Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-02-11
CATS INSTEAD OF CHIPS.
One of the Most Peculiar Poker Games
Ever Played.

New York Sun-The strangest
poker game ever played in western
New York was fought out two weeks
ago by Pete" Smelling of Hamilton,
better known as the cat hermit" and
"Old Man" Booker of Clarkson, like
wise recluse and something of cat
fancier. The two men live about one
mile apart, with the town line be-
tween them. 1t was in reality town
against town, with cats for chips.
The game grew out of professional
jealousy, as each of the players pre-
tended to be the boss hermit in point
of years, hard luck and the number of
cats. Last August "Old Man"
Booker happened to meet Pete at the
village store, and among other things
declared that when it came to poker he
could make Pat" Sheedy hunt ccver.
! Il am strong on it," he announced.
I'm husky. l haven't played for
years just because know there is no
one hefty enough to make it interest.
! ing"
| IF you dig up my past you'll find
myself, said Pete"
, Dare You meet me, cried the old
man.
J I'm for that What shall we play
for?" asked Pete.
"Old Man" Broker scratched his
rough chin and thought deeply. Then
he had an inspiration.
!
asked.
| Got about fifty, and twenty kit
tens" replied pete"
"All right; let's play for cats" said
Booker.
| So 1t was agreed, and two weeks ago
the game was pulled off Booker col
lected his feline assets and carted
them over to Petes tumble-down farm
house. Pete had his chips meowing
and splitting in an empty room and no
time was lost in bringing out greasy
! deck OF cards, and the game began on
a kitten ante and two:cat limit
On the first hand Pete straddled the
ante for one cat, but his boost began
to eat up Booker's kittens.
I'm not going to lose my edge that
| way" declared Booker. 'Tf you want
to fight cats I've got some thorough
breds in that crate"
A compromise was effected by bring.
/ ing in two big boxes with stout covers,
one fer kittens and one for cats.
Booker refused to play and Pete pull
ed down the stakes.
On Bookers deal it went into a lack
pot and both put up kitten, as
neither had openers.
Change cat for me-" requested
Pete.
Booker pushed two kittens across
the board.
On the next deal Booker opened for
two cats and Pete drew cards and
boosted the sweeting one kitten.
Booker drew to pair of queens and
| caught small pair. Pete split a
pair of jacks and found a straight.
"Oh, I'll bet kitten" said Booker.
See your kitten" said Booker.
See your kitten and raise you two
cats" Pete came back.
Booker called and lost.
Fer the next six hands they simply
snapped kittens back and forth with
out getting any action. Then on a
jack pot Booker opened for one cat,
holding pat club straight, nine high.
Pete discarded queen of hearts and
caught the ten of diamonds, which
gave him diamond straight, ten high.
Then the cats flew into the box fast
and furious.
/ The boxes began to get bit crowd
/ ed and vacant room was used to &C.
/ cumulate the chips Both men left
their cards on the table and stood by
their respective cats. AS each called
his raise he would grab the limit by
the necks and toss them into the pot.
See here, Smell, I'm out of cats, but
I've get show for my stakes, IAN
nounced Booker as he threw in two
kittens and went shy cat.
well, Book, Wen show hands now
or seal up the cards until you can raise
mere cats. It's shame to take your
cats. | wish you'd call me-"
Not by long chalk, Smell. I'll
never lay down on this hand. I'll
die first. Give me ten hours to hustle
in for more cats and then well show
/ up"
| This was agreed tc and inside of six
hours Booker drove up with twenty
cats and six kittens. The limit was
! raised and the whole bunch of furry
| chips were deposited in the fighting
| a nd 1nl
Thus did Smelling win the cat poker
championship CT western New York
and incidentally break old man Booker.
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