The sun., 1897-06-20
CROOKED OVERLAND JACK.
HE HAD FUN WITH SOME SHARP
NEW WORKERS.

westorners who would Not Keep Clear or n
brace Gnmo-A HAD Man, but Popular Ono
"I don't know how for local prido may color
tho Judgment" said tho gray-hnirod, young.
looking man, "but am satisfied that very few
New Workers would be willing to admit that an
llround sport could como horo from tho West
and clean up tho town, metaphorioally speak
ing. That is, tackle the experts OF tho city at
their own different games and win money from
ono after another without losing to any of them
and finally depart after n season of rlotous sue
cess with his pockets laden with spoils. Such a
thing does not seem likely. Yet remember
one case in tho '70's whom just that thing was
dono by one Of tho best known gamblers in the
United States. Overland Jack was the name
by which no was usually called, but his real
namo was John Mccormick. Ho cut very
| wide swath when no first came to New York.
| but he made n good many friends here too, not
only among the sporting fraternity. but among
| actors and men about town generally.
"Tho fact OF his having goodly number Of
| friends was manifest when he came to die after
| ward in Chicago. He knew. toward the last,
| that his death was near, but, instead Of weak
| ening. he recalled the incidents OF his carcor
| with the utmost satisfaction and declared that
| he had no regrets for tho way he had spent his
| life; but. on the contrary, considered that he
| had done excellcntly well with 1t. As token
OF MS IcenngB, no Expressed INC Wlbn tnup nlS
friends should go to his funeral, not with re-
| ligious ceremonies, but with champagne galore,
and that in place of praying for his future they
should drink to his memory over his open grave.
ut was just such crowd as he would have
selected that went to his grave and carried out
his wishes. Tony Pastor, Jack Studley, Pat
| Sheedy Johnny Basdell, Mike Mcdonald. and
many others wcro there. There were enough.
| at all events, to get away with five baskets of
| wine before tho grave was filled in, and the
empty bottles were thrown in on the coffin. 1t
was memorable occasion. even for Chicago.
| and 1t occurred only few years ago. Six or
| seven years. IL l remember Alright.
| "The timo speak Of, however. wns before he
| was known this side Of the continent, except
! ing by reputation. Overland Jack. tho sport,
| came from San Francisco. Where John McCor-
| mick, tho man. came from originally. no ono
seemed to know. The first that could be def
nitely stated was that he was n private In n
California cavalry regiment at the time Of the
| civil war. He never rose from the ranks but he
was always well supplied with money, oven
when on duty. for no was far and away tho best
poker player in the regiment After the war he
never did anything but gamble for u living.
HE was q quiet man, who was so uncommuni-
cative about himself that his best friends could
not even say with certainty whether he was n
welleducated man or not. but he was always
smiling and extremely pleasant in his manner.
1t was said of him that he was never known to
be angry, but have heard this disputed. Ger
tanly he had no reputation as a fighter. though
he took his life in his hands often enough in his
play, for he was, beyond question. crook. which
makes the fact OF his having so many friends all
| the more remarkable.
soon after the war. but 1t was not until 20 or
"a that he started East. and then he didn't
places. The first l heard of him was at Salt
Lake City. where he had notable adventure; |
h% the his ana Seped him
away with considerable Mormon capital. He
game always .n or @ Course he had to Be- skita to
do that; but he vas particularly % sktifT! st When
sa LAKE M ne pn R az tGS s
running the game quietly enough TO rouse no
antagonism on the the part Of the landlord but but
was an actor. then playing in Brigham Young .
theatre, to rope in several OF the widest sports
|, :" Among others. Brigham Youngs son, John
Young. was informed OF the chance to play. and.
tune OF 500 or $500 the first night Tho actor
, went with him and played with him. and was n
proper prop r. posi- ton to urge Young to try it the sec
, ond night that they might both get even over
he HW was ; manipulating the box. and Young lost
, about SO, 600 the second night. He was not a
chSaso e in
i quarrel in a gambling house, matter, by the
way. for which he was never tried-and he was
| furious at his losses this time. Overland Jack
. .. was shrewd enough to forcsee trouble and that
night he packed his faro layout in tho trunk OF
Started sta % out t0 for Ora wal Walk. The walk was long
/ one. and not caring about walking back he took
a way train at the next station. and after chang
ing cars once or twice was well on his way &c
Laramie before John Young went back to the
take in four faro banks and all their al ttcndants
, The actor tarricd in salt Lake for discreet
interval and then went to Laramie himself. Fol
some reason it was not thought wise to deal fare
there. and they lay around idle till they got q
chance to play together in a pretty heavy pokel
10 each other there till they met at the table
and supposed that no one in the place knew tha
| they were acquainted so tho chance seemed
: good one 10 play in the way they had arranged
o which was for Overland Jack to do the dealing
and the other man to hold the cards. Amonf
the other players rich plainsman who hat
. come to town for racket and was having 1t Z
4 nlary good player. and the gamo looked like I
r lit came Overland Jack deal, and his con
l. fedcrate looked confidently at his cards, expect
ing to find winners but, instead. he found moth
not. moi that at the landlord Of tho hotel who was il
;. actors play; Il he had an inkling OF thy truth
' the hand he S had Stacked R % FOR the actor. whic
g was four aces, while he gave the plainsman hi
"Therc was tho raise before tho draw an,
n after it, and the pile on the table grew rapidly
!; two two hands We're Mere being played for ali they, wer
u worth. Overland Jacks nerve was, perfect
> | RODu, ana nc was pIuSlHG lOT tnc man
o pile, when he heard click under the table. jus
Z as the plainsman had raised him 5000 VIII
X out an instant's hesitation, and without tn
Q slightest change OF expression he exclaimed
!. That's good and threw his four aces into III
discard pile Neither did he show any emotio
OF any kind as he saw the plainsman, with
look OF considerable surprise, rake in the pll'
He had cold feet soon after. however, as did tn
actor also, and they left the room and wen
straight to the bar.
while they were chewing their whiskoy tn
. | landlord and the plainsmnn camo In together
n and Overland Jack instantly called TO them hot
d to come over and have drink. They came
10 and the plainsman put out his hand, laughing.
~ "'You are good one. he said What di
u YOU throw down four aces forf
% "'My friend said Overland Jack when 20
r, have played cards as much as have you wi
know that there arc times when fonr hccs al
not worth four cents. And when you have bee
ID through what l have yOu will know thai u
# damned foolish to pull the second gun. Whc
Al you hear click, and your own gun Is not out,
~ Is time to quit the game
y "'Well, you arc II good one. SAID the plain
ID man again, and they all drank. ,
n AT that time the old Morton House was ii