Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1889 — BIG HANDS AT CARDS. [ARTICLE]

BIG HANDS AT CARDS.

Some of the Curious Stories Brought Out by Old Players. Cards have peculiar freaks on many occasions, says -the Philadelphia Record, and the story of the remarkable whist hands held at a table in the Hamilton club recently, when each player held a full suit, would seem incredible were it not for the well-known reputation and standing of the four gentlemen. The cards had been thor-} oughly shuffled, but thirteen diamonds, went to the dealer, and each of the , other players held thirteen cards of one stilt. In connection with whist a funny incident happened about a year ago to a well-known gentleman in this city who is a worshipper of Hoyle. He delights in telling hrs friends that on one particular occasion he held the thirteen trumps and yet only took one trick. His opponent to his left led a deuce, his partner played the ace, and, when it came to his turn he promptly trumped. His partner, disgusted at such a play, threw his hand out of the window and ended the game. Roland Reed, the popular actor, is also the hero of many wonderful poker stories. He is fond of telling how on one occasion on a railway train, with four playing, he won several hundred

dollars with four aces against four jacks and a pat flush. On another occasion at Boston, with Charley Reed, Fred Hawley and Allen Dale in the game, there were three pat flushes to sweeten the pot before the Craw, and a quiet individual in the corner, who had staid in out of sheer desperation with a pair of deuces, eventually corraled the wealth by drawing two more. The late John T. Raymond, who was an enthusiast in all games of chance, was playing in a small town in the far west about ten years ago when poker was a craze. He whiled away the afternoon by having a small game of unlimited with a gambler who was noted for his skill and pluck. After playing without incident for hours John suddenly struck four acesand his opponent four kings. After staking all he was worth Raymond excused himself to his friend, rushed across to the bank, and, showing his hand to the cashier, who was also a great poker player, said excitedly, “How much shall I stake?” “Here, take $20,003,” said the cashier (who is doubtless now in Canada). John did so, rushed back, and soon afterward ’divided $15,000 winnings with his friend. After such monster hands as these a return to a lower level will perhaps be refreshing. Bluffing is considered an art in poker, and has won many thou? sands of dollars. In 1861 Cornelius Vanderbilt sat down to a game ol “freeze-out” with a well-known gambler, who had only SBOO. After a few; hands Vanderbilt raised the pot $2,000. “You can not do it, ” said the gambler, nervously, “I only, have $600.” “Well, S6OO I go you,” replied the millionaire. “I see you,’’ said the gambler. Vanderbilt had a pair of duces and his opponent a pair-of trays. And last, but certainly not least, in a well-known gambling house in Twentyseventh street, New York, two hands are nailed up over the mantels. They are the six, seven, eight, nine, and ten of diamonds, and the same in spades. These two hands came together and caused the division of a small fortune between the holders.