The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-06-04

The cause OF the weak against tile HiiShV.
One illustration by incident will present this
peculiarly in the strongest light, and may, be-
sides, reveal thorough knowledge of the heart
and soul of the man.
On the evening of the fourth of June, 1885,
the steamboat Rob Roy" started from St.
Louis to New Orleans with full crowd of
passengers Immediately after "gettng under
good head-way," to adopts fayorite backwoods
phrase, one person attracted universal attention
by the annoying eagerness with which he en-
deavored to make up party at cards. Indeed,
his oft-repeated and persevering efforts to that
end soon became insulting and undeniable; and
vet his appearance WAS such as to deter the
bravest on board from administering the chas-
tisement which he so richly deserved. He was
huge mass of mighty bone and muscles, with
swarthy features, bearing the impress of many
scar; piercing dark eyes, that seemed to pos
sess the power of blasting the beholder-cold-
cleaning eyes, such as haunt the memory pain.
fully: q rank luxuriance of coal black hair, i'm.
mense whiskers and moustache. This savage.
looking figure was habited in the costlest cloth
ing, and adorned with profusion of jewelry,
willie the outlines of several murderous weap-
ons were plainly distinguishable beneath his
gaudy vest and superfne coat. Nor did he
need these to render him an object of terror.
A connoisseur in the science of belligerent
gymnastics, would have confidently pronounced
him match for any f1ve men on the deck,
without any aid from lead or cold steel.
At length, after many failures, he prevailed
on wealthy young merchant OF Natcsez to
Join him at game of poker. They sat down
beside small table near the bar, and were soon
absorbed in the most perilous of all excite
ments, of which the two aluring ingredients
are the vanity and pride of individual skill, and
uncertainty of general hazard. At first the
stakes were small, and the run OF the cards
seemed wholly in favor of the merchant; but
presently they bet more freely, and gold eagles
and hundred dollar notes were shOwered down
on the board with e1travagant ardor; and then
the current Of fortune changed-ebbed away
from the young merchant and flowed to the
professional gambler in stream like the oceans
tide As usually happens in such cases, his
want of success only piqued and maddened
the loser, and he sought to recover himself by
Yenturing such desperate ventures as could not
but deepen and confirm his ruin. And thus
they continued during that long summer night
The intensity of their excitement became equiv
alent to insanity. Every nerve was strung
every energy of the brain was taxed to the ut
most-their teeth were set hard as those OF an
tagonists in the tug Of mortal strife-the sweat
rolled from their hrows like great drops of rain
The passengers formed circle around the
players, and looked OH with that interest which
such extraordinary concentration Of intellect
and passion never fails to inspire even in bosoms
that shudder at its excess. The merchant and
gambler attracted all eyes, and kept many
awake aud gazing till morning. Among the
latter was one presenting countenance 50 pit
eous that it might have melted hearts of marble
to tears A pale and exquisitel ly beautiful face
peeped necessarily from the half.opcned door
of the ladies's cabin, weeping all the while as
if oppressed by some dreadful sensation Of
inmedica5le SORROW 1t was the merchants
lovely wife weeping her farewell to departing
hope!
There was one spectator also, whose appear.
ance and actions excited almost as much curl
ositv as the players did themselves. He was a
tall, spare man, of about thirty, with hand
some features, golden hair, keen blue eyes Of
preternatural brightness, and his firm, thin lips
wore a perpetual smile-.a mysterious smile of
the strangest, the most inscrutabe meaning
With the exception of his red calico shirt, the
person was dressed wholly in buck:skn, orna-
mented with long swaling tassels, and wild fig
ures wrought out Of variegated beads, after the
fashion of some western Indians. He stood
close beside the card-table, and held in his left
hand a sheet of paper. in his right large pen
Gil, with which ever and anon he dashed off
few words, as if engaged in tracing the prog
ress of the game.
Still the merchant and the gambler persever
ed in their physical and mental toll. The dial
of the stars, with its thousand fingers of golden
fire, pointed to the world shadows of midnight;
but still they did not pause. 1t still was "shuf-
file and cut, and pass ante up, and | call you,
and rake down the pile" Towards the morn
ing tremendous storm arose, The red light.
ming flashed awfully-the hail poured like a
frozen cataract - the great river roarcd till it
riyaIled the loudest thunders Of heaven; and
the very pilot at the wheel was alarmed. But
the mad players heard it not. What was the
tumult of the raging elements to them whose
destiny hung on the turning ola card! And
the smiling blue.eyed stranger in buckskin still
stood beside them with his pencil and paper,
calmly noticing the developments of the game.
I:r H.. .Lo storn, nassnd as tho hpautjfiIl