The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-07


chips with money in case he lost even if he
nad I'D tn m With the understanding
that they were to be redeemed. Anyhow
they seem to prefer actual assets In the
pot.
When l was at Church's Landing it
was toward the end of the blackberry
season. and there were a good many OF
these tame savages around The squaws
and children were there TO work and the
bucks were there to take their money
away from them as fast as they should
get 1t. They had a sort of camp, little
way out of the village-perhaps half a
mile on, for Church would not let them
camp near by-and visitors, when they
had time, used to walk around the camp
from curiosity. The Indians seemed per-
fecuy Indifferent to the scrutiny they
were subjected to as long as the strang
ers did not neglect to throw a few coins
10 the children. They would sit smoking
eating, or drinking. as calmly as If no one
was near and even when they were play
ing poker it did not disturb them TO be
watched.
THE day I was there two big bucks
were having a game of cards, and prob
ably a dozen others We're looking on.
heard afterward that there was ill-feeling
between them, though not enough to pro-
woke bloodshed and that both being gam
blers, il was a struggle for reputation as
well DIS gam when 1 came Up anu JUN
ed the lookers-on one of the two had just
lost the last of his money and had thrown
his blanket on the ground for an ante for
they played on the bare ground, squattiug
on their launches. The other player who
was the larger of the two dealt the cards,
and, after looking at his hand, threw in
his own blanket without a word. Each
drew three cards, and the dealer, after
looking again. put up a 81 bill. The other
man calmly pulled off his shoes and laid
them beside the bill. 1t was a call, and
the big man won with two small pair.
I'm perhaps half a dozen deals more
the smaller man lost his hat coat, shirt
and trousers, and giving them up stolidly
as he lost, was left as naked as he was
born, save for a breech clout, which. to
my amusement, l found he had under his
trousers. While this was going on l no
ticed that they didn't play jack-pots, but
that If the dealer didn't like his cards he
threw them down. and the age man drew
back his ante. And | also noticed that
while the smaller man had nothing but
collateral to stake, the other seemed per-
fectly contented to play for anything at
all. but kept putting up money in prefer
ence to anything else.
1.-THE naked man had still a hunting
knife and fairly good rife, and staked the
knife on the first hand he got, which he
thought worth betting on. He lost that,
for the luck was running steadily against
him. and ! looked to see him put up the
rifle next. He did not, however but IN
stead, when he caught another hand, he
said few words which could not under
stand. The other nodded and the small
man shouted ont three or four more words
in his own language. In answer boy
about 70 years old came trotting up. and
in obedience to a sign from his father
stood a little in front of him. almost be-
axrraA an 4 Iaa ftnra nj ~
ment he was to be played for. Boys APP
peared to be worth something in that
camp, too, for the big man put up $40
against him. Then came the draw, and
concluded that the small man must have
bettered. though neither player held his
cards so that any bystander could see
them, for he was evidently going to bet
more. looked again to see the rifle go
into the pot, but he was not yet ready for
that. Again he spoke a few words and
the other nodded. and the small man call
ed his squaw. She came up, and, like the
boy, seemed to understand what was to
be done, and, without a murmur, took her
place beside the other stakes.
ITO me, naturally, this seemed most ex-
traordinary and l looked around to see il
anybody was going to interfere. No one
offered to. A squaw, IT appears, was
worth $50, for that is what the big man
put up against her.
1t was a good hand the small man held,
for when it came to a show he laid down a
nine full. His luck was still against him.
however, for the big man had queen full,
and at sign from him the squaw and
the boy walked away, though In a differ
ent direction from that from which they
had come
The smaller man had now literally
nothing but his breech clout which was
worthless, and his rifle. which had been
evidently his most precious possession. He
dealt the cards again, however, and,
though for three deals there was no con-
test, he had his rife in as his ante each
time 1t was his turn. Even with this
stake. however, his luck did not turn. and
the big man. stalking the same sum against
1t that he had against the squaw, won 1t
on a king high flush.
Neither player had changed counte-
nance in the least during the game, as far
as / could see, and both were equally inn
perturbable after IL was over. The loser
rose without word and walked away,
and the winner. putting the cards in his
pocket, sat still and began smoking. /
asked some of the white people around
there If 1t was usual for men to gamble
away their wives and children, and they
said it wasn't. Occasionally some Indian
would do it, but nobody felt called on to
protest"