The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
FIRE UNCOVERED A GAME.
The Poker Players Ceased Only when Part or
the Burning R0or Fell In.

From the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
A hitherto unchronicled incident Of the old
Pike Opera House fire. in sc, was told a few
days ago by a man who. at that time, was a
member of the fire department, and who still
does service with the fire laddies. The incident
was characteristic of the times. for. in those
days. when the town was wide open and the
stranger Gould get any old game at any old
place II he had the roll, the fact that a fire. even
of the magnitude of that famous blaze. was not
sufficient to interrupt a seductive game of draw
caused no surprise.
The like of that Pike fire will probably never
occur. for with the poor facilities with which
the fremen were then equipped, and the cle-
mcnt of danger which marked their every step,
1t has always been regarded as a miracle that
no life was sacrificed in the conquering of that
famous blaze.
The night was well spent. and the efforts of
the trclncn had been so far successful as 10
il was discovered that the fire had made its way
into tho building in the rear, which faced on
and bore the name OF sheltcring from public
view some OF the most talkeu of games of poker
which this town then had in plenty, go, ,.,r,,-
hlled with us ,habitues. though at times 10
seemed as if the heat and the proximity of the
blaze would compel them to yacate. That this
was not the case was proved by the, fircmen, a
few moments after 1t was observed that tho
structure was on fire.
A half dozen members OF the old Hooks No. 2
were sent to the roof with buckets with which
20 stay the progress OF the fire. When they
reached the scene OF their new labors the roof
had Dcen burned through in several places, and
n clear view of the interior OF the upper room
was to BE- had.
When the first man looked through he stopped
In ainazement and thcn calleG his companions to
his side. They looked and saw Il sight that 80
hllcd them with surprise that the fire burned
unmOlosted for several minutes. There, gHth-
cred around Il small oak table, were tour men.
their faces showing no traces OF fear, even as
the tircbrandsd roppe one by one through tho
burning ROOF TO the floor below, ana the cards
were dealt once while the tiremen watched tho
strange sight.
Inc "a king Of the flames brought the fire
men to their senses and they sprtng TO their
work. and even as they did so "a portion of the
root fell with "A rcsOuniing crash. Carefully
they made their way over the ChHrreu tiinhnT5
TO the spot where they had watched the game.
but the room was now vacant except for a col
OrCd man who seemed too much frightened 10
gather up the money which lay in PROPULSION
about the floor aud table. The tirenen clam
man gather up the bills. and then they worked
on until the great Pile fire was tapped out.
For many II day in the engine houses That
scene " the topic Of much conversation, and
to this day IL is talked atOut hy the mcn who
witnessed il, and ,Olu 10 their frlenGs, who SIN
recount it. That must have been IA p@ker giH.S
which should have gone down IN tho Annals OF
that wonderful and much writtCn.Of game rs
the one which was played under circumstances
small anair-played within "A few feet OF Gin.
clnnhti'- mOst.ialkcd.Ol fire, ana interrupted
only when the flames were so near as TO sCorch
the dealer hands.