Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-06-07
LOST A BIG FORTUNE.
TIE STORY OF A Merry BLUFF IN A
GAME OF POKER. -se

S-e-
TIE STORY OF a NERvY BLUFF IN A
GAME OF POKER. -~e
1.
- couthcrn Coi.acI Had the East
en- Plun&er Sized Up Properly. but
z.cs. Confidence L. Eis Osva Hand
- the Wrong ziorc~:.
Zig games on the Mississippi river
steamers, where poker fiourished at its
best, were by no means the only in
stances wherein fortunes were made
and lost On the turn OF IA card. The rec
crd OF the game wherein Pete Welch.
a noted eastern plunger. met Colonel
wallace of South Carolina is regarded
rs one of the stifTest battles on the green
baize ever tonight in any land. Wallace
was very wealthy, heavy slave owner
and IN extremely lucky man at cards.
Ee was. as every southern gentleman
was and is, perfectly honorable, and his
victories were the admiration of his
friends. Pete was a gambler by profess
sior. had plenty of money and was full
OF nerve; SO battle between the two
wcs certain to be of absorbing interest.
When Colonel Wallace heard that
Welch was coming to meet him. he
calmly replied he would be ready. He
said he had limit fixed, and. il the
gambler went beyond that, he would
drop ont and let the money go. Welch
came on, the colonel was notified and
tie date set for the game. 1t was to
take place in 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 around
handed game. They commenced at 800
jack pots. and Mt first the colonel's luck
stuck to him. He won steadily. but the
gambler WAS game and me. 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
fisrce and took all kinds of chances, los.
ing his head in a manner. drinking
heavily. while his opponent coolly play
ed his hands for all they We're worth.
When Wallace ksd pissed in his last
stack, he pushed back his chair and said
Ills ItlS WAS SOuc bth tiC sssio-
clci- you've got an even $50. 900
there if yon viii connt it. / brought
that mHc;, with h:e. and. may have
ken foolish. be,ie> if had more l
gould get it eli from Jon in half dozen
hands,
I'm gladly give yop chance. colo
re! PerhGpa soma Of Your friends '.e;'c
---- -~~~susnoflnt., Van 80
Nobody spoke. The colonel ratified on
the table.
.'T-~'"h - he said when the silence
got Oppressive, Il have no more ready
cash, but / have property that is as
good as gold any day right here in this
town. l na7er did it before, but l viii
play you 81 of my lest slaves against
$50, 900. The negroes are worth fnl!y
that amornt. as these gentlemen will
testify The slaves are the best III the
state. but if you think the value too
high we can arrange it otherwise. Will
yon finish the gamer"
IF these gentlemen say the slaves
are worth that much. then fix your pa
pers while l count this money. l never
like to turn my back to a good thing.
Everybody got up and took 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 shuf-
fled. The sky was to be the limit until
the $50, 600 was reached. Wallace's 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 ac-
cepted foolish bets.
The end was drawing near. Welch
was dealing. and bad shutting On the
previous hands had left considerable
money in the rot. WEIGH was ahead on
the winnings. The colonel looked at his
hand and opened the pot for $1,000.
Welch stretched his eyes and then
looked at his hand He raised it 81 900.
Without raising his head the colonel
raised back So. .OC0. and Welch saw it.
He went 81, 900 better. and the colonel
stopped raising. The players We're less
excited than any of the other mon in
the room Pete took the cards and asked
the colonel:
"How many?'
"Two cards, he said.
..None here" put in the dealer.
The colonel took the two cards and
looked at them quickly. Then he stuck
them behind the others. 'I'll start this
on s., ,OOO," he said. Welch looked "a,
his hand again and took the bet. lie
went $5, 900 more. The colonel raised
another s.. 900. Welch saw it anG
raised another. and the colonel raised
still another $1,000.
"Well, I've got just 81 Q, 900 here you
can have if you can get it. )" said WEIGH
and he tossed in the chips. The colOne
studied his hand.
"I've got only $4,000" he said
land think you've got me, even if il
is bad thing to say"
With that Wallace tossed the card
on the table, and Welch took the pot. L
was a clean case of bluff on Pete's part
as the cards subsequently showed. Th'
colonel had held up a pair of jacks, hi
openers, and an ace On the draw b,
caught an ace and seven of diamonds
Welch had only pair of fves to star
with. and he kept them with the res
Of the hand. Wallace thought he wa
blufing. but lost his nerve at the wroni
moment. When the game ended. tn,
colonel had barely "a, 600. He bough
back two Of his slaves that were lost
and the 20 went to Welch. They wer
II = l. Ia ~