Liberty advocate., 1839-05-30
- =
MISCELL A n u . u 5.
From The N. o. Picdyune.
FIN ON BOARD A STEAM BOAT.

gcn stronger than that played by our secohC
|. luncipalily on this class of the community in
I, hew Orleans.
Il seems that he had made out TO ''strke W
=, small game'' Of poker with some of the decI
. lands, and that by dint of cheating, putting "
/ the cards, and other tricks known only TO those
\ , . TO and who make a living by "handlng the
4 ,apers," he had transferred nearly all the sur
4 Las revenue from their pockets into his own
lie "cut and shuflled" to all appearance ialr lor
some ,me but was finally caught at some
trick which at once led the honest steamboat
lncn into the secret Of show the thing was
done," and proved that they had lost their mo.
rcy by any other way than the "cIean thing.
The game, as matter oil course, was "0IocN'
rd'' a, once, and demonstration immediately
made that the gambler should fork over his III
gotten gains. This he fatty refused to do
said that he had won the money fair, and that
he was very clear Of parting with what he
had come honestly by. They still persisted,
ard he still refused.
The boat at length stopped to wood when the
men. finding it useless 10 attempt regalnlng
their money by fair means, resorted TO plan
which the gambler undoubtedly thought toul.
Having gained the consent OF the engineer toI
use the engine for short time, they forthwith
nut plan in eXecution-a plan rather border
inc on that code of laws generally known asI
coming under the especial jurisdiction OF JuGgeI
Lynch.
They in the first place made one end of a
rome fast round the neck of the wondering gam
bier, while the other was tied 10 the end Of the
piston rod. allowing him only two or three feet
slack They told him that unless he sheIIed
out their money instanter they would work the
engine, and at the same time that they were
moi responsible for any injuries he might sus-
tain Lotn to give up his gains the fellow cast
one look at the new system of exiortion, cody
calculated his chances and then told them
'ahey might work away and be ID"
No sooner said than done; and the gambler
was immediately seen first chasing the piston c
rod upon aIl-fours and then backing out Of its
way. His eve all the time was as firmly set r
upon the rod as ever that of Herr Cline or Il
Gabriel RaveI was upon the tight rope. After f
me Of his tormentcrS asked him, v
''Donl you think it best 10 hand over?' n
"Don't bother me,'' retorted the gambler. "
"You'l get sick of that fun said another Of Il
he boasmen, as he was following the piston lt
cd up in the attitude o(a bear. II
'Not as you knows on" rejoined the gam O
,ler as he backed out OF It's way. b
In this way they ran upon the poor fellow b
or some time, he still manilesting an unwilling. 81
less to give up his spoiis. BY this time all The II
,abn passengers had heard ofthe fun going on a
below, and went down TO witness it. After Il
cw moments respite the engine was again set
n motion, and the gambler along with IT, The 6
augh from the bystanders was boislerouS and e.
hearty in the extreme as the poor fellow, in. c,
ent upon nothing but his own safety, followed
he piston rod up TO prevent his neck being
erked off, and then backed out Of its way to
avoid being fairly ran over and crushed. We A
;an liken his looks and actions to nothing save II
IN old bear being dragged by a chain up to tc
some point against his will and backing out the 81
moment foot of slack was given him; or else
o savage and hungry bull dog with rope "
ound his neck, fierceIy endeavorlng to get at n
ome prey and then being dragged back the n
moment his mouth was opened to secureit.
"Fire, and fall back,'' was heard from an in a
lividua in the crowd.
"Root hog, or de,'' came from another" S
"Twig him-only look !" says one.
"Here he goes, there he goes" said second,
'Ild ia, HS hCy III III, ho HoI louShS ""N'H- {
n.
Saint he in a pretty fx?" cried still third Y
"Serves him right" saysa fourth.
GOOD enough for him." said fifth, the pis. .
on rod all the while keeping him in full eXer. '
Use, with the perspiration rolling down his
heeks in streams.
"Aint you most ready 10 hand over now?'
laid one of the pucked deck hands
"Don't bother me, say, you'll put me out, t
'etorted the gambler, "lf you do iii lose my
ick"
.sWont you give up the money!" said anoth- ?
n of those he had fleeced. z
'lf do, do; bu, if do, Pm d-d," con-
inued the companion Of the rod. "l'Ye got J.
he hang orthis game--understand the princi- 4
lies Of fthismachinery now, and you may work
ne from one end oflhe Mississippito the 9TH G
n before I'll give up the first red cent--that :
you may"
The gambler was worked iC this way until =,
he boat was ready to start, without Anchng =
r showing any disposition togive up. Consid-
ring that they had got the worth oil their mon. ~
out of him in the shape Of fun, and that he :,
ad worked hard and afforded sufficient nmusc- =
lcnt TO more than compensate for their odd ~
tits and picayunes, the engine was stopped and -
le man Iet loose y
After putting, blowing, and wiping the per. ~
,iraion from his face, the gambler looked at -
s ormenters with a seIi,salsfed air, and ex- J"
aimed, 'You can't come it over this child "'
ith any Of your common games. Pyc stood
.,o ,,I,,cl, ono ,,o ofion N hn hufIp1 off ovap