Transcript
Lindsey Graham (0:00)
There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad free. Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery app as a member of Noiser plus at noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts@intohristory.com it's sometime in the late 1870s at a carnival in San Antonio, Texas. Jefferson Randolph Smith II or Jeff, a teenage cowhand, moves through the carnival crowds. He's got a month's earning in his pocket, and he's excited to explore some of the sideshows before buying his ticket to the circus. Being a cattleman is dirty and exhausting work, so today he's ready for a diversion. As Jeff approaches the big top, a man energetically calling out to passersby catches his attention. Jeff moves closer to see what the attraction is. A man stands behind a table, swiftly maneuvering three half walnut shells around and around. With a flourish, he lifts one up to reveal a pea underneath. Then he challenges onlookers to track the pea as he puts the shells back into motion. As the man moves the shells around and around, back and forth across the table, he peppers the crowd with jokes and stories. Jeff does his best to ignore the man's chatter and focus instead on the movement of the shell, concealing the pee. When the shells come to a stop, Jeff lays down a wager. He's confident he's chosen correctly, but the man grins and shows Jeff an empty shell. Jeff is shocked, but he's not ready to give up. The man encourages him to try again, so Jeff lays some more of his money on the table. This time he's sure he's going to get it right again. The man places a pea under a walnut shell, then begins the act all over. Jeff tracks the shells carefully as they move this way and that until they stop. Jeff then points to a shell, and once more it's empty. He furrows his brow and gives a suspicious look. The man just shrugs and says, it's a simple game, but one that does require some skill. Jeff is sure he has that skill, so he puts down even more money. Again, the shells begin their dance, and this time Jeff is confident he knows where the pee is. He's wrong again and again, until when Jeff reaches into his pocket a final time and he realizes he spent every dollar he has betting on peas and walnuts. Losing his entire month's wages in this shell game doesn't leave Jeff dejected. Instead, he'll be inspired. He'll see that it's possible to make more money in minutes with a contract than he does in a month on the cattle trail. So soon he'll quit his job and set out on the road to learn the tricks of the shell game and other cons like it. Over the course of his life, Jeff will become better known by his nickname, Soapy. He will earn a reputation as one of the most notorious conmen of the Wild west until his tricks make him one enemy too many and he's shot dead on July 8, 1898. History Daily is sponsored by a Truby Lately you may have been hearing about a serious but rare heart condition called attr Cardiac Amyloidosis or ATTR cm. Because symptoms can be similar to other heart conditions, it may take time to be diagnosed most, but learning more about ATTRCM and a treatment called Atrubi, also called Acharamidis, could be important for you or a loved one. Atrube is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with ATTRCM to reduce death and hospitalization due to heart issues. In one study, people taking a truby saw an impact on their health related quality of life and 50% fewer hospitalizations due to heart issues than people who didn't take a truby, giving you more chances to do what you love with who you love. Tell your doctor if you're pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding and about the medications you take. The most common side effects were mild and included diarrhea and abdominal pain. If you have attrcm, talk to your cardiologist about a Truby or visit attruby.com that's ATT ruby.com to learn more.
