The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-03-01
FUN ON BOARD A STEAMBOAT.
Playing a Strong ssnme with a PsL
PLAYER.


sc-ibers We rePublish, slightly revamped, ;
story which appeared originally in this paper
some sixteen years ago. and under the sam,
heading. 1t had an extensive run in its dav
and we give it another send-off.
The hero of the story was of a class of
gamblers who followed the river. as far bact
as 1897, as regularly as ary steamboatmen
Whenever seen upon shore any great length
0f time, you might be tolerab!y sure that
race meeting was on hand. or some kind of
gathering where pigeons were numerou.
and pluckabIc. The fellow ordinarily wor.
species OF green cutwav sporting coat. deck
rd with perfect menagerie of bronze but
tons We say men ,gerie. because eact
particular button was decorated with III,
head or tuIl-length Of some teast or bird, AM
the collection was about As numerous As !.
seen in an ordinary caravan. The cuff:
were longer than common, perhaps to enable
the wearer to ''sleeve card" occasionally
while peerne out we're a couple of hands
ornamented with .te usual complement of
long and nimble fingers. whirh we're constant.
ly playing about as though stocking an i'm
agInarv dock Of the .'.locumenfs" Ills hat
set jaunfily upon his head, did not half con-
ceal thick growth of we'll I-grrssed hair. His
eye. OF cold, restless gray, was shaded with
droisical look ing blue lines. giving abundant
evidence OF late hours and lamp light. liz
carried a stiff cane. upon the end of the
crooked handle OF which was an eIaboratcIv
carved head of a iox with pink glass ewes. i
search warrant would have discovered in his
pockets few dollars (miohtv few) of sure
enough goOl money, small roll of Brandon
and other questionable paper to make the
PIKE look respectable. couple of decks or
cards. the backs OF which he knew by heart,
and a set of thimbleS-the tools or stock in
trade ordinarily carried by gentlemen of hi,
particular calling. Such is quite faint pic
turr OF the worthy We are about to Introduce
upon the boiler deck of one of the old-timc
Mississippi steamboats,. He had been driven
from the upper cabin for some low flung
attempt at cheating As it was termed. and at
once set about looking out for victims among
the stecrage passengers, deck hands, ant: fire
men of duty.
II" was not long in making m small
game OF poker. nor wa. he long bv dlnt of
putting up the cards and other tricks known
10 the profession, IN transferring near. all
tie "!'! ,!in"S on the lower deck into his own
pockets. He cut. >hnffied and dealt to al,
appearance fair. and gave extra pokes to the
cards at times to show that he was above
taking any advantage but at length he was
caught in some trirk which al once proved to
The honest steamboat men that they had lost
their money bv foul means.
The game, As Il matter of course. was block
ed a. once. and demonstration was lmmedi-
atelv made that the gambler shon!l refund
or di>SorSe his i'll gotten gains This he fl ,t
" refused to do: hc said that he won the
oney fair aud on the square. and that he
was very clear Of parting with what he had
come honestly by. The Luck Rad been a lit
tlc in his favor--that was all Th.v still
persisted. while he still rrrtinaciously refus-
ed. manlicSiiny. at the same time. not little
Indignation at the idea of being accused Of
unfair play.
The boat at length stopped to wo d, whom
the men. tn,'in. il useless to attempt regain
ing their money by fair means. resortcl to a
game which the gambler undoubtedly thought
foul. Having gained the assent of the rnsin-
ccr. who understood the lark and wished to
help it. to use the engine while the boat was
woolinc, they forthwith proceeded to pu,
their plans in execution.
They in the first place tied one en-! of a
rope around he neck Of :he wondering sarnh-
ler. while the other they made fast to t. end
OF the piston rod, allowing him only two or
three feet slack. They then told the fellow
that unless he >hcllcd out their money, in
>'anter, they should proceed to work the en-
gIne. at the same time quietly informing him
that they were not responsible for anv iniu-
rics he might sustain. 10th 10 give up his
gains, the gambler east searching look at
this orr q lal system of extortion. coollv cal
rulatcd his chances. seemed to make up his
mind that the odds against breaking his neck
were in his favor, aud then told them they
might work away and be hanged"
No sooner said than done the machinery
was put in motion. and the gambler inlne,li-
ately chasing the piston. rod upon alltour>, a
game he understood in more senses than one.
and then backing out Ofits wa:-his eye all
the time as firmly fixed upon the rod as ever
that of Gabriel Ravel was on the tisht-rope.
After working him forward and backward
several times, one of his tormentors put IN
with:
Don't You think You had better dis
gorge
don't bother me-" re.orsed the gambler
"YOull get sick of that game" said anoh-
er bOatman, as the fellow was following the
piston rod up in the attitude ola bear
Not AS Won knows or" rejoined the gam
bier. as he backed out OF its way.
After this fashion they ran upon the poor
fellow tor several minutes, h. still manifested
a stuhOrn unwillingnes. 10 give ur his spoils
By this time all the cabin passengers had
heard of the fun going on below. and went
down to witness it. The laugh was bolster
Gus and hearty in the extreme AS the poor
fellow. intent upon nothing bat his own safe
~, followed the piston rod up to prevent his
neck from heins jrrked of, and then craw-
f>hed out of its way to avoid being run over
and crushed. His LOOKS and actions might
be likened some what 20 those of an old bear,
dragged by chain up to some !oint against
his Will, and backing out the moment foot
of slack was given him; and then again 70 a
savage bull dog with rope ronnd his neck.
fercely endeavoring to get at some prey, and
then undergoing the process Of being drag
ged back the moment his mouth was opened
to receive it,
Fire, and fall back :" was heard from an
individual in the crowd, and in terms any
thing but consolatory.
Root hog or die :" came tauntingly from
another.
"1'wig him-only look w shouted a bye
stander, in apparent ecstacies of delight.
''Hump yourself or you're a goner ~ cried
one.
"Here he goes, there he goes" said an
ofher