Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-05-24

while passing mean little tent he
heard one man say to another:
IN raise you 5000"
This sounded pretty big. so he
thought he would see what was going
ON. He stood at the entrance Of the
tent and looked inside. There he saw
four men, all privates in the army.
playing cards with the dirhest pack
he had ever seen, The men were so
interested that they did not notice
him. On the upturned cracker box
which served as a table were great
stacks Of banknoteS. In a big box
near one of the players were stacks
upon stacks of money.
The next is jackpot, boys" he
heard one of the men say. Each
man must chip in $4,000" Not a
dissenting voice was heard.
Il can open it =" said the man next
to the dealer, There is $4,000 in the
pot and it will cost you fellows that
much to play"
II guess III linger," said one.
Come in, boys, and make it exciting"
When it got around to the dealer he
said, We'll, I'll boost 1t $4,000
more They all came up with the
cash, making SS60,000 In the pot
before cards were drawn.
IN bet S." said the man who
opened
III raise you 100000" said the
next
I'll see it," said the third.
IN raise it 100000" said the
dealer.
THAT makes it cost me 100000 to
stay" said the opener, Well III see
it out, I'm not to be bluffed."
There was no further raise and
cards were shown. The dealer had
two pairfives up. The opener had a
pair of kings and each of the oth9r
two had pair of aces, The dealer
raked in the pot, amounted to $1,16O,
OILS.
That's a pretty stiff game you are
playing" said Miles, stepping into the
tent
Yes that was big pot, but a
quarter of an hour ago Jim here pull
ed one in worth $500, 900"
Aren't you afraid you will use up
all your money!" said Miles.
Not much danger. We captured
confederate train this morning with
freight car full Of confederate bills.
I've got $9OOO0OO in my kit here, and
I've lost $8OOOOOO already. 1t beats
playing with chips all to bits
In speaking of the old-time gamb-
ling places in Washington, man
who knows whereof he speaks said:
Edward Pendleton's was the finest
place in the city. | often went there
with members of the house, and saw
many a stiff game Nobody could get
into Pendleton's without an intro
duction. No common people could get
in under any circumstances. Pendleton
entertained only the heightened, rich
and influential men Of the day. 1t was
sort of congressional club house
and was managed primarily for the
purpose of catching the gambling
trade of the capitol and that was en-
ormUus in those days.
Il remember one feature of Pendle-
tons place which is worthy of re-
mark. He had splendid dining room
There every evening at o'clock, as
his personal guests, twenty-four di&'
! tinguished men sat down to royal
feast. The big tables were set and
decorated as for a banquet, and many
men of prominence came to regard II
as a mark of honor to be invited tC
dine with Edward Pendleton, Esq
gentleman and gambler.
II have heard that he was a mem
Der Of the proud and naughty Pendle.
ton family OF Virginia; but wherever
he came from he was a well bred anC
thoroughbred gentleman He enter
/ .I'ned in full dress, and no man In ths
] }aAI wore richer diamonds 1t was
m,.a customary in those days thar
now for men to display diamonds
Though he catered primarily to the
con" ressional custom, Pendleton also
OCCASIONALLY invited officers Of the
army and navy and members Of the
diplomatic corps, These invitations
were only sent by request Of some sen.
asor or representative and in each
e, after a man had dined witt
Pandleton, the doors were open tc
] IN, and thus was Pendletons bust,
ness increased.
His was the only gambling house
in the world where men of note fell
themselves honored by being wei.
coined guests. No professional gam.
! biers were allowed to enter the place
save those employed by Pendletor
himself The games there were pre-.
sumed to be straight, the house max.
ing ample profit on percentages and
on the Wies and liquors which were
! consumed by the barrel almost daily
MEMORIAL DAY.
Memorial day, as out a sorrowing sea