The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-04-12
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The death in California q few days
ago Of z. J. C"Lucky') Baldwin. a IA
nous turfmsn and plunger. recalls 10
old CalifOrnisns a poker game in which
Baldwin sat some years ago and dur
ing the course Of which he won d pot
containing 500 900, the largest, il is
said. in the history of the game in the
Golden state Baldwin was q thorough
sport cool. calm and dispassionate. and
as q big poker player ne probably never
had his equal ia this or any other
country.
q The old Palace hotel in san Francis
y, owned for many years by the late
Senator Sharon Of Serah Althea Hill
fame, was the scene CT the most re-
n1arks bic poker games ever played in
that city. and that is saying a great
deal The old California pioneers were
as a rule. inveterate gamblers. and
among the devotees Of the game who
were wont 10 gather in the private card
room Of the Palace at the invitation Of
Senator Sharon were men high I'm the
Ofessions-emineut lawyers. promi-
nent politicians and wealthy men who
forgot the cares OF business in the ex-
element Of the game
Played fer High Stakes.
II was not an .nfrequent spectacle to
see Senator Sharon and Lucky Bald
win stand at the Palace hotel bar and
shake dice by the hour for the drinks,
while a side bet OF anywhere from $1,000
to $4,000. Senator Sharon was what is
known I'm poker language as a hard
loser although he was known TO be
worth al least 1000 900. Baldwin, on
the other hand. smiled biandlv when
he lost small fortunes, and his smile
was no more pronounced when he raked
iE his winnings. which at times reached
enormous figures.
There was a gathering Of the elect at
the Palace hotel one night. Six men
had gathered at Senator Sharon's re-
quest 10 indulge in a quiet game 0f
draw Aside from Sharon and Bald
win, there were wealthy Nevada men
whom we will call Smith and Brown, a
Texas cattleman Of great wealth,
known = Scott. and one Of the most
prominent members Of the san fran
cisco bar. now deceased. whose love for
poker was unbounded. but whose pro-
pensity 10 bluff against Baldwin on
short hands Kept him constantly in a
state Of financial depression. This law
yer. for the purpose Of explaining the
game definitely. viii be known as Mac.
Sharon sat at the head OF the table.
with Baldwin to his right and Mac to
his left. Next 20 Mac sat Scott. then
Smith and Brown Each player bought
chips TO the amount of $4,000, the
whites being 500. the blues $500 and
the reds $1,000. The ante was a white
chip. and every pot was a jackpot i'm ac-
cordance with a rule previously adopt
ed by the players
The play was desUltOry for an hour
OF more. few bets in excess of 81 600 be-
ing made. Mac was caught bluffing
several times by Baldwin. and the other
players were resting upon their oars.
waiting for the cinch hand in which
every poker player has implicit faith.
and which is confidently looked for at
some stage Of the proceeding when the
big pot finally came around he had less
than $1,000 IN his stack Smith and
Brown were a few thousand ahead
while Sharon, Scott and Baldwin
stacked up about even.
It was a characteristic Of Sharon that
whenever he had poor hand he was
EXTREMITY iOvial. while when he sat fac
ing aces up or three OF kind he be-
came as cold and clammy as an oyster.
Baldwin knew this failing. and. like the
true poker player. did not fail to take
advantage Of it. Suddenly when Mac
had dealt and Baldwin found three
kings looking him i'm the eye he smiled
A glance at Sharon assured him that
the senator. too. was well heeled. for
he became icy.
Got a good hand. senator" inquired
Baldwin lightly as ne SKINNED his
own.
Nothing much growled Sharon
with an Impat ent toss Of his gray