Poker Against Prayer
By William Daugherty in 1891
In the annals of the American West, where fortunes were made and lost with the turn of a card, and where the promise of gold mingled with the perils of the frontier, tales of chance and circumstance abound. Among these stories, a curious anecdote, penned by William Daugherty for the Reno Evening Gazette in 1891, offers a glimpse into the life of a man whose anxieties were quelled not by prayer, but by the allure of a poker game.
Daugherty begins by setting the scene: It was a time long before Southern California became the bustling hub it is today. Los Angeles, in those days, was a tranquil Mexican town, its character defined by adobe houses, tiled roofs, and the charming senoras in their picturesque costumes. The journey to this peaceful haven was an adventure in itself, often undertaken by steamer from San Francisco, a route favored before the advent of railroads.
It was on one such voyage that Daugherty found himself accompanying a comrade, a man eager to explore new business ventures but burdened by a profound fear of ocean travel. Despite Daugherty’s urgings, the man’s apprehension was so great that he insisted on preparing his will before setting sail, convinced that the perils of the sea would surely claim him.
Daugherty, amused by his friend’s timidity yet admiring his resolve, attempted to lighten the mood with humor. He joked about the man’s fears while marveling at his courage in confronting what he genuinely believed to be his impending doom. The initial leg of their journey to Santa Barbara was uneventful, and they spent the next few days exploring the sights of the old mission town, which was then experiencing a transition from its century-long slumber.
The tranquility of Santa Barbara was a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of San Francisco, and Daugherty and his companion found themselves captivated by the town’s awakening. After four pleasant days, the steamer Orizaba arrived from San Francisco, and they eagerly boarded, only to discover that the ship was crowded. Forced to accept meager accommodations, they roamed the ship, feeling like tramps, homeless yet strangely at home.
As the Orizaba navigated the channel, a thick fog descended, reducing visibility to near zero. The ship’s speed decreased, and the fog whistle emitted its mournful warnings with distressing regularity. Daugherty’s friend, already on edge, grew increasingly alarmed, peppering everyone with questions about their prospects. The night was pitch black, and the heavy swell caused the vessel to plunge violently, as if descending to the ocean floor. With each muffled shriek of the fog whistle, the man’s fear intensified.
Daugherty watched helplessly as his friend’s anxiety spiraled out of control. The man clung to him like a frightened child, inconsolable and beyond reason. Others on board also displayed signs of fear, further fueling his despair. Daugherty attempted to calm his friend with a private flask of spirits, but the mere smell of the contents only worsened his condition. Cigars, too, were met with the same aversion. The man refused to sit or lie down, and he could barely stand without support, clinging to Daugherty as if his life depended on it.
Desperate to alleviate his friend’s suffering, Daugherty stumbled with him into the upper saloon. There, a reckless young drummer was challenging anyone to a game of draw poker. Seizing the opportunity, Daugherty accepted the challenge, hoping to distract his friend from his morbid thoughts.
As the game commenced, Daugherty found himself on a winning streak, raking in the drummer’s coins with each hand. The stack of chips in front of him grew steadily, and his friend, captivated by the unfolding drama, momentarily forgot his fears. The fog whistle faded into the background, and the impending doom seemed to recede into the distance.
However, luck is a fickle mistress, and as the game progressed, the tide began to turn. The drummer’s fortunes improved, and Daugherty’s winnings slowly dwindled. The drummer, emboldened by his comeback, proposed higher stakes, causing Daugherty to hesitate. The game eventually concluded, leaving Daugherty with mixed feelings.
As the excitement of the poker game subsided, Daugherty noticed that the fog had lifted slightly. The fog whistle had ceased its mournful cries, the ship’s engines were working at full speed, and the vessel was steadily gaining momentum. The crisis had passed, and the journey was back on course.
To Daugherty’s astonishment, his friend, who had been consumed by fear just moments before, was now calm and composed. The poker game had served as a temporary distraction, allowing him to forget his anxieties and find a measure of peace. That night, the man slept soundly, his fears seemingly vanquished by the thrill of the game.
In his account, Daugherty wryly concludes that, in this particular instance, poker proved to be more effective than prayer. The story serves as a testament to the power of distraction and the unpredictable ways in which people cope with fear and uncertainty.
William Daugherty’s tale, published in the Reno Evening Gazette on June 27, 1891, offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who traversed the American West, seeking fortune and adventure in a land of both promise and peril. It is a reminder that, even in the face of daunting challenges, the human spirit can find solace and resilience in the most unexpected of places.
About the Author:
William Daugherty was a writer for the Reno Evening Gazette in 1891. The Gazette was first published on October 12, 1876, and continued for the next 107 years. In 1977, it was merged with the Nevada State Journal and continues to exist today as the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Note: The article is not verbatim as spelling errors, minor grammatical changes, and editing have occurred for the ease of the modern reader.
Also See:
- Pioneers on the Nevada Frontier (Reno Evening Gazette)
- Tales of the Overland Stage (Reno Evening Gazette)
- Nevada Mining Tales (Reno Evening Gazette)
- Nevada – The Silver State