The San Francisco call., 1897-08-20
OLD SPORT
IS NO MORE
Death of a Well
Character in the Sport
ing World.
Was Once Wealthy and Came
Of a Good Family in
Baltimore.
Addicted to Drinking Raw Alcohol
He Lost Everything and Died
in Want.


San Francisco, who ran more and
bigger gamb bling games in his time
than any man in the West, and
who befriended more dead ones' than
any man in America, has made his last
bet and told his last lie. He was almost
as notorious for his lying propensities in
his latter days as for his big winnings and
corresponding losses in his earlier days,
but his lies were always. harmless and
were merely ''big STORIES" They never
had the sting of malice in them.
In little room up on Stockton street,
clothed in rags and most likely hungry,
torsaken by his former friends and broken
by dissipation and want, "Sport" bade
farewell to his earthly troubles. But in
the hour of death he did not forget the
teachings of his childhood. On bended
knees and with bowed head-in an atti-
tude of humility and prayer-he awaited
the angel of death, and was glad when
the summons ca me to appear before the
tribunal of eternal judgment.
omparatively few of his acquain tances
or even his friends for that matter ever
knew Sports" real name. From New
York to New Orleans through Arizona,
~
simply as Sport" When asked he said
his name was Martin Bates. He never
told his true name. That came out after
his death and was an unpronouncea bic
German one spelled Kleiuveibst. His
relatives in the East betrayed the ex-
penses of burial. and his remains were
Yesterday inferred in the Jewish
cemetery. He was born in the
city of Baltimore, Md, where his father
is yet a prosperous furrier. Not much is
known of his early life and he first came
into prominence in the sporting world in
the city of New Orleans about twenty
y ars ago.
He was then young man OF between
25 and 80 and soon became known as one
of the coolest and most expert card play
ers of the Southern metropolis. He ac-
quired considerable money and property
and for time forsook the card-table for
the racecourse. Here, however, he was
not so fortunate as with cards and soon
lost everything he had. Then he went
farther west and was next heard from in
the mining camps of Arizona. He soon
got together enough money to start a
game of his own and became known as
the dealer vbo never played limit No
matter what sized bet man desired to
make 'Sport" always accomm odated him.
AS q result his game became known
throughout the Territory as the biggest
game IN the west. nerve was
never questioned, AZ least in those days,
and an instance of it may be related:
One night. when running his game in
Tombstone, a miner came in and deposit
ing great sack OF dust and nuggets on
the tai BILE in front of him, asked what the
limit was.
"No limit" said "Sport." You kin
bet your life if you want to and I'll call
YOU"
The miner started in and won from the
start. He had soon cleaned out the bank
roll.
"Wait a minute" said Sport" "PlI
git another one." In five minutes he was
back. The miner acquired this even faster
than he had the first Then sport went
forth again. His credit was almost without
limit in the town and back he came with
third stake" But the miners luck
was sill with him and soon the third
stack of money had changed hands.
How much have you won" said
"Sport," without a tremor in his voice.
The miner made hurried calculation.
About twelve thousand" he returned
"pll tell you what I'll do, said Sport"
diving into his inside vest pocket and
bringing forth thick roll of bills, kind
of money seldom seen in Arizona in those
days. I've got just $4,000 here that
friend OF mine give me tonight for safe
k eping. Its too late TO borrow any more
tonight, but l kin make it good III the
mornin". I'll make one more deal. Play
your whole stack in, and win or lose I'll
quit"
'It's CO." said the miner and the deal
commenced. When it was finished
"Sport" had won back about $4,000. and
the game was closed.
Every one who saw the game congratu-
ted Sport" on getting back so much of
his money, but not a man knew what a
chance he had taken to get it, for his
manner and speech were as calm as
though he had been shaking dice for
drink. His story about having $12, 900 In
keeping for friend was lie, and the roll
OF money he had exposed to view was a
lot of Confederate green backs. Had he
lost and been unable to make good his
wager his life would, in all probab bility,
have paid forfeit
After several years of varying luck in
Arizona and New Mexico ''Sport'' finally
committed some act of the consequences
OF which he was evidently in great fear.
Just what he did he would never tell, but
he was never punished for it. It must
have been OF grave character, however,
for. to hide his identity, he enlisted in the
regular army; For two years he saw act
i've service all over the Southwest, and it
was while in the service of the Govern
ment that he formed the habit which
eventually ruined his constitution and
cost him his life.
Liquor was q scarce article at that time
with Uncle Sans troops, but not much
difficulty was found in obtaining plenty
of raw alcohol, and many of the soldiers
drank it. Here it was that Sport" be-
came slave to the "alcohol ha Bit" which
robbed him OF his manhood, his energy
and destroyed almost every good instinct
in his nature. After two years of service
he resolved to get out of the army at any
cost, and at the first opportunity he de-
serted. he was soon captured and sem
fenced to three years imprisonment al Al
catraz. After about years confinement
he was released. probablv through the in
f1uence of Eastern relatives, though
'Spori" never communicated with his
family alter he came West, and on one
occasion after he came to San Francisco
when he heard that cousin of his was in
town he went into hiding for week.
After his release from Alcatraz prison
he came to San Francisco and soon found
position In one OF the poolrooms on
Leidesdorff street. Here he became
known TO every man of sporting tenden-
cies In town and is said to have sold more
mutual pools than any man on the coast
After awhile he neglected his duties and
lost his place. Then he became sort of