Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-05-21

0FSl Cu1uS was dS II SuOu1u DC, dA0
while passing mean little tent he
heard one man say to another:
"I'I raise you $1,000"
| 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 dirtiest pack
he had ever seen The men were so
interested that they did not notice
him. On the upturned cracker box
which served as 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 100000" Not
dissenting voice was heard
II 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"
Il guess I'll linger," said one.
:Come in, boys, and make it exciting
When it got around to the dealer he
said, We'll, I'll boost it $4,000
more" They all came up with the
cash, making 100000 in the pot
before cards were drawn.
s'Ill bet S. said the man who
opened
It'll raise you 100000" said the
next
I'll see it. said the third.
'I'll raise it 100000, said the
dealer.
"That makes it cost me $4,000 to
stay said the opener. well, I'll see
it out. I'm not to be bluffed."
There was no further raise and
cards were shown. The dealer had
two pair, fives up. The opener had a
pair of kings and each of the other
two had a pair of aces. The dealer
raked in the pot, amounted to SLIGO,
OBS.
That's a pretty stiff game you are
playing" said Miles, stepping into the
| tent.
| Eyes that was big pot, but a
quarter of an hour ago Jim here pull
| ed one in worth Sl,SO0,OOO-'
AREN'T you afraid you will use up
all your money!" said Miles.
mot much danger. We captured
a confederate train this morning with
a freight car full of confederate bills.
I've got $9,000,000 in my kit here, and
I've lost 100000 already. 1t beats
playing with chips all to bits. =
In speaking of the old-time gamb-
ling places in Washington, a man
who knows whereof ne speaks said.
Edward Pendletons was the finest
place in the city I often went there
with members of the house, and saw
many a stiff game Nobody could get
into Pendletons without an intro
duction. No common people could get
| in under any circumstances. PendletOn
entertained only the high-toned rich
and influential men of the day. 1t was
a sort of congressional club house,
and was managed primarily for the
purpose of catching the gambling
trade of the capitol and that was en-
ormous in those days.
81 remember one feature of Pendle-
toms place which is worthy of re-
mark. He had splendid dining room
There every evening at o'clock, as
his personal guests, twenty -four dis
tinguished men sat down to a royal
feast The big tables were set and
decorated as for a banquet, and many
men of prominence came to regard 1t
as mark of honor to be invited to
dine with Edward Pendleton, Esq,
gentleman and gambler.
Fl have heard that he was MEM
Der of the proud and naughty Pendle-
ton family of Virginia; but wherever
he came from he was a well bred and
thoroughbred gentleman. He enter
tanned in full dress, and no man in the
land wore richer diamonds 1t was
!, more customary in those days than
now for men to display diamonds.
Though he catered primarily to the
congressional 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
ator or representative, and in each
case, after man had dined with
Pendleton, the doors were open to
him, and thus was Pendleton's bust
ness increased.
His was the only gambling house
in the world where men of note fels
themselves honored by being well
! coined guests. No professional gam
blers were allowed to enter the place,
save those employed by Pendleton
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.
PARDON MY MISTAKE.