The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1869) is a short story written by author
of the American West Bret Harte. An example of naturalism and local
color of California during the first half of the nineteenth century,
"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" was first published in January 1869 in
the magazine Overland Monthly. It was one of two short stories which
brought the author national attention.The story takes place in a
Californian community known as Poker Flat, near the town of La Porte.
Poker Flat is, in the opinions of many, on a downward slope. The town
has lost thousands of dollars, and has experienced a moral decline. In
an effort to save what is left of the town and reestablish it as a
"virtuous" place, a secret society is created to decide whom to exile
and whom to kill. On November 23rd of 1850, four "immoral" individuals
are exiled from Poker Flat. The first of them is a professional poker
player, John Oakhurst. He is among those sent away because of his
great success in winning from those on the secret committee. On his
way out of town, he is joined by The Duchess, a saloon girl; Mother
Shipton, a madam; and Uncle Billy, the town drunk and a suspected
robber. These four set out for a camp which is a day's journey away,
over a mountain range. Once halfway there, all exiles other than
Oakhurst decide to stop at noon for a rest, against Oakhurst's
wishes.While on their rest, the group is met by a pair of runaway
lovers on their way to Poker Flat to get married. Piney Woods is a
fifteen-year-old girl. Her lover, Tom Simson, known also as "the
Innocent", met Oakhurst before and has great admiration for him, as
Oakhurst won a great deal of money from Tom. Oakhurst returned the
money and pressed upon Tom that the latter should never play poker
again, as he was a terrible player. Nonetheless, Tom is thrilled to
have come upon Oakhurst on this day, and decides that he and Piney
will stay with the group for a while. They do not know that the group
is one of exiles; 'innocent' as they are, they are convinced The
Duchess is an actual duchess, and so on.A decision is made for
everyone to stay the night together. Tom leads the group to a
half-butty cabin he discovered, where they spend the night. In the
middle of the night, Oakhurst wakes up and sees a heavy snowstorm
raging. Looking about, he realizes that he is the only one awake, but
soon discovers someone had awoken before him: Uncle Billy is missing,
with the group's mules and horses stolen. They are all now forced to
wait out the storm with provisions that will likely only last for
another 10 days. After a week in the cabin, Mother Shipton dies,
having secretly and altruistically starved herself for young Piney.
Oakhurst fashions some snowshoes for Simson to go for help, telling
the others he will accompany the young man part of the way to Poker
Flat. The "law of Poker Flat" finally arrives at the cabin, only to
find the dead Duchess and Piney, embracing in a peaceful repose. They
look so peaceful and innocent that the onlookers cannot tell which is
the virgin and which is the madam. The Outcasts of Poker Flat Biography, NetWorth, Height, Age, Weight, Family, Married, Son, Daughter