The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-04

Banker RaIston Had a Strong
Hand But Lucky Baldwin Was
Too Good in the Draw.

Lucky" Baldwin was participant In
one of the most famous poker games ever
played in California An Englishman ana
Senator Sharon figure In the play and
Banker Ralston sat in the game The
betting before the draw on one hand was
heavy. All fell out but the banker and
Baldwin. The latter sized his opponent
up for three aces and was almost con-
WINGED that the banker had him beaten
Baldwin hesitated whether he should take
two cards or ono card. He finally drew
one, and had gone in with three queens
Ralston had three aces. as the former
had supposed. Baldwin took up his hand
after the draw and Skinned" the cards
in an anxiety that he had never felt be-
fore. He had drawn the queen of spades,
Woman's face that had never looked so
sweet In all the course of his life, as he
characterized it. There was $22 600 in the
pot. Ralston had drawn a pair of jacks,
making an ace full. His
FACE BETRAYED
his luck Baldwin meditated, coughed
and squeezed his cards from time to time
1t was a critical moment. There was a
big stake. He knew he had the banker
beaten. The other members about the
table watched every movement Of the two
players with intense interest. After a
thought, Ralston threw in chip-$l0. 1t
was a small bet. Baldwin Then nervously
bet $4,000. Ralston at first started to
raise the bet as much more. but hest
tated and finally called the $4,000 It was
Baldwins four queens TO Ralston's ace
full. Baldwin says that was the luclziest
draw he ever made and 1t was a one
card draw at that.
Senator Edward w. Pettus, OF Ala
bama, is an inveterate card player. with
O fondness for poker that is well nigh
human in devotion. If the time that ven
cradle gentleman has spent IN the game
could be summed up, many years would
stand on the debit side Of his life ledger.
He has won and lost thousands at one
sitting. But to my story. There lived
in Gen. Pettus' town, Selma. Ala, in the
'7Os, wealthy railroad president. Maj.
Lanier, of the old Alabama Central rail-
road, now q branch OF the South
ern railroad system.
BOOKS OPEN ALL YEAR.
The major and general were boon COM
panions, with a friendship almost as
strong as that Of Damon and Pythias.
They used to spend their summers at the
majors summer home IN Talladega,
above Selma. Both of them devoted
most Of their time to playing poker, since
the railroad president was eq tally as
fond of the game. "Old Manuel" the
MAJORS colored body servant, would sit
at the table and keep account Of the win
nIngs and losings, being the banker. At
the end Of each year he would render
accounts promptly, and whichever was
indebted to the other would hand Man,
uel q check to square up the games AT
the end Of one year Gen. Pettus owed
the major $10,0OO another year the
major was indebted to the general for
S13 600, and so the game would run,
1t was never higher than 81 limit, and
was kept up until the majors death
Every one at all familiar with the his
tory Of early travel on the Mississippi
river has heard Of Col. Bowie On ono
memorable trip down the river young
man on his bridal trip got into poker
game with a professional gambler and
lost every cent that he had, some Sl'V9V'
The gambler laughed at him after Inc
game and said he ought to learn poker
before he tried to play 1t.
Bowie had been one Of those VINO was
watching the game. After the BRIDE
the professional, and in the course Of
few hours had won all the money that
the bridegroom lost and some more De-
sides.
The gambler WAS mad clear through,
and abused Bowie like pickpocket.
Bowie took it all, and then went into
the Iadies' cabin, found the bride, and
gave her the money he had won, saying
her husband had given 1t to him for that
purpose.
ON THE RED RIVER.
Then Bowie went on deck. The gam
bier again tried to pick a quarrel but
Bowie passed all his taunts unnoticed.
He even went on the hurricane deck 10
escape him. The gambler followed, ana,
emboldened by Bowie's efforts to aVolo
him. became even more threatening.
Finally he made motion to shoot, put
before he could draw gun Bowie shot
him dead. Then Bowie calmly pitched
tha body overheard, and the boat con-
tinued on its way without stopping.
Away back in the forties big poker
game was in progress on steamboat
going up the Red river The game was
a stiff one. One of the players was
named Alien. and he was rich planter.
His opponent was either dead sure that
ha had the better hand Or he was trying
to put through an awful blur. lie pet
and met every raise with another raise:
Roth the men had pretty good lot or
money, but Aliens opponent had the
greater sum- Finally he raised Allen
$500. Allen had just enough money to
meet the raise, and then he thought for
a moment BY his side was little Mig
ger boy named Sam. Alien looked at
him for a second. and then grabbed MIN
by the arms and lifted him into the MD
die of the table.
"I'U raise you Sam" he said. Sam is
worth $500 Of any mans money"
The other fellow was taken by surprise,
and he figured on the matter for sec
ond. But he called although he did not
go any higher. Allen showed down
49,, GOOD hand and the other fellow