The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-04
GAME BROKE UP IN A ROW.
HOW A POKER PARTY WAS FOOL
ED AND FRIGHTENED ON APRIL 1.

Hours Until Bedtime - went 10
Rooms of One of the Party for
Quiet Little Game of Draw Poker
Got UP for the Occasional Fight
started over the Cards and "a Gun
Was Pulled and Fired-BeIIiger-
ents Finally Quieted After wild
Disorder - One Man Thought He
Was Shot.
The talk of the town among the young
er set yesterday was of a joke that was
worked off in most approved style late
the eve of April l. The thing was too good
to keep, ard the victims themselves are
telling it. For couple of days they held
in, but yesterday the story became com
mon properly and was on many tongues.
Gathered at the Hussars Club Satur-
day night was a party of jolly fellows al
ways in for a good time. Just to pass
away a dull hour CT two until bedtime it
was suggested that the crowd of eight
repair to the rooms of one of the number
for a quiet little indulgence in the game
of draw poker. The financial allurement
was not to be strong, as the limit was to
be close down to the table cover instead
Oh up ABOUT the Ceiling motley was blOL
the object, but good time.
The club closed at u o'clock according
to custom, and the party found that it
would have to continue its session in the
friendly little game. The walk to the
young gentleman's ROT ans was not long,
and soon they found themselves sitting
around the table. Chips were bought, and
tho rama started I'm ynerrilv
In all this there was nothing
very remarkable. Such little so
cial gatherings sometimes happen,
and it is seldom that any
thing out of the ordinary results. This
one. however, was destined to be lively.
and the memory of it will finger for some
time with those who wooed the tickle god
dess and sought her favors
For an hour or so the play went on mer-
rily, and nothing occurred TO mar the
pleasure of the affair. Wonderful to re-
late, one or two began to grow sleepy,
SO the suggestion that a round of jacks
be played before quitting met with no
opposition. 1t was accordingly agreed
that each man should deal his pot and
that the game should then break up.
Three or four of the jackpots had been
played when one of the party, who, by the
way, was one of the best physical speci-
mems in the bunch, arose truculently and
demanded that his chips be cashed. His
companions gazed at him in surprise, as
they had never known of his being the
first to quit any party before 1t went to
pieces.
why, old man, what's the matter?"
some one asked. IF you would ejust
watch the game you would see," was the
reply, and the tone was ugly. II came
here expecting to get into little friendly
game with gentlemen, but it seems l was
to be enlightened"
1t was insisted that the speaker explain
his meaning. He seemed nothing 10th to
do so. Pointing to hand that had just
been shown down as a pot winner, he
said: You want to know what's the
matter? Well I'll tell you. When I dis
carded I threw away one of the cards
you see in that mans hand"
That created consterna ton The hold
er of the winning, hand rightfully con-
sidered that ID was up to him. With a
sort of entreaty in his tone he said: Sure
ly, old fellow, you don't mean to say that
l got the card unfairly" 1t was quite
evident that he did not want to lose the
friendship of the other man or get into a
difficulty if it could be avoided. There
was a measure of pleading about his
words, a kind of prayer that the other
might not provoke fight by offering the
insult
That prayer, though, wat not to be an
swered. The offended player was deter
mined that what he thought an injustice
should not go undenounced, and the guilty
one could secure what satisfaction he lik-
ed. Accordingly he implied very unmis-
takably that 1t was his belief that the
card has been feloniously obtained.
The fac of the other man was a study
for the others in the game, who were in
terested and anxious onlookers and would
/. be peacemakers. They wanted anything
other than row over poker game, even
though the limit was away down low. Be
sides, the principals in the impeding fiji
Guilty had always been the best of friends,
and not man in the crowd but thought
the outspoken one was mistaken in his ac-
cusation The accused showed that ne
felt the insult deeply. There was an adj
mixture of rage and regret betrayed by his
| face as he sprang to his feet, declaring
! that any man who accused him of chea ting
had him to whip, and stripped off his coat.
The accuser was just as quick, and in
moment his coat was off and he was
facing the other in a pugilistic attitude.
Light blows were exchanged before their
friends could break between them. Then,
raging and angry, the two were forced
apart, overtuIning the table and chairs,
and smashing up furniture generally in
the melee. The struggle was no easy one,
as both men were Strong, the equals of
any in the game in strength and the su-
periors of most. There was where the host
suffered, for his furniture had to stand
the brunt of the scuffiing, and havoc was
played with it.
The efforts of the peacemakers were
successful after bit and the two be-
liserents were forced TO different corners
OF the room. Those Biblicaly commended
gentlemen found soon. however. that the
expected peace was not even an armistice,
for the man who had precipitated the diff
ficulty reached for his trousers pocket,
Will pred out a revolver and fired point
blank at his antagonist.
Then there was the widest confusion
and disorder. Men were going through
doors and under beds with a movement
that had never been used before. None
stood on the order of his going. AS quick
as a wink, even as the revolver flashed
into view, the scene was cleared of all but
the two principals and two others who
had nerve enough left to still seek to pre-
vent bloodshed These rushed upon the
man with the gun, wrenched It from his
hand and began to plead and demonstrate
Surely. old man. they said. you
wouldn't do a thing like that. You