Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-25
A Thrilling Scene in Gambling House.


stance is vouched for by Green, the reformed
gambler. The romance, in a manner, re-
lieves il of the horror excited by the catas-
trophe. 1t occurred at New Orleans some
years ago:-- nss ear M 9 oas
A sea captain was in the habit Of frequent
ing a roulette table, kept by Ffenchman, in
company with a party of gamblers. Green
remarks that they played with more regard
TO fairness then, than is customary or gem
eral with them NOW. The captain was evil
IDENTITY influenced in his visits more by wish
to kill time, than from any passion for the
sport. HE had visited the room frequently,
and his invariahle bet was TWENTY-FIVE cents,
and winner or loser, he never increased it,
He visited the place ON the night in ques-
ton.
The sea captain having placed his bet
upon the red, sat with his head leaning upon
his hand, as il 70 await the result of the
game. The ball fell into the column, and he
was the winner. The wheel started again,
but the captain did not move, and, contrary
to usual practice, the amount of his bet was
doubled. He won the second, third, fourth,
and fiilh-the sum doubling each time
Thus il went OH to the eighth time, when
the gamblers began to be excited. aud ut
tering loud curses, exclaimed" He wins
againn' AT this, many who were in the
room grthered around the table. The re-
suit Of the ninth and tenth being the same,
one of them cried out" He is fool why
don't he make sure of what he has wonfn
The eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth brought
the same result, and many eXclaimed-'' He
is madp But the game went on, and the
captain continued needless. The fourteenth
was in his favor. At the fifteenth, thousands
were at stake, from the small beginning of
twenty-five cents, and all eyes seemed fixed
in Amusement. Still he won. The six
teenth was the same. The bankers vocif-
Grated curses upon the wheel-players.-
Others urged the captain to Withdraw at
least part of his winnings. Sixteen thou
sand dollars were at stake. The ball flew
like lightning but there was no change.
The money was piled up before the captain
in heavy bank notes, but he moved not
finger, nor uttered word. At this iuncture,
a husky voice, in seaman's phrase, was
heard" Haul in, old captain You don't
bet all that pile against this set of land pi-
ratesi haul IMP and a hand was stretched
forth from one at the table, grasplng the
money and deposting il in hat Ii was
the first mate of the captains vessel. Hav-
ing thus secured the money, he seized the
captain by the shoulder, saying--'"Come,
you have full cargo, It's time 10 hoist off,
when, horrible 10 relate, The corpse Of tie
captain fell against him. He had been sit
ting with his head upon his hand throughout
this exciting scene; having died while in the
act of betting his first quarter. The mate
called for water, and dashed il into his face;
then for spirits, but all efforts TO resuseitate
him were in vain. Life was extinct
The gamblers then demanded that the
money should be refunded; but the mate
had rolled il up in handkerchief, put il in
the hands of cabin boy, and charged him
TO run with il for his life TO the ship, and
deliver it to the clerk, and summon the crew
to the gambling house. The tumult and
confusion was so great that the boy slipped
away unnoticed.
When the corpse was laid on the plank
the gamblers again demanded the money Of
the mate, stating that as the captain had un-
doubleday died betting the first quarter, JUS
tee required that il should be returned TO
the bankers. The mate, in tone Of def
ance, replied that the orphan children Of the
captain needed the money, and should have
it. Force was then threatened, If he re-
fused 10 deliver il up. Seeing that their
threats were unhceded, they rushed upon
him with violence, seized his hat, and bore
it oil, surprising they had thus secured the
money; but 10 their surprise the hat was
empty. A large number who were present
Of III md q
ment prevailed throughout the house. An
assault was made upon the mate. Some
cried one thing, and some another. "Down
with him!' sect the nIoneYp Let him
aIonep' "You have no right to rob hint"
mingled with oafhs, and irnprecations, and
curses. At this moment twenty or thirty Of
the ships crew rushed 10, and one word from
the mate brought them 10 his rescue, and the
gamblers were made 70 stand al a distance.
Something was said respecting the money,
which led the sailors 10 suppose the mate
had been robbed, and they were about rush
ing upon Monsieur Grampin, as the proper
person TO indemnify him for any loss he
might have sustained; but were diverted by
the entrance of some twenty OF the city
watch, armed with short swords. The sail
ors knew the character Of this posse, made
up Of what is called among them, shaJ
rat Frenchmen," and were no more damted
By their array Of force, than they would have
been by the display Of tin swords in the
hand. Of so many trained monkeys. fra
cas- was, however, prevented between the
sailors and the watch, by the assurance Of
the mate, that the money was safe, and
request from him that they would return 70
the vessel. He proposed 10 take the corpse
on board, but was informed by the Captain
Of the watch, that Coroner's inquest must
be held over il before il could he removed.
He then seated himself b. the corpse Of his
Captain, 10 watch over il during the rest Of
the night; and the gamblers returned to the
common work Of darkness, playing cards
and drinking liquor, meanwhile, now and
then uttenng curses Upon the dead body Of
the Captain.