Wild Ruckus in Whiskey’s Hollow: A Night of Poker Ends in Chaos
Nashville Frontier Bulletin – April 15, 1795
Wild Ruckus in Whiskey’s Hollow: A Night of Poker Ends in Chaos
Just when the residents of Nashville were starting to enjoy the tenuous peace that has settled over our young town, mayhem erupted at Whiskey’s Hollow, the first and so far only saloon in our community. The incident unfolded last Saturday evening during a high-stakes poker game, causing a considerable disturbance and leaving many questions in its wake.
As reported by multiple eyewitnesses, the tension started when Thomas “Bluffin’ Tom” Thompson accused Samuel “Slammin’ Sam” Jenkins of cheating. Thompson, a local farmer known for his short temper, grew irate when Jenkins, a fur trader, laid down a Royal Flush to win the pot. “I’ve never seen a hand like that, not without some devilish trickery,” Thompson exclaimed before slamming his fists on the table.
It wasn’t long before the two men were on their feet, chairs toppled over, and onlookers stepped back to form a makeshift ring around them. “I thought we were all about to witness a full-fledged duel,” said Betty Clark, a patron who was enjoying a quiet drink when the chaos erupted. “It was both terrifying and enthralling, like watching a carriage careen out of control.”
The brawl escalated rapidly, with both parties throwing punches and grappling like two wild animals. The bar’s owner, Jack “Whiskey Jack” Miller, made several attempts to separate the men, but it took the intervention of Sheriff William “Buck” Harrison and his deputies to restore order. Both Thompson and Jenkins were detained and are now among the first residents to occupy the newly constructed Fort of Justice.
Sheriff Harrison was stern in his remarks about the incident. “We can’t have folks settling their scores like barbarians. This ain’t the wild frontier anymore; this is a community that abides by laws.”
The melee at Whiskey’s Hollow serves as a cautionary tale of what can happen when tempers flare and judgments are clouded by alcohol and greed. As Nashville continues to grow, its residents must decide what sort of community they wish to build—a haven for lawless roughhousing or a civil society underpinned by law and order.
By Caroline E. Hightowerstan, Nashville Frontier Bulletin Staff Writer
