The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-28
LONSDALE A GOOD LOSER.
IFrom the Washington Post.l

lfTOm the w washington FOSI-
Said a Washington man who does a
lot of transatlantic voyaging: mo man
can pat himself on the back and say
to himself that he is too wise to be done
by card sharpS. I've seen some pretty
clever men get theirs at cards on the
ocean liners. One of them was Lord
Lonsdale, about as clever an all-around
man as ever climbed over the gangway
of a ship, and nobody would ever have
fancied that he'd prove himself a mark
for professional gamblers.
''At the time Lonsdale first came to
the United States he was in the full tide
of his rapid career. Amid the uproar
over his landing in this country the fact
did not leak out that Lonsdale was
plucked of $4,000 on the trip over by
George Sampson, one of the most nota-
BILE of the older clique of steamship card
sharpers-he has since died in Australia,
I believe.
81 think Sampson had 1t in mind to
do young Lonsdale when he got aboard
at Liverpool. Sampson had been work
ing the steamers for fifteen years, and
at this time he was a man of 40 or there
abouts- The two men struck up friend
ship from the very first day of the voy-
age, and it was Lonsdale himself who
first Suggested-as he afterwards ac-
knowledged, for he was manly young
chap-the game of draw. Lonsdale had
only recently learned the hands at
poker, and he had the poker initiates S
enthusiasm for the game to an exag-
gerated extent. Before going any fur
ther, i ought to say Thar sampson al
ways maintained afteryard that in his
play with Lonsdale he was perfectly on
the level.
game on the first day out, and kept it
going almost until the steamer ploughed
past Sandy Hook. OF course Sampson beat
let young Lonsdale win from him at first.
He simply played poker. and ralked in the
Of us aboard knew Sampson. and those
of us who had met young Lonsdale in
out and alphabetically put it to him that
he was ENGAGED in a pretty difficult en-
professional player of cards. For our
pains we were told that we were too con-
.sAt any rate when the steamer was
drawing near the shore Lonsdale decided
were in the card room when the last hand
was played. Sampson took the pot and
Lonsdale scribbled check on his. Ameri-
the sitting. Then he looked up at Samp-
son for a moment and said.
. Some of my friends here estimate you
a. bit unkind1y. Mr. Sampson
s. .How's that?' inquired Sampson coolly
-he was a man who never betrayed sur
. Well said Lonsdale,- they maintain
that your skill at cards affords you some
thing better than a livelihood
:. I never denied that replied Sampson
In playing with me on this voyage
you have employed skill alone?' inquired
AT your suggestion replied Sampson.
with careful emphasis. I have played
draw poker with you for seven days. I
understand the game of draw poker, and
1 have $4,000 of your money. Do you want
it back2'
THAT was a magnificent bluff on Samp-
sons part, you perceive. The young chap,
he well knew, would not squeal.
g .Ohi If you elect to be insulting said
LonsdaIe. flushing hotly. and he rose from
the card table and left the room.
We'll. a couple of elderly Englishmen
on board who knew Lonsdale and his
father before him went to the young fell
low and told him that it would be per-
fectly proper and right for him to stop
payment on the cnecks Is ne nao gwen
words, was nothing better than a
swindler.
:. You will be good enough TO mind your
own d. business replied the hotspur.
I'll do nothing of the sort And that was
the end of it,