The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-05
when Two stin players Met.


The passing of the Crystal 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 rendezvous for sporting men in
this city. says the Troy Observer. It was
! the resort of such well known men as
John Morrissey, John DAILY, Col. Jim SEQ
| vel, and others. Stories have been told of
plays of faro when the limit was the sky
and where the checks were piled on 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 Scovel were
| the two important players. It was nearly
| thirty years ago. It was a bleak Deem
| Der night. This was before Scovel was sent
to the United States Senate by the Jersey
ties, and when Morrissey was at the hight
| Of his prominence. It was a six-handed
game of draw. The game had been tagging
on for three hours without any excite
| ment Morrissey was about $1,000 winner.
Scovel was a loser Of about half that
much. The play which made this story
came up about 2 O'Clock in the morning.
John was the dealer. Scovel sat on his
left and was the first man to speak. 1t was
| a $50 Jack"
Pass, said the big colonel, never look
ing al his hand
The next man did the same as Scovel
but the player who followed him opened 1t
for $40, the size of the pot. The next man
stayed, the next passed, and when it came
TO Morrissey, he tilted it $3.50. 1t was now
Scovel's turn. There was $500 now in the
center. Scovel was a poker player of the
old school. He would lay down tours as
quickly as the amateur would draw four
1rAC RI NH 3 ,o
would play a three-card flush if the pot
was worth winning at all. Scovel looked
| at his hand when Morrissey had finished
| putting in the checks. He stared at John
| for few moments, all the time fumbling
his checks, and then in a cool way went
down in his inside pocket and pulled out
| a large wallet.
I'm raise you $S10," 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 fellow
| put in his $1,170. Morrissey was nonpluss-
| ed when it came to him. 1t was at least
fifteen minutes before he put in the $50.
I'm in so much. 1 might as we'll stay,'
he remarked, as he picked up the deck.
| How many, Jjm?''
Three" answered Scovel, land see that
| they are good ones
"Oh! I've got you beat" chirped John,
as he dealt out the required number.
man who held the pat straight
That's a good thing" said Morrissey,
| looking in a surprised way at the man.
| give me two was the order of the
next man, and he got them.
We'll, only want one, and don't need
1t 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 a
| one-card draw, and he merely Clipped %
| cents. The next man was there with three
| aces cold, and he three a $50 greenback in
| the center. 1t was now Morrissey's turn.
! He had skinned his hand off two or
| three times.
Five hundred BETTER said he, without
| moving a muscle.
| During the play Scovel had been leaning
| back in his chair watching his opponents.
! The gallery" which is the name used
| for the spectators who congregate around
! the table, was more excited than the play
ers. The center of the table was piled with
| bills.
| at seems like shame" exclaimed SEQ
| vel, but I'm going to raise you $500,
| john" and suiting the action to the word.
| he counted off that amount in bills and
three it in the middle.
| The man with the pat straight passed
without hesitating, and the next with
three aces concluded that his hand wasn't
worth $1,000 any more, so he, too, dropped
| ont.
How about splitting the pot. Jim?''
| asked Morrissey.
Never" replied Scovel, "but I'll let you
| take your last raise out"
make it $1,00O,' said Morrissey, land
| I'll go you"
"AI right" said Scovel, "whatd you
| haye?'
"a lalla-pa-loosa," answered big John
and threw his hand to Scovel. There was
| a 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 the air blue,
and the pat-streight fellow fell uncon-
scious. Scovel treated the house and took
a cab to Albany. IF l had only thought
you was bluffing," said Morrissey, I'D
have sent you to Philadelphia on freight
| train"
There was $SO71 in the pot, which Scovel
| won with a pair of jacks.
| ---e-Qn--e-----