The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-14
SENATOR RICE's GREAT LUCK.
Wanted 10 Lose So, but Had TO Win
ThOusn uds,

IL came here with the first senator from
Minnesota after the territory was admitted
as a state" said Col Cole Martin TO
Washington Post reporter one evening the
past week
Henry N. Rice served one term as
United States senator. and |. being a res
ident Of St Paul when he was elected by
the Legislature. and taking part in the
fight, concluded to come on TO Washing
ton as in those days, ms, washington
was a wide open town. and faro was as
free then as a beer lunch Is now. Pringies
at this time was the finest gambling house
in washington. The proprietor served
three elegant meals day 10 his guests
and patrons. without charge. II was a
rendezvous for all manner and kinds OF
men with money. There were no ten OF
twenty-five cent chips in those days. me
whites cost 81, the very lowest price TOT
them. Nobody thought Of buying stack
Of chips under $50. and play was hieh.
was as high a roller as the hest OF them
for lust previous 10 my arrival In wash
ington had lost as banker In two nights
over 10000.
'eWeu. Senator Rice and myself enjoyed
Pringle's fine spread. introduced the
senator and. while he had never playea
n card. like old Matt Carpenter. he knew
an the .bovs.' and was gracious and dem
ooratic In his associations with them. lie
felt embarrassed over eating such an ele-
giant meal and not having to pay Tor II.
Passing a faro layout in the next room,
he threw down five-dollar gold piece on
a card expecting to lose IT. To his sur
prise and chagrin, however he won. Tnis
made the matter worse than ever. as h@
did not want to win, but 10 lose the 81 "a
an indirect payment for the meal he had
eaten While he was In quandary l
bought a stack OF chips and soon became
absorbed In the game.
THE senator's bets were placed haphaz-
ard. he not knowing whether they were
placed right or not. and not caring, except
that he wanted 70 lose ana get out OF the
Mace. But lose he couldn't. and soon
dropped out being broke. 20 watch MS
play and marvel at his ever-inoreSsing
pile He soon had crowd around him
which added TO his embarrassment and he
appealed 10 me 80 help him get broke. as
he wanted TO get out. and he did not want
10 take any Of the banks money with him.
Wen. this was the funniest snap ] have
ever experienced Ia my life 81 over sew
enty years There sat the senator and
myself nlaying for oil we were worth to
reduce his winnings and, play any way
We chose, the piles OF chips Increased.
who had been 50 unluoky-eaught me
fever Of the senator's good luck. and
won IN a streak.
The senator's face was as white as his
shirt. and ne was as scared a man as ever
/ saw in my life. But the play went on.
and. owing TO the fact that Mt that time
there was no limit az Pringie's. the bets
were SO high that the modern scent chip
player would get the grip II should men
ton the size Of the bets.
FINALLY Mr. Pringie called me 10 one
side and told me that his partners object
"a TO the game without llnlit He was
willing himself 20 play the bank withou;
a. but he was compelled 20 defer 20 tbs
wishes Of his partners. and would place
the limit az tgsa "a bet
He said ~ was all right 10 have me play
on, as he liked me and al that hut was
the arst man who ever forced him "a put
a limit on the game. When / returned 10
the table I quietly Informed the senator,
ana ne booked distressed, as he saw no
chance. from MS paint az view. In getting
rid Of his winnings al a 40 limit We
played untn Midnight, and the senator at
ASS Welded 20 fatigue. and ordered me 20
cash In. When he counted the roll IN his
roam our Joint winnings were Just 81 80.
~ which sum Re stsked me. as my share,
10 sioeo said he. when he gave me the
money.
Martha I never played card In NY
life before this afternoon. and viii never
nlay another one sS long as 7 live. This
money I viii DO something with which
shan not Immediately benefit myself o.
my family
y visited ST. Paul twenty years after
this occurrence and met the senator. True
10 his word. he has never touched a card.
and learned from others that the sena-
tors winnings were expended IN helping
struggling young fellows 10 get a start
in life, accompanied IN every ease b the
condition that they should never play in
a gaming house"
beans and Brown bread.
recall especially the impatient eriu-