The American patriot., 1855-04-06
sanctuary at the Golden Calf
D. CALIFORNIA GAMBLING SCENES.


gamblers, and the only ones, in fact who could
compete with the Spaniards, generally SO crafty
and cold-blooded in hazard playing, were the
American "boys;" that from the splendidly
decorated salon at San Francisco, with its pic
turesque bjouterie and hundreds of tables
groaning beneath the burdens Of gold, to the
scanty tent in the furthest mountains, where
the scaope, thrown over ricketty box, served
as q cloth by night, and as bed and blanket
on approach Of dawn, they were everywhere
to be found ready At any moment to plunder
the poor miner Of his hard-earned savings; and
that 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 shells, over whose entrance
cleaned in golden letters the name Of "El Do
rado," the writer says: hqa
The visitors are suddenly crowding round a
table where high playing is apparetly going on.
Let US 60, too, and see it. A young fellow is
standing at the table, between the keeper of
the table, and his confederate; the first of
whom is slowly shutting pack Of cards, for
the sake of employment I'll 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 OH the other side of the table, who
follow its vicissltudes and the hands Of the
dealer with scarcely perceptlble smile, and
without stalking for the present, seem to under
hnk<n n sr
Spanish game and played with Spanish cards,
and the strange figures on them, the crossed
swords and golden ball, the horsemen instead
of queens, etc., attract the strangers eye above
all, and impart much higher and mysterious
charm to the bags of silver and gold boldly
staked upon them.
The young fellow, in whom we felt an inter-
est from the outset, cannot be more than six
teen years Of age. He is tall aud thin, and
his features would have something efaminatc
about them, were it not for the cleaning eye,
and the firmly compressed lips. His right
hand is supported on the green cloth Of the ia
BILE, upon the centre of which piles of dollars
form barrier round heap Of gold, az 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
or FIVE ve-and-twenty eagles" is on The horse
man, and his cleaning eyes are fixed ncrvously
on the hands Of the dealer.
The latter, an American, sits coldly and
calmly behind his 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 trium-
phant smile plays on his lips.
"Fll pay you back now for the other night,
Robertson" he laughed, hoarsely, between his
scarce open lips.
~ hope So" replies the banker calmly, with
an equivocal smile. "You're in luck, Lowell,
and ought to take advantage Of it,
"I leave it on the queen, and put this lot on
the three" Here and there few stakes are
altered or withdrawn, and the cards arc turned
up again Both lose!
The young man growls fearful but hardly
audible oath; but his hand brings almost in-
voluntarily fresh booty to light in the shape
OF bag of gold dust, which the banker does
not even glance at The bag might contain
about two pounds, and the Spaniard standing
opposite, throws couple Of ounces on another
card J.
ave do not trust the gentleman's lusk,
senor," the banker said, smilingly, as he held
the cards firmly in his left hand, but kept his
eye sternly fixed inquirngly on that Of the
Californian.
"Queia, sn5e ," he muttered with Indifference;
but his card has gained.
The young gambler uttered another fearful
oath, and his hand sought frenziedly in his
pockets for more money, but in vain. Not
there-not there gone-robbed!" he stam-
trustfully and anxiously, those standing round
him. He meets only indifferent and sarcastic
glances. q t"a
"Come, stranger; if you don't play any
longer, make room for some one else p said a
bearded man, dressed in dirty blue and torn
blouse !; sit seems to me you've done."a
"Tll stop here as long as IlikeW -fy }o +
."Come sir, if you don't play, make room for
another party" said the second banker, who
sat close to him; our table is, besides, quite
crowded"
~ have been robbed" the young man
shouted, casting furious glance on the blouse
"shamefully robbed"
swell, don't look at me, young fellow, in that
way" said the man in the blouse, quietly.
"Tll look at whom please, and any one who
can't stand it may turn away"
"Room therc" the man shouted, turning his
head to those behind and, seizing the young
gambler with giants grasp, he lifted him up
and hurled him back.
"Take care-take care!" shouted several
voices at the same moment; and two or three
hands threw up the arms Of the madman, who,
armed with revolver, and careless of the con-
sequences, was aiming point-blank at the assail-
ants head. Though so quickly seized, the young
scoundrel managed to fire twice before they
could tear the pistol from him, and one bullet
broke the globe of a lamp, while the other went
into the ceiling and brought down shower OF
plaster. 1t was not the only mark of the same
sort mp there
"Thank ye," the miner in the blueshirt qui-