The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-02-14
MORE STORIES sOF
"SWEDE" WALLIN
FAMOUS MONTANA GAMBLER
WHO WOULD LAY A BET ON
ANYTHING.
Had a Nerve of Chilled Steel and Al
ways Kept His Word in the Matter
of His Obligations; His New York
Experience.

Here are some more stories of
"Swede Sam" WaIlin, famous early
day Montana gambler, who died at
Warm Springs, recently. Sam,
who had been a familiar figure in
the Butte gambling world for years,
suddenly disappeared. 1t was re-
ported he had gone to Helena. Lat
er came the news that he had been
committed to Warm Springs incur
ably insane and broke. Finally
came the report of his death. A
gambler to the very marrow of his
bones, Dame Fortune smiled on
him for many years, although he
is said to have tempted the tabled
fickleness of the chance Goddess in
every way imaginable.
Sam, according to his intimates,
would bet on anything, at any time,
in any place. If he went to church
which has happened-he would be
willing to bet on the length of the
sermon; If he went to a funeral, on
the length of the services. He would
take the long end or the short end
of almost any bet.
Throughout the record of his mad
wagering he frequently showed a
deep knowledge of human nature and
a close study of the law of frequency
but, with Sam, it can be said the
motto of his life was, "The bets the
just so long as its element
Of chance gave him IAN even break
the other fellow"
Not a Piker
He never rose to the betting level
IF Bet-you-a-million-d
IN the size of his wagers but he sur
passed the Chicago plunger in spirit
when Gates bet his famous mil
ion, he risked only a part of his for
while Sam, when he wagered
$50 1000, "shot his entire bank roll"
ind stood to be a pauper if he lost.
Chilled Steel Nerve
"Swede" Sam sported no loud vests
heckerboard trousers, nor "Gypsy
ewelry." He wore clothing of the
est quality but always conservative
q style and modest in tone. With his
amiliars he could be as gabby as a
ird at mating time. In mixed crowds
e could be as silent rs an Indian.
lis chief claims to remembrance are
is chilled steel nerve as a gambler
nd his answering fidelity to his
ord in the matter of his debts-or {
cts. I
Many stories are now being told !
sgarding him, some true and others
erhaps, adapted. An old %acquaint-
nee of the ~redoubtable "Swede" re- {
ties the following happenings in the
fe of the plunger who was known t
the entire nation for his c
erve and his sometimes phenomenal
Ick.
1t Was Too "Grand" r
Sam went east with Heinze, when
A." took a bunch Of his associ-
es, including Emil Hanson, to New
ork. AS HeinZe's guest he was told
at money was mo consideration"
Id that it was not necessary to
ing any great amount of money
it'll him. But Sam, not to be out
)ne il the occasion arose, took along
wad of $4,000 in currency. In |
ew York his friends were very SOL
itous that Sam shouldn't go out
himself and get picked up by the 7
arks. a
In spite OF their friendly vigilance o
I'M used to steal away with a pocket
II of hundred dollar bills and take b
few pot shots at various games v
lerever he found them. These we're s
It In the select places but a gam S
ing game was a game to Sam
1t was crooked or straight. b
this way he found himself one t,
ght in a "stuss'' parlor-stuss being g
game very much similar to faro. Il
m was duly instructed by ONE cap Il
r who was sent out to bring him in
cause his facility in producing 500 id
Is, spasmodically, In the course of
y game was not scorned even in RI
w York. la
After buying some wine and meet
g the champion crooks of the al
,tropolis, Sam bet a few hundred W