The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-01
That Historic Night Session Between Dell Wthers and
Ga Judge "Joe' X. Powell

s,s,ersyIlle this week. Any grown man
,-o,, the New River district at one end
- ,bp Kentucky line at the other knows
IA, ia be an event. Pop" has q good
many things that are picturesque, but
hIs chief claim to distinction lies In the
,,c, that he is-in the vernacular OF
,htss parts-"a poker player right" He
,ocnons time by u fifty-two card caien-
dor scorning alike the Julian and Gre
ror,ou systems, and when he talks
s,raights and Pushes It's o case OF II
AM Sir Oracle, and when I open my
Inns let no dog bark"
Pop" according to his own version
n his experience, is a living picture Of
the consumption Of the Metchnikoff
theory. He tells about the Mexican
war. which he places Us having follow
al the big three handed game at Juarez,
when bud" Doyle, "Aleck" schaefer
md TERRY" Lester: sat In for three
weeks and bet off enough to clear. the
n,,loual debt. He has stories contem-
poraneous with the war Of 1872, and he
has tales to tell OF South African sess-
ions, Honolulu engagements, and Bel
vsn incidents that make one man
think of CULVER and another Of Ana.
MAS. = -, ~ -
His pet story. however, concerns the
uokcr game In which Dell Withers and
Judge "Joe" X. Powell INDUCED right
IN this town-or, rather, on the site OF
this town, for Bluevllle isn't old
enough municipality, to date back to the
memorable encounter Whenever Pop"
comes over from Sistersville lot Of the
fellows get around him and introduce
some stranger, to whom the wonders OF
the famous story have not been out
lined. AZ, =
IT happened thus this week. When
"Pop" rode into town, with his saddle
bags bullying out and a couple Of foxes
sllng over his pommel. he was greeted
with every Z sign of welcome. Jim"
peshlels saw him first, when he was in
front OF Hugh Ike sharp's printing Of
fee.
Jim gave him. a happy "howdy." and
walked on beside the big roam that al
ways carries. Pop" They moved
slowly down toward the railroad, pick
Inr up choice following on the way.
Bill Parrish and John Dowson stopped
talking about the tariff on coal and
"BYAy" Bryan's ostrich ride; Ed" Lu-
cas- quit playing with his hunting dogs.
Joe" ChIlders and Montgomery left
their grocery in charge OF n boy, and
pick" Lane hurried out Of his barber
shop, and ran over 10 the lumber yard
10 find Frank Furpess. n young Eng
lIshman, who had never seen Pop"
Furness is fine young fellow. sort
OF Younger son, come over here to grow
up With the country and make for
tune out of, West Virginia timber land.
The fellows had It all fixed up that the
first time Pop" struck the town they
were to get the Enslishman worked UP
over the.celebrated poker story
Dick" Lane found Furncss all right.
and they went on over to Doc .Strik-
er's drug store. where the gang had
sor6 fefdre: Furness was introduced to
"Pop." and somebody wrote out-a pre-
sription. with the quart Sign promi-
n.ntly displayed. and everybody had a
drink to the health Of the man from
Sistersville.-
Drug store liquor isn't the best that
comes out Of the dIstillery: but you've
got 10 take II or go thirsty. unlcss-but
this isn't an internal revenue inquiry,
so let that pass.
81 understand, Mr.. Jenness." said
Furness. after the pungent preface had
hen accomplished to the satisfaction OF
all. that you are acquainted with the
details OF an extraordinary game Of
poker. in which Dell Withers and
Judge Zoe" K Powell figured"
"Oh, that want nothing" responded
Mr. JenHess. disparagingly.
II have heard that It was very cell
ebrated sitting" said the Englshman.
Won't you tell US about IT."
We'll. don't like to staht Off a
yahu in the presence OF so many SUI
periah story tellahs" hedgcd Pop"
automatically. You get BIZ Parrish
10 tell about the time Eb' Grcason
cleaned out that professional fellow
from Poca' an maybe I'll come In after
that"
Mr.. Parrish. nothing loath, related
Inc circumstances referred to. 1t ap-
pears that Mr.. Greason was by way OF
heing small farmer In Tazewell. lie
raised corn and the other fellows beta
N manner that won for him the re-
spect Of a country where much admIra-
ton attaches to the sklllful manipula-
unS Of the four suited deck.
Mr. Greason was possessed of a pair
OF hands that. as his neighbors were
wont to express It. you could hide q
PIE behind" Darge hands are most
necessary farm adjunct, and indeed
"ete are those who see nothing disad-
Outrageous about such feature when
"eIr owner INDUCES in friendly card
s''Ne. AT all events, It Is matter OF
acofd that there were times when the
poa given gift Of large hands was
made to rebound 10 the pecunlary bet
Nfheht Of Mr.. Grenson--and these
were not occasions when he was engag.
" IN tue Industries "f the field.
a gentleman. by the name OF Luke
~. nFS' mad been engaged in the pursuit
VI pleasure and profit In our adjoining
""f Of Pocahontas, The periods OF the