The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-02-15
MORE STORIES OF
"SWEDE" WALLIN
FAMOUS MONTANA GAMBLER
WHO WOULD LAY A BET ON
ANYTHING.
Had 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" Wallin, famous early
day Montana gambler, who died at
Warm Springs, recently. Sam,
who had been familiar figure in
the Butte gambling world for years,
suddenly disappeared. 1t was re-
ported he had gone to Helena. Lat
err 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
fickIeness 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 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
thing" just so long as its element
of chance gave him IAN even break
with the other fellow"
Not a Piker
He never rose to the betting level
of observation-disclosures"
in the size of his wagers but he sur
passed the Chicago plunger in spirit
for, when Gates bet his famous mill
lion, he risked only part of his for
tune while Sam, when he wagered
$4,000, "shot his entire bank rolf
and stood to be pauper if he lost.
Chilled Steel Nerve
"Swede" Sam sported no loud vests
trousers, nor Gypsy
ewelry." He wore clothing of the
pest quality but always conservative
n style and modest in tone. With his
amiliars he could be as gabby as
bird at mating time. In mixed crowds
lie could be as silent as an Indian.
lis chief claims to remembrance are
lis chilled steel nerve as a gambler
md his answering fidelity to his
word in the matter of his debts-or
tets.
Many stories are now being told
egarding him, some true and others
adapted. An old acquaint- |
nee of the redoubtable "Swede" re-
ates the following happenings in the
life of the plunger who was known
throughout the entire nation for his
erve and his sometimes phenomenal |
uck.
1t Was Too "Grand"
Sam went east with Heinze, when
F. A." took a bunch of his associ-
ties, including Emil Hanson, to New
'ork. AS Heinze's guest he was told
nat money was mo consideration"
nd that it was not necessary to
ring any great amount of money
18th him. But Sam, not to be out
one If 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
Y himself and get picked up by the
larks.
In spite of their friendly vigilance
am used to steal away with pocket
Ill of hundred dollar bills and take
few pot shots at various games
herever he found them. These were
ot in the select places but a gam
ing game was a game to Sam
neither it was crooked or straight.
| this way he found himself one /
ght in a "stuss" parlor-stuss being s
game very much similar to faro. ]
I'm was duly instructed by some cap I
II who was sent out to bring him in
,cause his facility in producing 800
lis, spasmodically, in the course of
~ game was not scorned even in I
ew York. /
After buying some wine and meet
g the champion crooks of the q
etropolis, Sam bet few hundred '