The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-01
LOOKED LIKE A SKIN.
HOW MORRlSSEY AND scovEL BEAT
APAT STRAIGHT AND THREE ACES.
Raises at the Proper Time and of Correct
Amounts Did the Trick-Morrissey Got
$1,000 Out of the Pot, scovel Got the
Rest and the Others Got Left.

Hest and the Otnerb OOt Icits |
The passing of the Crystal saloon.
Gone, but not forgotten. Erected in
1898. Raced only few days ago. The
CRYSTAL saloon, which adjoined the Frear
House, was for over 40 years the princi-
pal and about the only rendezvous for
sporting men in this city. 1t was the
resort of SUCH we'll known men as John
Morrissey, John DAILY, Colonel Jim SEQ
vel and others. Stories have been told
of plays of faro when the limit was the
sky, and where the checks were piled
on card as high as the ceiling.
Many good stories are told Of big |
games played in the Crystal. One of the |
best is of the great poker game in which !
the late John Morrissey and Colonel |
Jim Scovel were the two important |
players. 1t was nearly 80 years ago. 1t !
was a bleak December night. This was
before Scovel was sent to the United
States senate by the Jerseyites, and
when Morrissey was at the height OF
his prominence. 1t was six handed
game of draw. The game had been lag
ging ON for three hours without any ex-
element. Morrissey was about $4,000
winner. Scovel was loser Of about half
that much. The play which made this
story came up about o'clock in the
morning. John was the dealer, Scovel
sat to his left and was the first man TO
speak 1t was a $40 lack"
"Pass,' said the big colonel, never
looking at his hand.
The next man did the same as SEQ
| - ,NIo hn
opened it for $40, the size OF the pot
The next man stayed, the next passed,
and when it came to Morrissey he tilted
it $500. 1t was now Scovel's turn.
There was $500 now in the center. Sco-
vel was poker player of the old school.
He would lay down fours as quickly as
the amateur would draw four cards to
an ace when it cost 500, and he would
play "a three card flush if the pot was
, worth winning at all. Scovel looked at
his hand when Morrissey had finished
putting in the checks. He stared at
John for few moments, all the time
: fumbling his checks. and then in cool
way went down in his inside pocket
and pulled ont a large wallet.
:. "I'll raise you $780," Jim said.
The man who had opened the pot saw
> both raises, for he sat with nice pat
L !, straight in his hand, and the next fel-
= low put i'll 81, Morrissey was non
{ plused when it came to him. 1t was al
least 10 minutes before he put in the
$50.
"I'm in so much / might as vel
stay" he remarked, as he picked up the
deck. "How many, Jim?''
"Three," answered Scovel, "and SEE
that they are good ones. +"
Is "Oh, I've got you beat" chlrpet
John, as he dealt out the required mum
!, Der.
L. "I'll play these" was the answer
10 the man who held the pat straight.
a "That's good thing" said Morris
~ sey, looking in a surprised way at TN
~ man.
VI "Give me two" was the order of tn
4, next man, and he got them.
III "Well, only want one, and don
Il, need it at that" remarked Morrissey
"0 as he took the top card.
no The man who had opened was one c
no those fellows who are always afraid
y one card draw, and he merely chlppe
'ss 90 cents. The next man was there wit
VI three aces cold, and he threw 80
% greenback in the center. 1t was nov
as Morrissey's turn. He had "skinned
81 his hand off two or three times.
Give hundred better, said he, witt
NC out moving muscle.
IL During the play Scovel had been lear
III ing back in his chair watching his OF
III ponents. The gallery, which is tn
name used for the spectators who col
Gu gregate around the table, was more e.
~ cited than the players. The center
w the table was piled with bills.
nc "It seems like a shame" exclaime
au Scovel, "but I'm going to raise you 50
no 500, john" and suiting the action
ne the word he counted off that amount
bills and threw it in the middle.
H. The man with the pat straight passe
without hesitating, and the next wit
no three aces concluded that his haI
'gs wasn't worth $4,000 more, so he, to-
on dropped out.
OF ''How about splitting the pot, Jim!
us' asked Morrissey.
s'Never," replied Scovel, "but i
let you take your last raise out. y
"Make it $1,000" said Morrisse
is "and I'll go you" -
in "All right, said Scovel. what
ire. you have?"
the "A lalla-pa-loosa, answered b
OF John, and threw his hand to Scov'
,in. There was jack Of hearts and deuc
,m- tray, four and five of diamonds.
bile Soovel turned his hand over al
ght showed the jack of diamonds, queen
DRY hearts. lack and seven of clubs, and a
AT of spades; he had solitary pair
and jacks. Talk about CONSERVATION. L
tro- man who had passed on three aces ma
,om the air blue, and the pat straight felit
ork fell unconscious. Scovel treated :
house and took cab to Albany. 4
had only thought You was bluiiing
said Morrissey, "Pd have sent you
Philadelphia OH freight train.
IL