You Bet Your Life
In 1889, at Bowen's Saloon, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Ike Jackson, one of the wealthiest ranchers in the American West faced off against the legendary gambler Johnny Dougherty. After a few hours of playing no-limit 5-card draw, a crowd of around 100 people had gathered to watch the exciting match with a pot of exceeding $100,000. Among the spectators was L. Bradford Prince, New Mexico's governor.
At one point, Jackson wrote out a deed to his ranch which included over 10,000 head of cattle and added it to the pot. Dougherty responded to Jackson's wager by scribbling a few lines on a piece of paper, rose from his seat, pressed the paper into the governor's hands, drew his Colt pistol & held it close to the governor's head. And then in a deep, raspy voice demanded, "Sign this or I will pull the trigger."
The governor signed immediately and Dougherty returned to his chair at the table and placed the paper in the pot. "I will raise you the territory of New Mexico," Dougherty said defiantly.
Ike Jackson swore from the depths of his soul, then tossed away his cards.
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