The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-11
COL. BUMBOTTLE'S
. LUCK IN POKER.
1t Was Great IN F1ushes, but Un-
fortunately for Him 1t Didn't
y Extend to Straights.

"Speakin' O. that there line in the good
book where it says that him that has gifts
an him that haint got nothin' gently loses
the pot said old man Greenhut, Il haint
never knowed O. nobody as furnished
better example o the truth O that sayin
than Col. Bumbottls o Mississippi did
Greenhut lapsed into silence after his
brief remark, and it presently appeared that
he had no thought Of continuing. Joe
Bass stt, therefore, observed, as II incredu-
lous:
.Somehow don't call to mind no Colonel
I'm Mississippi O. the narns O. Bumbottle.
1here were a rouster come down I'm Cairo
or thereabouts last year name O. Bum
bottle; or mebbe twas COL Matthews
you was speakin' Of. He come I'm Mis-
sissippi.'
The old man looked steadily at the Sheriff
for considerable time before answering.
Then he snorted. Then he said. with
great deliberations:
THE things you can't call TO mind, Joe
Bassett about the State o Mississippi
II they was all bundled up an took North
d set all the Yankee States up IN business
f'r hund'd year or more.
I
YOU how well known the Bumbottle family
has been f'r the last eight hundred year in
the State O. Mississippi. But it we're
Bumbottle t first took to breedin' booded
bosses in Mississippi. 1t were Bumbottle
t brung the first game chickens into MIS-
sissippi. 1t were Bumbottle t took Col.
jim Bowie's knife outer his hand an killed
him with it.. An they do say f'r more'n
two hundred year the Bumbottles, father
an son, was the best poker players any
where's up an down the hull Mississippi
Valley"
The old man opened fresh box Of cigars
behind the bar. and, choosing one that
seemed to DO OF superior excellence, he
lighted 1t carefully and walked around to
his favorite seat by the window. Seating
himself with elaboration, he put his feet
carefully on the edge Of the windowsill and
smoked until he had his tobacco thoroughly
we'll alight before speaking.
This here Col. Bumbottle t I were a.
mentionin' were the last o the family.
The Bumbottles was all patriots, an they'd
fit into every war there ever was on Ameri-
can soil. SOS it come to be understood t
they was all Colonies. They was just
naturally DOTu ttidl way Oil IhiS hSiS DoH'7
hottie we're Colonel afore he was weaned
.Ben' Bumbottle, naturally he was
rich. The Bumbottle family owned nigh
about the hull O. two counties on the river
afore the civil war. IN more niggers n they
cd ever count.
90 course, when the niggers was set free
they lost them. but there want nothin'
but floods cd take the land away I'm EN-.
an when all the other Bunbottles died
an left all they had to this one, there was
enough of 1t to make him the richest man
in the State.
THAT was right where that there script raj
maxim come in-'Them that has, gits'-
f'r 1t 'peared like everything he reached for
come right to him. like the coon t wouldn't
wait f'r Davy Crockett TO shoot. An If
he draw'd f'r card to a four flush 1t come
to be understood among them that played
with him t there want no manner O.
doubt about him gittin' 1t.
o. course them that didn't know SO much
about him didn't always reckon on this
little pecoolarity O. his game, and them t
didn't was tol'able sure to suffer. en-
call TO mind AZ when there was some con-
sid'able doin's along O. one man twas a
stranger in vicksburg not understanding
this here gift O. his'n.
"There was five O. the leadin' citizens
O. vicksburg useter play poker most every
night in Pete Slocums back room t was
tendin' bar for, Bumbottle was one OF
'em an there was Judge Starlight an
DIR. Grimshaw an Squire Hosack an
Socum his own self t run the best hotel
in the State them days.
"One night there was a Teller come to
the hotel t 'peared to be considerable out
% tho common, judgin' from bis looks an
ways. Nobody knowed who he was, but
he re registered as T. Slocum I'm New Orleans.
an when he heerd t man named Slocum
owned the hotel he wanted to sec him
first off, afore he'd even eat supper.
when he seen Pete he must ha' made
hisself monstrous solid some way, f'r Pete
couldn't do enough f'r him. Took him to
his own table in the big .dinin' room, gave
him the best room in the house and at night
took him into the back room an sold him Q