Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-05-03
cALIFoRNIA GAMBLING soENEs.


A writer, whose fortunes led him to
San Francisco, in 1852, presents fear
full picture of the scenes enacted at that
period in gambling-hells of the golden
capital. He says that the most corrupt
of the gamblers, and the only ones, in
fact, who could compete with the Span
iards, generally so crafty and cold-blood-
ed in hazard playing, were the Amer
can s'boys;'' that from the splendidly
decorated salon al San Francisco, with
its picturesque 6yyouterie and hundreds
of tables groaning beneath the burden
of gold, to the scanty tent in the further
est mountains. where the serape. thrown
over srickettY box. served as acloth by
night, and as 5 bed and blanket on the
approach Of dawn, they we're every
where to be found ready at any moment
to plunder the poor miner Of his hard
earned savings; and The Spanish cloak
served to cover The money they won, as
well as the six-barreled revolver and
sharp bowie-knife, as weapons of attack
or defence, according as the moment or
the prospect of gain might demand
After a graphic description of one of the
most splendid and largest of the "hells," "
! over whose entrance CLEANED in golden
letters the name Of "El Dorado" the
writer says:
The visitors are suddenly crowding
around table, where high play is ap-
parently going on. Let us go, too, and
see it. A young fellow is standing at
the table, between the keeper of the ia
bic and his confederate; the first of
whom is slowly shuffling pack ofcards.
for the sake of employment, till the play
commences, while the other watches,
with his little piercing, gray eyes, the
cards as they are turned up. The game
itself is strange to US, although the
Spaniards on the other side of the table,
who follow its vicissitudes and the hands
of the dealer with scarcely percepti
bic smile, and without stalking, for the
present, seem to understand it better
than we do. It is monte, Spanish
game, and played with Spanish cards;
and the strange figures on them, the
crossed swords and golden balls, the
horsemen instead OF queen. etc., attract
the strangers eye above aEl, and impart
a much higher and mysterious charm to
she bags of silver and gold boldly staked
uPonfhem.
The young fellow, in whom we feel
an interest from the outset cannot be
more than sixteen years of age. He is
tall and thin. and his features would
have something effeminate about them,
s.-IecFe e not for the cleaning eye and
the firmly compressed lips. His right
hand is supported on the green cloth of
the table, upon the centre of which, piles
of dollars form barrier around heap
of gold, as well as sacks of gold dust,
and three or four largish nuggets and
ingots, more for ornament than use
His left hand is in his pocket, and from
beneath his hat two or three locks of
auburn hair peep out. His stake amoun-
ting perhaps to twenty or iiEe-and-twen-
ty F'eagles," is on the horseman, and
his cleaning eyes are fixed nervously
on the hands of the dealer.
The latter, an American, sits coldly
and camly behind the table, with the
card in his hand ready to turn up, and
casting, at intervals, rapid glance at
the stakes to see that all is in order
The ace and queen, are the uppermost
cards: the young man has won, and a
triumphant smile plays on his lips.
"I'll pay you back now for the other
night, Robertson" he laughed, hoarse-
ly, between his scarce open lips.
al hope so," replies the banker calm
ly, with an unequivocal smile. "You're
in luck, Lowell, and ought to take advan-
tsge of it."
'I leave on the queen, and put this
lot on the three" Here and there a
few stakes are altered or Withdrawn,
and the cards are turned up again.
Both lose!
The young man growls fearful, but
hardly audible oath; but his hand brings
almost involuntary, fresh booty to light
in the shape of a bag of gold dust, which
the banker does not even glance at
The bag might contain about two
pounds, and the Spaniard, standing op-
posite, throws a couple of.ounces on an
other card.
ave do not trust the gentleman's
luck, senor," the banker said smiling
ly, as he held the cards firmly in his
left hand, but kept his eyes sternly fixed
enquiringly on that of the Californian.
"Quien sa5es" he muttered with in
difference; but his card has gained.
The young gambler uttered another
fearful oath, and his hand sought frien-
ziedly in his pockets for more money,
but in vain. "Not there-not there
gone-robbedr' he stammered to him
self; and his eye measures distrustfully
and anxiously those standing around
him. He meets only Indifferent or sar-
castle glances.
"Come, stranger, if you don't play
any longer, make room for some one
else!' said bearded man, dressed in a
dirty blue and torn blouse; ''it seems to
me you've done"
.sI'H stop here as long as like?'
.Come, sir, if you don't play, make
room for another party" said the Sc
cond banker, who sat close to him, 'sour