The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-20
SLAVES IN THE JACI> POT.
Memorable Contest Between Gam
bier and n Planter.
From the New York sun.

one winter l was living at a town in South /
Carolina, where a lot of card players used !
to gather for mutual pleasure and profit |
There was a club in the town where the |
Gamblers used 90 meet, but the fact was
kent from the female part of the popuIa-
ron that il was a gambling house AR !
kind of games went or there, but the pros
perity of the pace was short-hved. The
mouse, however, was not closed the win
ter l was in the town. At the club one
night somebody said that Col. Wallace, the
crack poker player of the state had been
fixed to play Pete Welch, one of the big
qest plunSers from the East Pete was
coming down the next week and the
sports were all anxious to see what ne
could do with the colonel, who was a stiff
player The colonel was universally lucky
The cards rolled to hIm without the ask
ing, and every year his cash accounts
showed good profits from the game. He
owned "A valuable plantation not far from
the town. and he was noted for havine
one of the finest bodies of slaves IN the
South. They made the plantation yield
rich returns, and there was no need for
the colonel to depend on his playing for
money, for he was better off than many
of the planters who risked their fortunes
at the club.
when the colonel heard that Pete was
coming to rake him he turned his lin and
said he was not afraid to play forty Petes
on the biggest kind OF stakes If Welch
can do me, then all well and good, was
the way he put it, but want you fellows
to know that l can play him to a stand
still. 1 have heard much about your swell
Eastern gambler, who prides himself on
never having been caught on a bluff Well.
we all don't know about that When he
comes l will play him a single-handed
game. and you chaps can watch il. I'll
say, though, that I'm not extra wealthy
this winter and can't lose much stuff
I've got a limit fixed in my head and
when he passes that I'll Simply quit, and
Welch can take my money and talk all
he pleases'
"Welch got in town one Sunday morning,
His stage drove to the only hotel in the
place, and the news of his arrival soon
spread through the sporting part of the
town. A messenger who came in for Col.
Wallace's mail carried a note back tell
ing of the safe arrival of WEIGH. Pete
sent word to the colonel that he had
heard of him, and was anxious for a fight
He asked the colonel when could he play.
Not more than an hour after the messen-
ger started with the note he returned TO
the hotel with a paper for WEIGH. The
colonel wrote that he would be in town
at 3 o'clock that afternoon and would
bring his money with him.
Nov, we want TO keep this game
quiet for once said Squire Boggs, the
president of the club for no good can
come from so much talk Besides, this
club is getting too much notoriety of
late
"A dozen salty gamblers were at the club
at o'clock. Pete got here ahead of the
colonel and the local element kept its
IL, all efOrtaG
of great games in the East. He ratified
off the stories faster than the tin horns
could listen, and they all thought him
something to be feared by the colonel. AT
o'clock the colonel drove to the club and
sent his man to the hotel. III come there
when / need YOU he said.
I'm fifteen minutes everybody had taken
drink or two and became sociable with
Pete. I don't know what you want TO
play said the colonel, but fix your price
and I'm probably your man. Some of
these gentlemen think I'm too nervy for
my coed, but let that CO. How will $lOO
jack pots suit you?
Good enough answered Pete, but
that's what l call linky game If 1t
suits YOU. though, it's good enough; it's
good enough for me- dear colonel
IAN right, then, let her go at that
1.-THE cards were dealt, but they shuffied
badly and passed around five times before
the pot could be opened. The colonel held
the openers and bettered his hand in the
| draw. and finally won, but not until Pete
had done some heavy betting. After that
| the colonel played ahead and the local
| sports thought Pete easy. Pete couldn
draw. When he opened pot the colonel
| would win 1t, and the game was TOO much
one way to be interesting. Pete crossed
his bridge at last, however, and the cards
went to rolling his way. He got finer
| hands than did the colonel during the f1rst
part of the playing and the sports who
looked on saw the colonels pile of gold
| gradually grow less. One packages was
| emptied and another was brought from
! the old-fa shioned locker in the club. At
! ter that the betting got fierce. The game
| appeared perfectly square, for Welch
would not have turned bad trick had ne
wanted. for too many eyes were watching
the deck. Col Wallace took all kinds OF
wild chances. Another drink will help
me- he would say as he lost, though he
| did not allow his head to get clogged.
! When his last stack of chips crossed the
| table he showed back his chair and said
| his nile was gone. 1t was getting late on
at night then, fbut the gamblers didn't
notice that
! =" eWelch. you've got an even thirty
thousand there If you will count IL.
brought that much with me and I may
have been foolish. believe If had more
/ could get it all from you in half dozen
| hands
"TH gladly give you the chance, col
onel Perhaps some of your friends here
can accommodate YOU?
Nobody spoke. The colonel ratified on
! the table.
WEIGH he said, when the silence got
| oppressive, i have no more ready cash
but 1 have property that is as good as
| gold any day right here in this town
I never did it before, but l will play you
twenty-four of my best slaves against
40 GOO The negroes are worth fully that
amount. as these gentlemen will testify
The slaves are the best in the state, but il
Won think the value too high we can. ar
range il otherwise. wan you finish the
| gamer
" If these gentlemen say the slaves are
worth that much then fix your papers
while count this money. / never like &C
turn nv back to a good thing
Everybody got up and took drink on
the strength of the new game. When the
papers were arranged the players got q
| - doolr Of cards and there was not a