The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
THE BROTHERS.

In lS49 the principal banking institutions
of the chance kind" in San Francisco were
the Belle Union, Verandah, Mine de Orc,
Ell Dorado, and Parker House, all situated
about the Plaza, and each employed band
of music to lessen the tedious hours OF
that rainy winter, and to drown the noise
Of directing gold and silver and the cursing
CALCULATIONS of the gamesters. Many sad
scene has taken place within these saloons
that chilled the blood of the beholders, and
is remembered with horror. was once care
lessly sauntering through one ofthese places.
My attention was attracted toward person
who had large piece of gold before him;
the starting eye-balls, the swoolen veins
upon his forehead, the cold sweat upon his
face, and clenched hands, told of heavy loss
es; mingled exclamations of horror and
contempt would escape him; he seemed un-
CONSCIOUS of all else going on around him;
his gaze bent upon the cards as if his llfe's
blood was the stake at issue; and in this
case his last dollar was put within the deal
er's bank, when, with the frenzy of mani
ac, he drew drk-knife and plunged it up
to the hilt in his own body, and sank a
corpse upon the table. a few rude cheers
followed this act; the body was removed
and the game went on as though nothing
had happend-as though another victim had
not been added to the page 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 father to sell on commission, and
the fathers fortune depended upon a sure
return of the money SO invested; but, as
usual with young men, he INDUCED in the
full liberty of funbrldled license, and while
the ship stopped at one of the South Amer
lean ports he engendered the first seeds
of "play;" but for while after his arrival
the excitement of trade, and the energy
necessary to accomplish successful issue,
kept his mind busy. One day, by appoint
ment, ne was to meet mercantile friend
at this house; and, while waiting on his
friend he staked few dollars upon the
turning cards, when the latent disease sprung
into life, and it carried him headlong over
the precipice, and ended in the tragic man.
ner related ".
s
The Mine de Orc was gambling saloon,
situated on Washington-street, opposite the
Ell Dorado, and in lS49 it was the principal
resort of the disbanded soldiers of the Cali
fornia regiments, and also of the soldiers
who had been engaged in the war with
Mexico. Behind one ofthe largest monte
banks in the room sat man who had won
for himself honorable mention, and an Off
GERS commission was given him for his
bravery at the storming of Monterey; but
preferring the climate of California and its
golden prospects to a more northern home,
ne embarked for that country at the close of
the war with Mexico, and upon his arrival
he opened bank for gambling. The immi-
grants came. in by thousands, and few
nights after his arrival a young man enter
ed this saloon and seated himself at the
bank, and staked various sums upon the
cards until he had lost nearly all the money
he possessed. Excited with the play and
maddened by his losses, he accused the dea-
Ter Of, cheating; the dealer replied sharply
to the accusation-the lie passed, when the |
young man struck the dealer severe blow
upon the face. AS quick as thought the
'harp report of pistol followed, and the
gamblers clothing was covered with the /
'oung mans blood-he had shot him through
he right breast. The room was soon clear
ID OF the spectators present, the door soon
'losed, and medical assistance called in aid
i the wounded man. The gambler sat
noodiiy over his bank, running the small
nonte cards through his fingers, and per-
aps thinking oftAe deed just perpetrated,
vhen the wounded man gave d moan of !
gony as the 'doctor,s probe reached the bot !;
om his wound. The doctor inquired /
That State he was from, the wounded man 4
eplied ssFrum5 5Vermont.''aS sssl u ,S1alh
The gambler raised his head, for it had !
cen a long time sincehe had seen peril I
IN from tho hNma of bia ehfiJkan1 .nJ W. I :.