Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-06
The Brothers.
G. ". D..

In 80, the principal "banking institutions of
the chance kind" in San Francisco, were the
"Bela Union" ""Verandah," "Mne de Orc, ""EI
Dorado and "Parker House." all situated about
the Plaza, and each employed band of music to
lesson the tedious hours of tlat rainy winter, and
to drown the noise of jingling gold and silver and
the cursing CALCULATIONS of the gamesters. Many
a sad scene has taken place within those saloons
that chilled the blood ofthe beholders, and is re-
membered with horror. | was once carelessly
saunering through one of these places. Ny at
ton was attracted towards person who had large
piles of gold before him; the starting eyeballs the
swollen veins upon his forehead, the cold sweat
upon his face and cenched hands, told heavy los
ses; mingled exclamations oil horror and and con-
tempt would escape HIM, and he seemed unconsci-
GUS of all else going around him; his gaze bent
upon the cards as if his lifes blood was the stake
at issue; and in this case his last dollar was put
within the dealers bank, when, with the frenzy Of
a maniac, he drew long dirk-knife and plunged It
up to the bill. into his own body, and sank CORPSE
upon the table A few rude jeers followed the act;
the body was removed, the game went on as though
nothing had hapPened-as though another victim
had not been added to the psge of the gamblers
damning record! or another soul had not gone to
its final account!
learned this much of his history. He started
with large stock Of goods, given him by his IA
ter, to sell on commission, and the fathers fortune
depended upon a sure return Of the money 80 In
vested; but. as usual with young men, he INDUCED
in the full liberty of unbridled license. and while
/ the ship stopped at one of the South American
ports he engendered the first seed of "play," but
! for while after his arrival the excitement Of
trade and the energy necessary TO accomplish a
successful issue, kept his mind busy One day,
by appointment he was to meet a mercantile
friend at this house, and while waiting for his
! friend, he stsked few dollars Upon the turning
cards, when the latent disease sprang into life,
and it carried him headlong over the precipice,
and ended in the tragic manner related.
The milne de Oro," was gambling saloon
situated ON Washington street, and opposite the
! "El Dorado and in 40 it was the principal re-
sort of the disbanded soldiers of the California
! regiments and also of the soldiers who had been
/ engaged in the war with Mexico. Behind one
of the largest monte banks in the room, sat man
: who had won for himself honorable mention, and
| an officers commission was given him for his
bravery at the storming of Monterey; but, pre-
! ferring the climate of California, and its golden
| prospects to more northern home, he embarked
for that country at the close of the war with Mex
| leo, and upon his arrival he opened bank for
| gambling. The emigrants came by thousands,
| snd few nights after his arrival young man
! entered this saloon, and seated himself at the
| bank, and stsked various sums upon the cards un-
| til he had lost nearly all the money he possessed,
/ Excited with the play, and maddened by his los
ses, he accused the dealer of cheating, the dealer
replied sharply to the accusation-the lie passed
when th9 young man struck the dealer a severe
blow upon mis- face; quick thought the sharp
report of a pistol followed, and the gamblers
clothing was covered with the young mans blood
he had shot him through the right breast.
The room was soon cleared OF the spectators
present, the doors closed, and medical attendance
called in aid of the wounded man. The gambler
sat mocdily over his bank, running the small
monte cards through his fingers, and perhaps
thinking of the deed just perPetrated, when the
wounded man gave a moan Of agony as the doc.
tors probe reached the bottom of his wound
The doctor inquired what State be was from, and
the wounded man replied
sFrom Vermont"
The gambler raised bis head, for it hsd been 6
long time since he had seen person from the
home of his childhood, and Vermont being his ns.
tive State, the mere mention of its name inter
ested him. The doctor mex. inquired the name
of the place where his parents sided. if he bat
any. The wounded man replied