The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-30
FOR THE DRINKS.
ON A MISSISSIPPI STEAMER,

YIN A MlSSlSSlRPl STNAMEH.
"A Story Of tho Gambling DAYS Before
the War-How a Game Of Euchrc
Led to Draw Poker.
On q bright October morning in the
ifties the good and now steamer Belle
Key left her wharf at Louisville on
her maiden trip to New Orleans.
Nothing particularly interesting or re-
markable trauspired until Cairo, ILL.,. =,
to the passenger list four names
George Bennett and Cyrus Poultney,
Of England, largo cotton buyers in the
South: Mark Townsend and "Old Bob"
LOckard, two Of tho most famous short
card professional gamblers that in
tested the river craft In those d8ys.
The steamer like all those of the Louis
Vile and New Orleans Packet line,
carried piano and string band, com
posed OF negroes and music, and dane
ing prevailed every evening till eleven
o'clock, when the card tables were
shunted into the foyer, between the
ladies' cabin and tho gentlemcn's pro-
menade.
The great American game of poker
had not yet opened up on the now oat
and 1t was q question Of some import
who should start the first game. Town
send and Lockhard had followed the
river for years, and were we'll known
generally by travellers southward by
the water route, and pokor WAS not
mentioned specifically by those pre-
sent for the reason, probably, that in
the opening game one or both Of the
professionals might want to play.
From their manner and mancuerrings
they were evidently anxious for a
game, but not seeirg tho opportunity
Townsend suggested to Bennett and
Poultney that they make up game of
euchre 'only for the drinks" Bennett
assented, but Poultncy declined for
the reason that he was not versod in
the game. Townsend, Lockhard and
Bennett were three. Who would take
the fourth hand?
"Will you play q game Of euchre ?"
asked Townsend of well dressed, thin
visaged, Gallo looking youth OF about
eighteen, who in course of conversa.
tion gave his name as Leslie Brown, of
Lexington, KY.
1" don't object, but 1 am not an
expert player, and l have not yet
learned 10 GAMBLE" answered. Mr..
Brown.
"You are all right" returned Town
send. "the game in only for the drinks.
you know, and gentlemen do not re-
gard that as gambling"
Townsend and Bennett and Lockard
and Brown respectively being cast for
partners the gamo began. About the
fifth dcal Of the cards Mr.. Bennett
said he had what might be regarded
as good poker hand in ordinary play
Of that game.
"Do you ever play tho game?" asked
Townsend.
81 have played occasionally at my
clubs in England and with friends else
whore. lshould not caro- to play promis-
cu0usly with strangers while travell.
ing, especially in America"
"Certainly not" observed Townsend,
We'll, sir, what you bet on your
hand as against my hand ?" asked
81 will lay you ten shillings-two
dollars and half OF your coin of the
realm," putting down half sovereign
(gold).
Along toward the last hand of the
third game OF the rubber the young
Kentuckian remarked that he had q
botter poker hand than tho previous
one, on which he bet So SO, and pro.
posed to wager SIS that it was tho best
hand out.
"Now, partner" he said to Brown,
"thero is tho best trump card In the
deck, and he ought to win for US
Don't let him got away from you If you
can help It,"
No instructive remarks, please, u
said Townsend.
This little diversion was doubtless
ff,r l., tol> l.
ever, was not understood by Bennett
(If 1T was intended to convey any In.
+ formation or instruction to Brown he
did appear to notice 1t.
Looking over his hand Bonnet smil-
ed, saying, I" l have here a poker hand
on which l might wagor small
amount.
"Well, you have taken mo into camp
twice." said Brown, "but / will tackle
you again. Tho third time ia tho luck
charm, as they say in old Kentucky
What do you propose to bot this
.imo ?"
ooh, anything; ten pounds If yor
like I am not particular"
I" will see your fifty dollars and gC
you two hundred and fifty bettor," re
torted Brown.
"Como, como, now" broke in Town
| send, and the gentleman from In
diana on my left, arc still in the game
but we can't keep still under the cir
cumstances of the occasion, | may SAY
have decidedly good pokor hand.
banker after little OF tho chicken
pie, and as all appear to be In sport
i've mood and want to bat, no doubt,
will have to raise the bet $500!'
| $500 here, gentlemen" piped In ole
Lockard, who had peculiar manner
OF accentuating the ends Of bis words
Of three or moro sYllables, don't b,
too precipi-tate. II we are going tt
have o quiet little game for amuse
ment, too, will signify. I won po
of money once from O member OF Con
gress on q hand like this ono, and
after seeing the other bets, | vii
elevate the pot one thousand good sim
olo.ons, apd hero they are. Dom
bother about 'calling,' gentomcn
there Is no limit to my plotho.ric purs
In the consider. ate treatment of thi
favor-ite hard"
twas now Bonnott's say. He muse,
for moment, looked his hand ove
carefully, put his cards on tho table