the bar to nerve
the players for active work, and gradu-
ally spirit Of reckless daring seemed to
animate them. and the bets grew heavier.
There was jackpot on the board and
several deals passed without its being
opened. Finally the Texan said:
open she comes, pardner, fur an even
hundred dollars" and he pushed FIVE
twerty-dollar gold pieces to the center.
mat what call burned mean uick'
said Billy. Eff you'd a passed that time
I'd opened the gate fur a cool five hun
dred. but l got my chance a comm
Gimme two cards"
The Texas man was satisfied with his
hand and drew no cards. There was a
knowing look on his face, and could I'M
derstand his air of confidence when I
glanced over his shoulder at his hand and
saw therein four kings. We all felt salts
fed that Billy had drawn TO threes of
somt sort. but what they were and wheth-
err he had caught his man" or not re-
manned TO be seen.
Il haven't got the top hand, pardner.
but the one 1 hev got is with thousand
dollars said Billy. and he counted out
that sum.
"HainT got much confidence in it. hev
you?" retorted the Texan. Il see double
that value in these little keerds O. mine.
an I'll stay right alongside yer thousand
and raise it trihin' matter o. a thousand
more"
' Billy studied his hand a long time. and
cast several keen glanCes into the face of
his opponent, endeavoring to read there
the nerve of the man he had to deal with.
Finally he said:
Il haven't been a studyin about seem
yer raise, stranger, but on how much of
comeback you'd stand without jumpin'
the game. Thar's your thousand hid
outen sight, an I'll jest try yer narve
with a fve-thousand lift"
He took a big wallet from his pocket
and slowly counted out the cash. and we
could yet see some bills remaining.
And now it was the Texan who did the
serious rejecting. He sat for several
minutes in deep study, and so intense
was the interest in the room that moth
CC1Ill he mi tI,f
of the Onlookers. Finally the Texan pull
ed a deed for a large cattle ranch from
his pocket. and said.
'Pardner. 1 haven't quite enough ready
money. but thar's a deed fur a ranch
wuth 10000 o any mans money; kin it
go as collateral?"
Yes; if you'n take the same medicine
yerself, provided l want to git back at
ye."
This was agreed to. and the Texan said:
Then I'll see yer 5.0O0 an raise We the
rest o the value O. the deed-15OO0
Billy seemed to grow little excited
He didn't care so mach for the money,
but his reputation was al stake and he
valued that above any cash consideration
The governor of the territory had drop
ped in and was an interested spectator
of the game, and Billy had known for
some time that his excellency was looking
on. He asked the Texan if he could have
ten minutes time. and the request was
quickly granted. Asking a friend to take
his seat and guard his hand, he retired to
the back part of the club room and wrote
rapidly for several minutes. Then he re-
turned with the paper in his hand, and,
addressing the executive, said:
Governor, your life amt nothin' to me
compared to my reputation as the boss
poker player O the southwest. Now that
hand O. mine can't be beat, an 1 hain't
agoin to lay it down on account o not
havin' the stuff to back it up You're
the governor, and this territory officially
belongs to you. Thar's deed fur the
hull blasted territory O Arizony an if
you don't sign it, transferrin the property
10 me; III kill you right whar you stand!"
And he drew an ugly looking pistol from
his belt.
The governor paled just little. but
quickly realizing the fact that such an
instrument would be entirely Illegal and
valueless, he secured a pen and signed it,
NOW" said Billy, q see yer Texas
ranch, with all its appurtenances, ct Get
cry, an l raise yer watts left O. the ter
ritory o. Arizony."
The Texan actually gasped. and de-
spite his four kings, he now felt sure
Billy had a hand to beat him. He either
believed the deed good or did not stop
to consider the legality of the transac-
ton and after long pause he turned
his cards face up on the table and said:
Ne1AA meet ) Ct Bcli pdIuN6Ts an
weaken an lay these four gents down, but
If had the governor o Texas here an
could git the drop on him, I'd raise YOU
clear out o yer clothes"
Billy coolly drew in the great pile of
cash and paper, and handing the hastily
drawn deed to the governor, said:
Much obliged governor; thar's the deed,
an you kin assume charge O. the Territory
agin. An" pushing the Texans deed to
him, as don't keer about goin' into the
ranch business, III give you back your
deed. An here, pard, SEEM as I'm still the
champion thar's five thousand to stake
you fur suckers to win back what you've
lost. Thar's nothin' small about the cham
pion, but his losin's Good-by, an better
luck mex time"
He arose and walked away. The Texan
turned pale and exploded loud oath when
he saw the faces of the cards.
Billy had two little tours.
One Tombstone for Four.
Letter to the Nashville CTenn) Banner
Last winter, while wandering through
the rural districts of South Georgia, 1