Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-30
THE BROTHERS.
A THRILLING SKETCH.

In 1S49 the principal banking institutions of
the chance kind in San Francisco, were the
bella Union," Verandah," Mine de Or"
"El Dorado" 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 the jingling
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 carelessly sauntering thro'
one of these places. My attention was attrac-
ted towards person who had large piles of
gold before him; the starting eye-balls, the
swollen veins upon his clenched hands, told of
heavy losses mingled exclamations of horror
and contempt would escape him; he seemed
unconscious of all else going on around him :;
his gaze bent upon the cards as if his life's
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 hilt
into his own body, and sank corpse upon the
table. \ few rude jeers followed the act the
body was removed, and the game went on as
though nothing had happened-as though an
other victim had not been added to the page of
the gamblers damning record or another soul
not gone to its final account
| learned this much of his history: He star
ted with large stock of goods, given him by
his father, to sell on commission, and the faith
er's fortune depended upon sure return of the
money so invested but, as usual with Young
men, he indulged in the full liberty of unbridled
license, and while the ship stopped at one of
ha Snnfh A L. I Il
first seeds of play )" but for a while after his
arrival the excitement Of trade and the ener-
gy to accomplish a successful issue, kept his
mind busy. One day, by appointment, he was
to meet mercantile friend at this house, and
while waiting for his friend, he staked a few
dollars on the morning cards. when the latent
disease sprang into life, and it carried him head
long over the prccipice, and ended in the tragic
manner related.
The I" Mine de Orr was a gambling saloon
situated on Washington street, and opposite to
the Ell Dorado" and in lS49 was the princi
pal resort of the disbanded soldiers who had
been engaged III the war with Mexico. Behind
one of the largest monte-banks in the room, sat
a man who had won for himself honorable men
ton, and an officers commission was given him
for his bravery at the storming of Monterey ::
but preferring the climate of California and its
golden prospects to more northern home, he
embarked for that country at the close of the
war with Mexico, and upon his arrival he
opened bank for gambling The emigrants
came in by thousands, and few nights after
his arrival young man entered his 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 dealer of cheating the dealer replied
sharply to the accuSatiOn-the lie passed when
the young man struck the dealer severe blow
in the face ; as quick as thought the sharp re-
port of 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 medi-
cal attendance called in aid of the wounded
man. The gambler sat moodily over his bank,
running the small m,cnte cards through his fin
gers, and perhaps thinking over the deed Just
perpetrated when the wounded man gave q
moan of agony as the doctors probe reached
the bottom of his wound The doctor inquired
what State he was FROM and the wounded man
replied
From Vermont"
The gambler raised his head, for it had been
long time since he had seen a person from
the home of his childhood, and Vermont being
his native State, the mere mention of its
name interested him. The doctor next in
qured the name of the place where his parents
resided, if he had any. The wounded man re-
piled
Montpelier"
The gambler sprang to his feet his limbs
trembled, and his face was as pale as death
for Montpelier was the home of his youth. and
perhaps the wounded man might have been
playmate in childhood perhaps schoolmate-
or know his brothers and sisters He clung
convulsively to the table, and with contending
emotions of rapid thought, and the weight of
the injury he had inflicted he could scarcely
keep on his feet. A stimulant was given the
wounded man and he was momentarly reviv-
ed from the weakness the body is so subject to
after severe wound-when the doctor inquir-
ed if there was any friend in the city he wish
ed sent for.
"Yes," he replied "My wife-she is at the
City Hotel, on the corner of Clay and kerney
streets. Tell Mary to hasten for | am badly
hurt
A man was sent for his wife
Doctor" said the gambler, " save that mans
life and there's my bank and $4,000 in Bur-
goynes-you shall have it ALL"
The doctor felt the pulse of the man, and
probed the wound anew. The gambler watch
ed him with the greatest anxiety until his in
spection was finished, when the doctor shook
his head at its impossibility. The gambler sat
down by the side of the wounded man and
bathed his head with water, and staunched the
flow of blood from the wound until the arrival
of his wife she came accompanied by few
friends, and as heroic woman bears her mis-
fortunes she bears hers Not a word of re-
proach escaped her-words of cheerfulness on
Iy came from her lips as tears coursed down
her cheeks TO her inquiry as to the chances