The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-26

having won so largely. could not re-
fuse his demands to increase the
stakes. They rolled up. by thousands
and tens of thousands. Potocki was
apparently mad. His face was pale, his
eyes fevered and cleaning, his hands
clinched and his hair disordered. Prince
Braganza and Won Szemere were cool
and collected.
Crowds of noblemen gathered about
the table, looking at the tremendous
play in astonishment. They were hor-
rified at Potocki's losses.
During the game an elderly member
of the Jockey Club entered the card
room, and, hearing what was going on,
took the framed notice prohibiting
gambling from the wall and placed it
on the table before the Russian plung-
er. Potocki, now intensely excited.
sprang to his feet, seized the framed
notice and threw it into the fire. He
then called for several bottles of i'm
pertal tokay at 500 bottle and began
to drink deeply
When Potocki had lost half a million
dollars and the excitement was at its
hight Count Henry Hoyos endeavored
to induce Potocki to leave the table
The Count was rebuffed, and immedi-
,-tely left the room.
The game was conducted in a regu-
lar fashion and has not been ques-
toned. The Emperor censured Prince
Goluchowski because he did not use
his great influence to check the play.
Since the game the Jockey Club has
been closed.
The colossal plunging of Count Po-
tocki at the Vienna gaming table has
never been surpassed in the history
of gambling. Cards and dice have
claimed their victims and their sui
cides since the world was young, but
none of them has ever lost at one sit
ting more than a fractional part OF
the sum frittered away by this young
Russian aristocrat.
Queen Victoria during her lifetime
scolded and threatened and broke
swords and discharged officers in a
prolonged effort to do away with gam
bling. She began with the Prince of
Wales, now King Edward In his
springtime days nothing could restrain
the Prince from a periodical visit to
Baden Baden or Monte Carlo. He was
a plunger, but not of the heavy going
Potocki stripe.
Nevertheless he was always a smart
hand at cards, and something of a
scandal occurred at Baden-B Baden
when his luck, or playing ability, in
conjunction with that of other play
ers, bankrupted petty princeling from
the provinces.
1t is a we'll established fact that
more money is made cheating at bac-
carat than can be won honestly. In
this there is. of course, no imputat ton
that Count Potocki did not lose his
money fairly.
The Duchess of Devonshire is one of
the most reckless plungers at Monte
Carlo. Night after night during the
season she may be seen at the tables
watching the turn of the cards with
feverish eyes.
King Leopold, while not plunger of
the wild Potocki type, wins or loses
probably 10000 year at Baden Baden
or Monte Carlo.
Count de Castellane has worn the
plush off the Monte Carlo tables at
times, but with Indifferent success.
While ne can SNOWFALL the layout" to
best of them, his luck has never been
of the best. Lengthy pocketbooks and
short tempers do not travel the gam
bling road long together.
Charles James Fox, the noted Eng
lish orator. beat the record Temporal
rily when he won and lost again $780,
900 in one night.
Probably the most consistent and ex-
tensive winner at cards ever known
in England or any other country, for
that matter, was Gen. Scott, father
in-law of the Duke of Portland. His
game was whist and he played 1t to
perfection. He never drank, was per-
fectly cool and absolutely without tenn
per when playing During his gam
bling years he is known to have won
81 900 900.
In this country we have had nothing
In the way of gambling that can even
approach the Potocki plunge. Our
men Of great wealth are not afflicted
with the gambling fever. The country
Is yet too young-the leisure class too
small.
The late Charles Woerishoffer in
faro game at one OF the summer re-
sorts, lost ten 81 900 stacks OF chips
almost without winning a bet. He
bought another stack. and while eat
Ing a sandwich and slipping a glass OF
champagne won all he had lost and
81. 900 besides.
In John Morrissey's house. formerly
on West Twenty fourth street. Ben
Wood won Si3b0O0 practically at one
sitting az faro. This was enough
even for Morrlssey. He picked up the
LAYOUT and hurled u TO the other end
Of the room.
old citizens Of Georgia stll remem-
Der the hand upon which Mr.. Jay