The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-03
TWO GOOD POKER STORIES
A Fortune On g Bold Bluff.
philadelphia Tlmes.)

Big games on the Mississippi river
best, were by no means the only in
best, where by no means the only in
stances wherein fortunes were made
and lost on the turn OF a card. The
record of tine game wherein Pete WEIGH
noted eastern plunger, met Colonel
Wallace of South Carolina is regarded
as one of the stiffeSt battles on the
green baize ever fought in any land.
Wallace was very wealthy, a heavy
slaVe-owner and an extremely lucky
man at cards. He was, as every SOUTH
ern gentleman was and is, perfectly
honorable, and his victories were the
admiration of his friends. Pete was a
gambler by profession, had plenty of
money and was full of nerve, SO a bat
tie between the two was certain TO be
of absorbing interest.
When Colonel Wallace heard that
WEIGH. was coming to meet him he
calmly replied he would be ready. He
said he had a limit fixed and if the
gambler went beyond that he would
drop out and let the money go. WEIGH
came on, the colonel was notified and
the date set for the game. 1t was to
take place in a club where no games
were supposed to go on. The colonel
drove to town. met the enemy and a
number of friends, had drinks all
single-handed game. They commenced
at 500 jackpots, and at first the coll
onel's luck stuck to him. He won
steadily but the gambler was game and
met him.
AT last the tide turned and the cards
began to fall to Pete. He won until all
the gold in front of Wallace passed to
his side of the table. Wallace became
fierce and took all kinds of chances,
losirer bead 11oaOnar
heavily, while his opponent coolly
played his hands for all they were
worth. When Wallace has passed in
his last stack he pushed back his chair
and said his pile was gone. Then he
said:
"Welch, you've got an even 100000
there if you will count it. L brought
that much with me and may have
been foolish. L believe if l had more l
could get it all from you in half dozen
hands,
I'll gladly give you chance, col
onel Perhaps some of your friends
here can accommodate you?"
Nobody spoke. The colonel ratified on
the table.
"Welch," he said, when the silence
got oppressive, Il have no more ready
cash, but I have property that is as
good as gold any day right here in this
town. 1 never did it before, but L will
play you twenty -four of my best slaves
against $50, 600. The negroes are worth
fully that amount, as these gentlemen
will testify. The slaves are the best in
the state, but if you think the value
too high, we can arrange it otherwise.
viii you finish the gamer"
IF these gentlemen say the slaves.
are worth that much, then fix your pa
pers while 1 count this money. 1 never
like to turn my back to a good thing"
Everybody got UP and took a drink
on the new game. When the papers
were arranged the players got new
deck of cards and there was not a
word passed while the cards were being
shuffled The sky was to be the limit
until the $4,000 was reached. Wal
lace's sporting blood was up and he
seemed determined to lose all quickly
or get it back in the same swift gait
He took desperate chances in drawing
and accepted foolish bets The end
was drawing near. Welch was dealing,
and bad shutting on the previous hands
had left considerable money in the pot.
WEIGH was ahead on the winnings.
The colonel looked at his hand and
opened the pot for $1,000. WEIGH
stretched his eyes and then looked at