The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-03-16
From The Paper Bugs Chips
and Takes a Hand In The Oak SaIeoR- --nal
no Trouble Getting M---OtheP Games Rul-
nlnq---Whaf VIII Officers Do?

r The click of the poker chip, the big
Jackpot, the four-card flush, the bet,
the raise and the bluff in the great
American game of poker are all the go
in Spokane now. There is a great deal
of gambling with little or no fear Of
interruption.
A reporter of The Press, thirsting
for adventure and coin, strolled into
the Oak saloon last evening. The Oak
is situated at 6l2 Riverside avenue,
a couple of doors west of the Exchange
National bank and across the street
from the Hyde block. The city direct
orv gives H. A. Herstman as manager.
The brilliantly lighted room dazed
him. The strange little white, red,
yellow and blue chips on the table in
one of the boxes fascinated him. He
fingered them, asked their price, and
waited.
Soon the banker arrived. He coli
lected the chips, looked under the table
for strays, and then wondered il
the fellows would like to start little
game of poker. They called him
''Phil."
Buying Chips.
By this time eight or nine were
gathered around the green board. They
each bought 81. IS or $40 worth of
chips from the banker. This money he
placed out of sight in his pocket.
Most of the fellows bought according
to their avoirdupois. The little fellows
got along with S. but the heavyweight
of the crowd started out with $40
stacked up in front Cf him.
The man from The Press soon con-
Guided he was up against a bunch OF
sharks. He was not able to buy the
automobile. Visions of square at
Davenport's, new suit, and other
Injuries faded. He looked like dirty
deuce in new deck.
His Money went Past
Merrily went the game. The buck
put into the game to stimulate jack
pots, came to the centre too often for
the poor strayed reporter. 1t cost him
so cents every time, and lot more
sometimes.
The fellows with the big stacks walk
So away Win thS III Shc JAN Pcto
by sticking in S. or IS at once. Once
the reporter was all in. His last chip
was staked on a Jackpot. The little
boy across the table drew three cards.
The reporter drew four. He "bobbed''
to an ace and caught three fves.
Little Willie across the table held ladies
up
His Money Gone.
But the crash soon came and he was
busted. But hardly had the winner
seooped in the chips before another
bystander was crawling over the table
to get into the vacant chair. 1t must
have been the chairs fault. The new
conner lasted about as long as a snow
bill in Chinook His ace high straight
vas crushed by double-ace flush.
Dealer Finds More Chips.
Then the dealer hit the ceiling few.
He placidly dug down into the drawer
and got more chips. The man called
"the Kid playing in bad form and
poorer luck quit when he had exhausted
his credit. .,,
Won twenty-five Dollars.
Then there was only the old guard
left. They played with varying sue
cess. The man known as Little
Willie finally lost all he caroi to and
said that he was going home. Every
one cashed in then. Three of the boys
c. Elected over $25 from their aeiehhrrs.
One broke even, the other fonr just
broke.
Talk around the table indicated that
the oak and the Bodega are the places
where most OF the quiet little games,
have been played. Last Saturday night
over $500 was said to have been on tho
table at the Bodega. But the players
are a little sore on that place now
because the dealer "took down" from
every Jackpot, ostensibly to buy the
drinks, but these latter did not put in
an appearance as often as they should
from the money taken out of the pot.
There were some words and the guard
save II will NOV, forsaEA the Rodoca