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Blair, Jack

Cashier and timekeeper at Tony Cadiz's Golden Nugget Saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory[1] in 1877 (September 21, 1838 – September 1, 1922)[2]

Tony Cadiz trusted Blair with handling the money for the Golden Nugget and, when unable to oversee the operation of the saloon himself, left Blair in charge. Blair was left with the responsibility of running the Golden Nugget in March and April of 1877 while Cadiz left on a talent expedition down the Missouri River.[2]

In May of 1877,[2] Bret Maverick and Dandy Jim Buckley brought Noah Perkins to Deadwood to fight Battling Kreuger at two-to-one odds. Madame Pompey and many of her girls believed in Perkins' chances and raised $10,000 to bet against Cadiz's $20,000. Cadiz wanted to see Pompey's fighter before accepting the bet but Blair, having been seeing Frenchie, one of Pompey's girls, was in on the deal. He convinced Cadiz to take the bet against Pompey's "Mystery Man" sight unseen by telling him he knew Perkins and that he was big, stupid, afraid of his own shadow and unlikely to even show up for the fight. Cadiz took the bet and scheduled the fight for 9:00 the next night. Blair was paid $200 for leading Cadiz astray and left his post as timekeeper the next night immediately after the opening bell.[1]

See: Stampede