Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-27
WHEN TWO STIFF PLAYERS NET,

/ Morrlssey and Scovel One With Two Jacks
/ aud the Other with a Bobtan Flush. lad
/ Battle Royal for Tine.
The passing of the Crysta, saloon.
Gone, but not forgotten. Erected in
/ 1898. Raced only few days ago. The
Crystal saloon. which adJoined the
Frear house, was for over forty years
the principal, and about the only rem
| devious for sporting men in this city.
1t was the resort Of such well known
men as John Morrissey, John DAILY, Col.
jim Scoyel, and others. Stories have
/ been told of plays of faro when the
/ limit was the sky. and where the checks
were piled on a 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 Col.
jim ScOyel were the two important
/ PLAYERS. II was nearly thirty years ago.
1t was q bleak December night. This
was before ScOvel was sent 10 the
United States Senate by the Jerseyites,
and when Morrissey was at the height
Of his prominence.
II was q siX-handed game of draw.
The game had been tagging on for three
hours without any excitement Nor
rissey was about $4,000 winner Scoyel
was a 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
$40 Jack"
Pass" said the big Colonel, never
looking at his hand
The next man did the same as Scovel,
but the player who followed him opened
it for S120. the size of the pot. The next
man stayed. the next passed, and when
it came to MOrrisSey. he tilted 1t $3.50.
1t was now ScOyel's turn. There was
$500 now in the center. ScOvel was
poker player of the old school. He
would lay down tours as quickly as the
amateur would draw four cards TO an
ace when it cost S1C0. and he would play
q three-card flush if the pot was worth
winning at all.
Scovel looked at his hand when Nor
Il-EtF AUN lA414ltA RuNN4AAt7 AA- N--N
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
out a large wallet.
III raise you $50" jim said.
The man who had opened the pot saw
both raises, for he sat with a nice pat
straight in his hand. and the next fell
low put in his $1,170. MOrrissey was
nC1plussed when 1t came 10 him. 1t
/ was at least fifteen minutes before he
put in the 1910.
I'm in so much. l might as well
STAY" he remarked, as he picked up
/ the deck. "How many. JIM
Three" answered Scovel, "and see
| that they are good ones.
'Oi I've got you beat" chirped
I John. as he dealt out the required
| number.
I'm play these" was the answer Of
the man who held the pat straight.
That's a good thing said Morris
! sey. looking in a surprised way at the
man.
GIVE me two was the order Of the
! next man. and ne got them.
" ell, / OulN want OAANs etAANA 4 ''NA' 4
need il at that" remarked MOrrissey,
! as he took the top card.
The man who had opened was one Of
those fellows who are always afraid OF
one-card draw, and he merely Clipped
| Csc. The next man was there with
three aces cold. and he threw a $50
greenback in the center. 1t was now
Morrissy's turn. He had skinned
his hand off two or three times.
Five hundred better said he, with
out moving a muscle.
During the play Scovel had been lean
ing back in the chair, watching his op-
ponents. The gallery which is the
/ named used for the spectators who con-
gregate around the table. was more
excited than the players. The centre
of the table was piled with bills.
1T seems like shame" exclaimed
Scovel "but I'm going to raise you
$500. John" and suiting the action 10
the word ne counted on that amount
in bills and threw ii in the middle.
The man with the pat straight
passed without astating. and the next
with three aces concluded that his
hand wasn't worth $1,000 any more, so
he. too. dropped out
Glow about splitting the pot Jim?'
asked Morrissey.
Never" replied Scovel, but I'll let
you take your last raise out"
Make it $1,000" said Morrissey, and
III go YOU"
AN right" said scovel, "what'd you
havoc
"A lalla-pa-loosa, answered big
John. and threw his hand to ScOvel.
There was jack and the deuce, tray,
four and FIVE of diamonds
Scovel turned his hand over and
showed the jack and ten Of diamonds,
queen of hearts, seven Of clubs and ace
Of spades
He had a solitary pair Of jacks.
Talk about CONSERVATION. The man
who had passed with three aces made
I the air blue, and the pat-straight fel-
low fell unconscious. Scovel treated
the house and took a cab to Albany.
IF I had only thought YOU we're
blufing." said MOrrissey. I'D have
sent YOU to Philadelphia on freight
train.
There was SS.o71 in that pot which
| Seovel won with a pair Of iacks--Trov
4 OhsasHAS