Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-05-31
HOW DAVE KING LOST HIS LIFE.
He Worked a Costly Trick or a Fiery
French Dealer.

In 1887 Helena, Mont, was over
run by shoal of sure thing gamblers.
The streets were crowded nightly and
every game from the old time shell to
the photograph sale was reaping a rich
harvest" said Col. William F. Cody.
In one gambling house a short faro
game had been started and attracted
great deal Of attention In short faro
the dealer runs out six cards backs I'D
from the box, placing them face down.
ward on the table. When all bets have
been made the dealer pulls from the
box the seventh card and turns it's face
upward. Then ne turns up each of the
SIX cards upon which he had invited
bets. If the dealers card is higher
than the better's card the bank wins.
If the better's card is higher than the
one turned by the dealer, the better
wins.
If, however, there is a tie, I. e., the
dealer turns the same card that the bet
ter had placed his money on, the bank
wins But in such a case the player has
the option of losing his money or he
can have another chance the next hand
round If ne will double his bet. This
process can be continued as long as the
better is willing to double the stakes
oettor is Willingto double his stakes.
Ii he wins he gets paid in full, if he
loses the bank gets all.
1T was while playing at this game
that Dave King lost his life in June,
1887. King had been living in the min
Ing camps at Marysville for couple of
years. He was one of the best gamblers
IN the west. He looked. however. like
typical miner, as wearing a soft gray
nat, blue flannel shirt, trousers tucked
IN his boots, he strolled in where this
snort faro game was being played At
ter watching the game for few min
utes King began to play, placing 81
Dllis rolled into ball on the cards He
won amost every time and always
called for his pay in bills. Soon, how
ever, another player at the opposite end
OF the table had begun to double his
stakes, and the dealer was giving his
attention to the high better. King
olont get excited, but continued to
make an occasional bet, always with a
SI Dill rolled into wad. The dealer in
paying would pick up 81 bill and
pass 1t across to King This had been
gong on for perhaps half an hour, when
the dealer again tossed a soiled 81 bill
10 King in payment, az the dealer
thought, of 81 bet
Come again. said King to the
dealer, Look at that bet
Inc dealer, a slight built, black eyed.
nervous Frenchman, leaned over and
uhrolled Kings bet. As he did so he
saw that he had been tricked. A crisp,
yellow $1,000 note rolled out of the
dirty 81 bill. King had won 81 Dol. The
dealer was white with rage. There
was no limit to the game, and King
mad won fairly. The dealer, instead OF
paying the bet, leaned back in his |
cnalt, reached his hand under the |
table, and sprang forward and over the |
table. In his right hand cleaned a
long stiletto. In an instant he had
buried 1t in Kings neck. pulled it out
and buried it again.
The place was in an uproar in an
instant The visitors broke for the
IGOR, and the cappers and bouncers
pulled their guns and jumped upon
King. He was harmless, however, for
The FTenchman's aim had been true.
He had killed King with the first stab.