The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-17

In the palmy days Of steamboating there
were some palatiaI gambling houses which
were run on houseboats. They piled the
inland streams, stopping for days and
weeks at points where the territory was
promising and good play could be had.
moving on when the territory was cleaned
out and all Of the pigeons plucked.
An interesting story is told by a veteran
river captain Of an incident happening on
floating gambling house that was accus-
toned 10 travel up and down White River,
H. Arkansas, and fleece the opulent
planters and river men 10y methods that
were not at all in keeping with the rules
OF the game, says the Kansas City Star
The incident in question occurred at In
dian Bay, Ark. then prosperous village
At that time Indian Bay was thriving
metropolis, where all Of the river packets
landed to receive and discharge freight
and passengers and where the planters OF
the fertile White River bottom lands
came TO buy their supplies and receive
their mail. it being the only post-ofice in
a large territory.
The hOuscboat. which was fitted I'D in
palatial style with gambling rooms after
the most approved fashion and a bar that
would compare favorably in the masnif-
conco OF It's mahogany fixtures with those
Cf the best city hotels of the same period.
was owned and run by two brothers.
It was IN the days OF freeZe-Out poker,
when stakes were as high as one cared
10 play and where one player could take
the pot without a showdown if he only
had sufficient coin To- lay more upon the
table than his opponents could muster.
The brothers scOrned the customary house
men that gambling places employ. and
participated themselves il an OF the
games that were started. AS rule they
played Il game ostensibly fair, but IL was
whispered about that they were more
Gcft with the cards than was accredited
u them by their victims. for they always
won
With persons Of consequence they were
careful OF their play, and 20 all appear
ances held strictly within the letter Of the
code which gamblers were supposed TO OBJ
serve. But with those of lesser impoT-
lance they were not 50 particular, and
they TesOrted TO any means to part the
unwary from his cash Ii was well
known fact that the game never ran too
high FOR them, and rumor had e that
there was fortune in the big safe of the
private office of the brothers which
opened off the bar.
Arkansas Mans Heavy Play.
There was Ianky Arkansas planter Of
uncertain ancestry who lived near Indian
Bay. and this particular fall he harvested
and sold a large cotton crop, realizing
therefrOm some $4,000, which he, as WAS
then the custom. brought back from New
Orleans. where he marketed his cotton, in
cash. He was one of the regular victims
or the brothers Of the magnificent gam
bling houseboat and had contributed
many dollars before this 20 the pile Of
coins stored away in the big safe.
Suaightway upon his return 20 the bay
he sought out the Iight-irgered gentry OF
the hogseboat and, with "A few neighbor-
ing planters to ill out, started "a big
poker game which waned and WaNed and
grew apaCe through several DAYS and
nights, throughout all of which time the
laHky planter saw his cotton money
dWiudle away in steady stream across
the table 10 the opulent pile Of chips be-
fore the brothers. So steadily did he lose
that his suspicious became aroused and
on the evening of the last day which the
boat was 70 remain at the bay. for the
brothers had announced the time Of their
departure he sat I'm the game fully salts
fed that he was dealing with card sharks
and his mind made up to Secure "a square
deal az any cost
The grand coup of the h0uSeboat broth
crs was TO bide their time until "a victim
had secured AN iuvincible hand doubtless
Of their own fixing, and then after Turing
him on by tantaliziug bets and raises 10
place upon the table every cent he pos
sessed. 10 raise him further, bringing out
a sack fun Of gold from the ineXhaustible
supply of the safe for that purpose 1t
had been a good season for the planters.
excellent crops and high prices for cot
tom giving 20 all ample funds and the
brothers had reaped a rich harvest, At
Indian Bay alone they had cleaned up
something over $4,000 On this last night
Of their stay they expected to gather ~
the small leavings which had thus far
escaped them. TWO big games We're going,
each seven handed, all of the losing plant
ers having nocked in for a last attempt to
recoup their losses.
Watched the Gamblers.
The lanky planter was the heaviest loser
I'm the neighb0rhood, and he had posted
his companions on his suspicious and
cautioned them to watch carefully the
play of the brothers, one Of whom pre-
sided at either table. He had planned
his espionage with exceeding care, and
had given explicit Instructions 10 bis
l-4rflAS 10 WATCH iliF4 anu Say l1PLAiAAt
whatever they might discover, until he
gave an agreed signal.
Steadily the luck ran against him until,
along toward l o'clock I'm the morning, he
picked up a hand containing four aces-as
the game was then played a hand that
could not be beaten He opened the pot
with q good stiff bet. which was promptly
seen 10y the other players, until it came
the turn OF the gambler, who sat at the
.Tr.r
stack of yellow chips, each worth SO.
many inches in height. The planter OF
course, saw the bet and raised FOR all the
money he had before him. All the other
players threw down their cards except
the gambler. who, calling to Il negro
porter and whispering a word IN his ear,
sat in stolid indifference until the porter
returned with a heavy stack Of gold.
stenciled $1,000 This he promptly showed
10 the center Of the table. turning with
snecring smile % the planter and request
ing him TO see the bet or lose the pot.
This was just the play the planter had
anticipated the grand coup which the
brothers had employed with success ut
more than one place along the river. for
such were the rules OF fTceZe-out poker.
The lanky planter reached down into the
pocket OF his coat as If going after a roll
Of money. Instead he gave the precon-
certed signal, and came up with Il six
shooter, cooked and sighted fairly at the
head Of the gambler AS IL but one mind
controlled their movements. all the other
players. except the two brothers, produced
IN a flash long, hungry-looking siX-shoot-
srs.
4 Tense Moment.
Il was tense moment. not soul seem
Ell 10 breathe The lanky planter was the
master of the situation, and he appreciat-