Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-06-04
A GAME OF
FREEZE OUT
[Original.1.

1t was IN the Oiden time, when the
steamboats, of the Mississippi were in
their glory. The ladies' cabin was cur
tanned off from the main cabin, which
was chiefly occupied for gambling.
Prairie Queen at Natchez with an old
slave and his wife, intending to take
them to New Orleans to be sold They
expected to be disposed of separately
and were broken hearted at the pros
pect. Seating themselves on coil of
rope on the forecastle they bowed
their heads in their hands and gave
way to convulstve weeping.
By the time afternoon came on most
of the passengers had seen them. and
great deal of sympathy had been eX-
cited. Finally q man approached the
owner and asked him what he expect
ed to get for the couple.
six hundred dollars each.''
"I'll tell you what I'll d." said the
inquirer "I'll make up party to buy
poker chips to the amount you ask for
your man and woman, and We'll play
a game of freeze out for them. the
man who gets all the chips to own the
niggers."
THAT would be agreeable to me.
subj" said the owner. "I'll take my
share of chips. Make up your party"
1t was not hong before four men We're
seated in the cabin to play a game for
two human beings, it being understood
that the winner, other than the present
owner, should not sell them separately
In an hour one of the party was frozen
out and soon after another met the
same fate, leaving the owner of the
slaves, the principal winner. to play
out the game with one man who had
gone into 1t on purely philanthropic
motives.
1t was about this time that clerical
gentleman stepped from his stateroom
and as he passed the gaming table,
seeing u crowd looking on, asked the
cause Of the especial interest. Upon
being informed he pushed his way to
the remaining players and said:
Gentlemen, l am surprised that
you should paay for this old couple
without giving them chance in the
game for their freedom
They dont pay poker" replied the
owneM
Some one might be found to play
for them" pslnsned the clerical man.
VERY Well aaM the owner, 'tf you
want to play nDs them I'll sell you a
hundred of my chtpS.n
Il gamble? I never touched card
in my life. But if any good poker
player can be found to play their stake
will advance SlOO for the chips"
One or two men standing by offered
to do the playing, but after state
ment Of their fitness some one in the
crowd protested.
GIVE me the chips" said the cleric.
ut is the Lord who will decide the
fate Of these his servants, and l. who
know nothing of this game of evil,
Will make 1t a game of good l will
play it myself
The chips We're turned over to him
and the money paid whereupon he
began to play, asking a dozen CUES
lions with every hand, though finally
the game proceeded without any
marked stoppage for information.
Meanwhile nearly every passenger on
the boat was looking on. Then the
clerical man began to have fine run
of luck in the hands he held. He
Numbered so frequently that he did not
win all he might have won, but his
pile grew steadily
Finally the $1,000 represented in
chips, owing to the blind luck Of the
cleric, was pretty nearly divided be-
tween him and the owner of the slaves,
the other mans pile" being reduced
to $3.50. Then came large jack pot
1t was opened. It was the clerics turn
to bet He studied his hand for some
time then laid down his cards and
asked for an explanation Of a Jack pot.
The players somewhat tmpatientiy ex-
planned it to him several times, when
he said that he thought he understood
it. Then he resumed the study Of his
hand and seemed in doubt what to do,
once making a movement to throw 1t
down, which he reconsidered. Taking
jack from his hand he asked one of
his opponents If It were not king. On
being corrected, he showed queen
and asked If It dad not stand next be-
low the jack Corrected again, he
mused for awfnie then put up the re-
quired chips and drew one card. He
had had one Straight and knew what 1t
was. 1t was pttAtn either that he drew
for another OF to two pairs. One Of
the players bet all he had, and when
the betting oonr1nued was frozen out.
The other, the slave owner, had three
sevens and flied with pair of deuces.
He determined 30 end the game by
taking oil the ctertc had, thus retaining
hts slaves and $500 besides.
There was no trouble about drawing
the cleric In. DDery time his opponent
raised him be raised his opponent.
Finally when the chips of both parties
were all in the pot tt was explained to
the cleric that nothing remained to be
done. His opponent threw down his
emil hando