The Portland daily press., 1900-01-27
FOUR GREAT HANDS.
Held In a Trenton Poker Game Many
Years Ago.

Good stories are told OF tire poker
games that were played in Trenton away
back In the fifties, and perhaps none 10
better than that which relates how a
wedding was postponed beenss the
bridegroom was interested In a good siz-
ed jackpot.
One OF the hardest players that the
REGULARS" had TO deal with was James
Rawson, who ran q general merchandise
store down IN Cumberland county. He
also was interested In the oyster trade
and, as the saying Is nowadays, he had
money to burn.
In the winter OF 1854 Rawson came to
Trenton 10 help push through the Iegis-
lature bill In which he was interested.
and one evening he got mixed up in a
game OF poker In the United States hotel
with pol Travers, Jerry Holcomb and
Dick Collins. three OF the gamest play
srs that ever drew cards.
The game was innocent enough when IL
started. but along about 3 o'clock the
next morning II had assumed proportions
calculated to make an ordinary player
gasp when the bets were made. Rawson
was the youngest man at the table and
had probably played poker less than any
Of the others. but he had money and
nerve, and the way he used both made
the other players keep their eyes open.
There wasne much difference In the win
nings up TO 2:30 O'Clock. when the cards
suddenly got freakish. as they viii some
times, and began 10 run against Rawson.
! The players wouldn't give up the game
20 eat. and they had their food brought to
them when breakfast time came. They
laid down the cards long enough TO eat.
then wcnt at il again. Rawson's hard
luck kept up. He turned his hat around.
crossed his legs, got up and walked
around his chair, ruDs in a new pack OF
cards and did everything that a supersti-
tlous poker player does to change his
luck, but II wouldn't change. His money
kept drifting away until 10 o'clock in the
forenoon, when he counted his capital
and found that he had $500 left. He had
fed about 81. 300 to the tiger" and natu-
rally fek tri6e cranky.
At last a Jack pot was started about
1880 o'clock. and the cards were dealt
around half q dozen times or more, and
nobody got openers.
Hurry up. boys. and open It." said
Rawson. I've got to catch that III 40
train. I'm going to be married tonight.
and must be In by o'clock and dressed
Tor the occasion"
But the boys didn't seem to be able to
hurry. They dealt and dealt, but the
right kind Of hands wouldn't fall, and
finally there was a snug little pot Of
about 5000 on the table. At 80 Trav-
ers opened the pot for 500. Holcomb
and Collins staid.
81 feel Just as IL was going to win
that pot" snid RawsoD. writing some
figures on q piece OF paper and tossing II
TO the center Of the table with what mon
ey he had left I'm shy $50. boys, but !
guess I'm good for it," j..
"Your check Is as good rs your money"
said Travers.
Every Bit" said Holcomb and Collins.
"But you'll never catch that train" re-
marked Travers.
"By thunder" exclaimed Rnwson, Il
forgot all about tbatp He looked at his
watch and found that he had three min
utes In which to get to the station.
There's no use in trying to make 1t
now," he said. They'll have to postpone
the wedding. I'll telegraph that I've
missed the train" A few minutes later
a messenger was sent to the telegraph Of
fee with q message. and the game went
on.
The pot was 1000 strong when the
men drew cards, and the result was the
most remarkable set Of poker hands that
the old time players In Trenton recall.
Travers was dealing. Holcomb called
for one card. Collins took one. Rawson
took four, and Travers drew one.
Everybody around the table saw that
there was business ahead. Travers made
q bid for raise by betting $25. which
was lifted 500 by Holcomb, and Collins
raised the $500 SO that when 1t came
around to Rawson il cost S42o to come
In. Everybody thought he would throw
down his cards. but he didn't. He slowly
drew a checkbook out Of his pocket and
wrote a check for 81 600 and showed 1t
into the middle Of the table, thus raising
Collins S575. The other players thought
he was bluffing. Trnvers met the raise at
once and added $500 to it. Holcomb saw
that and raised il another $500. Collins
simply saw the raise, and Rawson lifted
it another 81 900.
Travers settled back In his chair and
eyed Rawson narrowly. You've got
pretty good nerve. old man" he said,
"but you can't make me lay down; not on
four card draw anyway" Then he saw
Rawson's 81 900 raise and increased it
$500.
II call you." said Holeomb, showing in
81 800.
Il might as well take chance for
money" said Collins. laying $1,000 on
the pile. Rawson put down another check
for $500
"well, boys, I'm sorry for you," said
Travers. I've got four queens" He
threw them down. d.
THAT beats my four jacks" said Hol-
comb. land my four tens" said Collins.
"but it don't beat my four kings" said
Rawson, spreading out his cards. He
had four kings and an ace.
"Thunderation, what draw" exclaim-
ed Trayers.
Twas pretty good" said Rawson.
raking in the money. ~ got them all in a
bunch. l held up an ace"
Rawson won $4,000. and 81 ,250 OF 1t
came out of the pockets OF the other three
men. 1t was the biggest jackpot ever
won in Trenton.
After the money had been counted and
slowed away in Rawson's inside pocket