The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-04-22
NERVE THAT HELD FAST.
Two Specimens in an Old Poker
Players Experience.
Kentucky COlonePs Lucky Wngers
of $4,000 on n Pair of SLxes-Four
Jacks Against Four Kings in
Burning Building.


There were some pretty stiff poker
players around Trenton in the early
days." said an old settler the other day
in a discussion of the merits and de-
merits of the great American game.
"a fellow could get about any kind OF
game that he wanted in those days,
from a dollar limit up to the extent of
his pile, and he didn't have to look very
long for it.
"One of the nerviest players that ever
put his legs under poker table was
Watt Williams, of Cape May county.
Watt was interested in the oyster bust
ness and always carried a roll of bills
III his inside pocket as big as your arm,
and he didn't keep it idle, either. He
would make it fly when he got started,
and for that reason fellows who didn't
have much money to travel on hung
pretty close to Watt whenever he
showed up in Trenton, which was as
regular rs the legislature sat.
He would come up the second week
of the session and never leave till the
Legislators went home. 1t was his an
nual picnic, and he enjoyed it from
start to finish. AS L was saying, Watt
was a poker player, and when he got
into a game he had it understood be-
fore the cards were dealt that there
was to be no limit to stand in the way
OF a mans winning something worth
talking about when he had the cards to
do it with.
When a fellow struck town that
wanted to get into a good, stiff game,
he began to inquire for Watt, and he
was pretty easily located as n general
thing. l remember that Watt once ran
up against a man who had Just as much
nerve as he had. That man was Thomp-
sen, Col. Thompson. He hailed from
kentucky, seemed to have all the money
that he wanted and was u pretty good
fellow. He was here when the legiSla-
ture sat, and had made a good many
friends among the Trenton fellows
Who found out his mettle at the card
table, and concluded to introduce him
to Watt Williams just as soon as Watt
showed up.
The second week Watt came up, and
in less than five hours he had met Col.
Thompson. The two men didn't get to-
gether over the cards for week. One
night they came together in North
Warren street restaurant and, while
eating, got to discussing cards and one
thing and another. After awhile some
body suggested that the party go to
hotel and have hand at poker. 1t was
agreed, and in a short time there was
game going at full blast and Watt Will
Hams and Col. Thompson were in it up
to their eyes. Thompson was having
big run of luck. He was tapping every
body's pile right along, and Watt
showed that he wasn't enjoying the
way the cards were running worth IL
cent, After awhile everybody dropped
out of certain hand except Watt and
the colonel. Watt drew two cards and
the colonel took three.
81 reckon said the colonel, after
looking his cards over, that can risk
$500 on that hand and he showed the
chips into the center of the table.
I'm raise that $780, says Watt, as
Ne dropped chips and money worth
$1,000 on the pile in the center of the
table
I'm In now and l reckon I'll have
to stay said the colonel. III see your
$500 and raise il $1,000 He counted out
$500 and tossed the bills on the pile
before him.
"Tho men who were looking over the
players shoulders began to get inter
ested, but they were mighty careful to
make no break that would give the
hands of the players away. But the
raise of $1,000 didn't feaze Watt. He
laid his cards down on the table and
reached into his pocket for his roll.
He counted the bills over and says:
1--WE got just $500 here. I'll play
it,
"Ile threw the bills down, and
Thompson twisted his mustache, looked
from his cards to the pile of money and
then at Watt, who sat tilted back in
his chair, with his thumbs in the arm
holes of his vest and his eyes fixed ON
the ceiling.
"Ttn cost me $500 to play, won't
it? says Thompson.
"'That'll call me- replied Watt.
"'Will you take a check for that
amount?' asked the colonel, eying
Watt as n cat watches a mouse.
"'Fd rather not says Watt, leaning
on the table with peculiar look on his
face. 4 don't went you to think,
colonel, that I have any doubt about
your check being good, but I've always
made it rule never to take checks