Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-22
LOST A BIG FORTUNE.
THE STORY OF A Merry BLUFF IN A
GAME OF POKER.

1 ern PiunEer Sized Up Properly, bu,
| Lost Confidence In His own Hand
Mt the Wrong Moment.
| Big games on the Mississippi river
! steamers, where poker hourished at its
best, were by no means the only in
stances wherein fortunes Were made
and lost on the turn of card. The rec
ord of the 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, heavy slave owner
| and an extremely lucky man at cards
He was, as every southern gentleman
| was and is, perfectly honorable, and his
| victories were the admiration of his
| friends. Pete was gambler by profess
| sion, had plenty of money and was full
OF nerve; so battle 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 around
and the two men sat in for a single
handed game. They commenced at 500
jack pots. and at first the cOlonel'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, los
ing his head in a manner, drinking
heavily, while his opponent coolly play
ed his hands for all they Were worth.
When Wallace had 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 $50, 600
there if you will count it. 1 brought
that much with me. and l may have
been foolish. / believe if 1 had more
could get it all from you in half dozen
hands.
''I'll gladly give you chance. colo
mel. Perhaps some of your friends here
can accommodate your
Nobody spoke The colonel ratified ON
the table.
''Welch,'' he said when the silence
got oppressive. II have no more ready
cash. but 1 have property that is as
good as gold any day right here in this
town. never did it before, but will
play you "a of my best slaves against
$50, 900. 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. Will !
yon 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 good thing
Everybody got up and took drink |
on the new game. When the papers |
were arranged, the players got a new |
deck of cards. and there was not a word |
passed while the cards were being shut
fled. The sky was to be the limit until |
the $50. 600 was reached. Wallace'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. WEIGH
was dealing, and bad shuffling 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.
WEIGH stretched his eyes and then
looked at his hand. He raised it 81 200.
raising his head the colonel
raised back 50, 900, and WEIGH saw it.
He went 81, 600 better, and the colonel
stopped raising. The players were less
excited than any of the other men in
the room. Pete took the cards and asked
The colonel:
"How many?"
1.-TWO cards." he said
''None here, put in the dealer.
The colonel took the two cards ard |
ooked at them quickly. Then he stuck
hem behind the others. ''I'll start this
IN 1000" he said. WEIGH looked at | ,
his hand again and took the bet. He :
vent So. 600 more. The colonel raised
mother $4,000. WEIGH saw it and
aised another, and the colonel raised |
till another So, 900.
well, I've got just SO, 900 here You
an have if you can get it, - said WEIGH,
nd he tossed in the chips. The colonel
tudied his hand.
i've got only So. OOO.'' he said,
and think you got me. even if it
; a bad thing to say"
With that Wallace tossed the cards
n the table, and WEIGH took the pot. 1t
Tas clean case of bluff on Pete's part, :
S the cards subsequently showed. The :
olonel had held up pair of jacks. his :
peners, ard an ace On the draw he :
aught an ace and seven of diamonds
Velch had only pair of fives to start :
nth, and l., kept them with the rest :
the hand Wallace thought he was :
lufing, bit lost his nerve at the wrong /.
loment- When the game ended, the .
Olonel had barely 81. 900. He bought 3
ack two of his slaves that were lost .