Smyrna times., 1897-11-10
LOOKED LIKE A SKIN.
HOW MORRlSSEY AND SCOVEL BEAT
A PAT STRAIGHT AND THREE ACES.

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 Colonel
Jim Scovel were the two important
players. 1t was nearly 80 years ago. 1t
was bleak December night. This was
before Scovel was sent to the United |
States senate by the Jerseyites, and |
when MOrrissey was at the height of |
his prominence 1t was six handed |
game of draw. The game had been lag |
ging ON for three hours without any ex-
Citement. MOrrissey was about 1000 !
winner. Scovel was 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 to his left and was the first man to
speak 1t was $50 Jack "
Pass" said the big colonel, never
looking at his hand.
The next man did the same as SEQ
vel, but the player who followed him
opened it for $l&0, the size of the pot.
The next man stayed, the next passed,
it $500. 1t was now ScOvel's turn.
There was $500 now i'll the center SEQ
vel was poker player Of the old school,
He would lay down fours as quickly as
the amateur would draw four cards to
an ace when it cost 500, and he would
play 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 i'll his inside pocket
and pulled out Il large wallet.
I'm raise you $50" Jim said
The man who had opened the pot saw
both raises, for he sat with nice pat
straight i'll his hand, and the next fel-
low put i'll 81, 10. Morrissey was non
plused when it came to him 1t was at
least 10 minutes before ne put in the
$81O.
''I'm i'll so much 1 might as we'll
stay" he remarked, as he picked up the
deck. "How many, JIM"
'Three," " answered Scovel, land see
that they are good ones.
"Oh, I've got you beat" chlrped
John, as he dealt out the required num-
ber.
"I'll play these" )" was the answer Of
the man who held the pat straight.
That's a coed thing" said Morris
sey, looking i'll a surprised way at the
man.
"Give me two, was the order Of the
next man, and he got them.
well, I only want one, and don't
need it 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
20 cents. The next man was there with
three aces cold, and he threw $50
greenback i'll the center. 1t was now
Morrissey's turn. He had skinned"
his hand off two or three times
Give hundred better, said he, with
out moving a muscle.
During the play Scovel had been lean
ing back i'll his chair watching his op-
pOnents. The gallery" which is the
name used for the spectators who con-
gregate around the table, was more ex-
cited than the players. The center of
the table was piled with bills.
''It seems like shame" exclaimed
Scovel, "but I'm going to raise you 50,
500, john" and suiting the action to
the word he counted off that amount in
bills and threw it in the middle
The man with the pat straight passed
without hesitating, and the next with
r three aces concluded that his hand
wasn't worth $4,000 more, so be, too,
dropped out.
How about splitting the pot, Jimf''
asked Morrissey.
Never" replied Scovel, but I'll
Z let you take your last raise out. -
"Make it $1,000" said Morrissey,
land I'll go you"
"All right, said Scovel. "What't
you have?"
"a lalla-pa-loosa, answered bis
John, and threw his hand to Scovel
There was a jack of hearts and deuce
tray, four and five of diamonds.
Soovel turned his hand over anC
showed the jack of diamonds, queen O
hearts, jack and seven Of clubs, and ao,
of spades; he had a solitary pair O
jacks. Talk about CONSERVATION. Tht
man who had passed on three aces mad,
the air blue, and the pat straight fellow
fell unconscious. ScOvel treated tn
house and took cab to Albany. ''If
had only thought you was bluffing,
said Morrissey, "I'd have sent you t.
Philadelphia or freight train"
There was $S,07l i'll the pot, whicl
Sccgel wor with pain of jacks. =
Troy Observer.
A Prophecies COnfounded.
One of the most diverting tales toll