The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-14

The game was for blood with no
thought Of forbearance to a beaten foe.
Whatever consideration there might
have been for one another among the
six men who sat in the back room Of
Pierre Ribot's rcadhouse had been laid
aside when they bought chips.
There was local rivalry in the play,
no less than personal. When the Tw,n
Cities were approaching equality in
size, or rather when Minneapolis was
growing up to a dangerous rivalry OF
st. Paul not very many years ago
there was far more bitter feeling than
exhibited afterward. Not only in
legitimate business, out in sporting cir
cleS there was a jealous distrust be-
tween the two communities, and ont
OF his a come a desire tt test q
relative merits Of the best poker play
erS in the two cities.
1t was big Jim Masters who read the
proposal that was finally adopted he
said: There are three or four men in
Minneapolis who believe they play the
strongest game Of poker that's played
anywhere along the Mississippi river
and some of my friends say I'm one of
the three OF four. Anyhow We haven't
any of us any reason to regret having
played occasionally in st. Paul.
READY TO MEET ALL COMERS-
"Now, if there's anybody in st. Pan
that's possessed Of the insane deluslon
that he can play against us, why not
arrange a meeting place and have it
out?"
ScOtty Mcintosh was the man he was
talking to, and Scotty was a man 10
whom the fair name of st. Paul was
very dear. Big Jim's words were gall
and wOrmwood to him, but he smiled as
he retorted hat he saw no reason why
the Minneapolis sports should be dis
cOuraged if they really desired to con-
tribute to the prosperity of the capital
of the state. He didn't play much Of a
game himself, but he thought he was
equal to any man in Minneapolis, and
there were several players in st. Paul
who were as good as or better than he.
Big Jim's rejcInder was that his
partner, Harry Dixon, was probably the
best professional card player on earth
certainly the best in North America,
and that Bud Cooper, who was not A
professional at all, but a lawyer, was
undoubtedly the next best.
1--WE three he declared, will meet
any three men in ST. Paul at any time.
and III guarantee that the bankroll OF
Masters and DiXon1l be in the game.
| can't say what Cooper will have, but
he a always raise a few thousand
MANY EAGER FOR THE HONOR
When Scotty reported the def to mis-
friends in st. Paul, however, there was
great enthusiasm. The trouble was to
select champions from among the can
didateS. ScOtty himself would not be
denied. Bill Harvey, a contractor OF
large means and mistaken nerves., was
agreed upon as The second player, but
for third place there was much conren-
ton until Scotty made a suggestion.
"There'l be two professionals against
u.s." he said, land, although they nave
the name of being white clear through
I'd feel better if We had One profession
al on our side. What's the matter with
Dick Egan?"
Dicks always broke when he's sober
and drunk when he's flush" objected
some one.
True enough" said Scotty, but is
he broke or drunk noW?"
Broke" said the objector.
Good enough exclaimed ScOtty,
Eve will keep the liquor away from
him until the night of the game n
give him nothing until it's over, and 1
reckon there will be five or six thou
sand in his pocket when he sits down
al the table"
RibOt's roadhOuse was chosen as
halfway ground, and the six men met
there the following Saturday night
There was at first some little Objec-
ton among the players when it was
found that there was TO be an audience,
but it was realized hat the affair was
in q certain sense a public one. Ac"
cordingly, something like a score had
seats in a double circle of chairs around
the table. The stipulation was made
that no spectator should comment on
the game in anyway.
NO LIMIT ON THE PLAY.
There was little time wasted in pre-
liminaries. Each man bought a tnOu-
sand dollars in chips to start, whites
being So, reds 81, and blues 500. The
game was to be straight poker, with
no jacks except %naturals, and the ante
one white, calls two. The question OF
limit was not even mentioned. The
only consideration to be expected Was
that a man had always the right to
call for a show for his pile if he de-
clared that he was all in.
The first dea1 fell to Harvey, and
Masters put up the ante, the players
being seated alternately, Scotty, next
to the age promptly came in and Dixon
and Egan followed suit.
Cooper and Harvey both laid down,
and Masters. after carefully looking
over his hand, raised it a red. ScCtty
made good. Dixon laid down and Egan
it two reds.
Masters saw the raise and threw in
a blue chip additional, w~hereupon Scot
ty dropped and Egan made good.
In the draw Masters stood pat and
Egan called for w cards. After LOOK
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