Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-25
A Poker Game
BY REGINALD ID. HAVEN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

When Thomas Morgan OF Kentucky
made up his mind that tho war of 81
was coming on he concluded TO take
his slaves into the heart of tho south.
where he considered that they would
be safer than In border state. They
consisted of man, his wife and two
children, boy and n girl. He had
reached Bowling Green. where he was
obliged to wait for train for Nash.
vile. and was lounging with his hu-
man chattels in the station when n
man stepped up to him and began to
chat with him, ringing In questions
about where he was going aud what
he was going TO do with the negroes.
Having learned the facts, tho stranger
asked II he would like TO sell them.
Morgan said he would prefer that to
the trouble OF taking them south.
The stranger went away. but soon
returned with several men and said:
1--WE don't Ike 10 SEQ the nlggers
going south; we want 'em here These
gentlemen and would like TO buy
| your slaves. but no one of us has
/
were against the principle OF scparat-
ing families. What do you say to
selling us chips to the amount of your
! price for EN-? Then wen play n
game of poker, and the man that even.
| tually gets all the chips has the Mig.
gers"
Morgan, who was anxious 10 turn
his negroes into cash. consented, and
the party adjourned TO hotel near
the station TO carry out the plan.
! Twenty-four hundred dollars was
| agreed upon as the value OF the prop
erty. The owner, much pleased To be
able TO get so high price--for tho
coming struggle had lowered the
market value of negroes-agreed TO
/ take n share of tho chips and enter
the game with the rest. AS they were
! arranging themselves around the Ia
bic gentleman wearing white era
! vat stepped up and demonstrated
against the sin of gambling. When IL
was explained TO him that the object
! OF the party was 10 Keep family OF
negroes from being separated he re-
GREETED that he knew nothing about
! ihc game or. clergyman that he WIS, he
| would take Il share and hand
"Oh. come In said one of the party.
Wen show you how It's done, and
?ou VIII soon get used TO IT,"
MI begged the clergyman to Join
! Item. and finally he agreed that since
lie object of the game was noble one
| here would be no sin In taking n
hare allowing some one else 10 play
is hand. but they wished that he
would DO that himself. and. dragging
h.n down into seat, they put the
ards In his hands.
For awhile the numerous questions
1Skod by the Clergyman about the vol
] ." of the cards or the rules OF the
| same delayed the play.
Nothing but nh occasional case OF
/! blind luck prevented his being frozen
1 )at. Several times when his pile of
chlps was reduced TO minimum he
held the winning hand IN large pot
/ and saved himself. On this account,
while one by me tlic other players
/ dropped out ot he game. The dominic
! Kept his place. Morgan also kept
! respectable pile before him. and when
all but he ana the clergyman had been
| frozen out II began 80 look as if he
! WoGld still own tie negroes and the
/ $3.50 besides. IN case this turned OUT
| go bp I'd Ice could not even be prevented
! irplJ selling them separately.
at all depends upon YOU pnrson,"
! aid one OF the party.
"GCptipucn" said the clergyman.
i protest against the fate OF these
] ..r l.. T..