Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-11-20
3 Gbrillmg stnp.
ADVENTURE In AGAMING HOUSE.


-s. 1t was in the Spring of lS-that found
myself gliding upon the waters Of the nigh
ty Mississippi, and bound for the Crescent
City, New Orleans.
With single exception, I had formed nc
travelling acquaintances on board the boat,
although I had been nearly two days upon
my journey which was becoming somewhat
monetonous. The individual with whom /,
singularly enough, fraternized, seemed, like
myself, to have but little inclination to ex-
tend his acquaintance among the passengers,
though he seemed to be constantly upon the
lookout for some one, and from the close
manner in which he regarded the operations
of two or three individuals, whose profuse
display of vest chains and jewelry, and pro-
fciency with cards at the tables in the saloon,
betrayed their profession, I more than once
set him down as some sort of police detec-
tive in disguise.
He called himself George Thorn, of Ken
tucky; so his card read, which he gave me
in exchange for mine. In truth he was a
noble specimen of the Buckeye State. Full
six feet in height, clear intelligent blue
eye, broad forehead, and light curly hair,
muscular arms, and the chest of Hercules,
he challenged the admiration of more than
one of the passengers, as, with his serious
and never smiling face, he paced the prom
enade deck, or sat apparently buried in
thought in the soloon.
ADO you never play at cards?" said | to
him, as he left group that were standing
about table of four players, and noting the
progress of the game. [ had frequently seen
him invited, but he invariably, like myself,
refused to participate in the game.
"Oh, yes" said he, "but where is the use
of playing here; those fellows (nodding to-
wards the players) can tell every card in the
pack by the backs, and they are trying hard
,topluek some poor pigeon from among the
passengers, butwith indifferent success; be-
ware of them, SIR .s
I thanked him for his friendly warning,
and at the same time expressed my astonish-
ment at his affirmation To convince me of
the truth of it, he called the steward of the
boat, and ordered him to bring him fresh
pack of cards, which were brought, and he
handed the pack to me, bidding me to shuttle
them. I did so, when he Immediately select
ed nearly every ace and king from the pack
without looking>at the face Of them. Next
he dealt them in two parcels, one to me and
one to himself, when, upon examination, 1
found that the cards of real value in the
game were in his hand, and could not de-
tect the least unfairness as he dealt them.
"You see," said he, smilingly, at my look
of astonishment, "the advantage an expert
in these matters has over even skilful play
er."
II do, indeed" replied /, astonished at
my fellow travellers dcxterity, and begin
ming to think he might be reformed gam
bler or ''playing possum" for some purpose
or other; but, as he did not urge Or even in
vite me to play, nor had played with any one
else, and threw the cards aside with an ex-
preston of disgust too natural to be assumed,
came to the conclusion that my auspicions
:. were unjust, and my travelling acquaintance
was riddle yet to be solved.
Early the next morning the boat arrived
at New Orleans, and, amid the hurry and
hustle of debarkation, lost my friend the
Keutuckian, noteven seeing him to bid adieu
That same evening, however, after visiting
the theatre, I was enjoying the cool air and
a fragrant Havana, in the rotunda of the St.
Charles Hotel, and conversing with friend
from the North, whom had fortunately met,
when whom should encounter butmy steam
boat acquaintance?
After the usual greeting, our conversation
turned upon our trip down the river, our fel-
low passengers, &C., when my fellow travel
Ter remarked that if would like to witness
the interior of a gambling house, or shell, +"
as it is sometimes more appropriately called,
he would be pleased to show it to us as one
of the sights Or ''lions" of the city. Never
having witnessed anything of the kind, both
l and my friend asseDted, and after a short
walk, found ourselves within the precincts
of one Of those glittering and gorgeously furn-
ished cstablishments-ves to the in
fernal regions-where men are engaged in
various games of hazard.
The interior Of gambling house has been
too frequently described to need repetition.
The Faro Bank with its crowd of bettcrs,
the Rouge ct Noir table with its anxious
circle, and groups Of players at other games
Of which [ was ignorant of the name, were
all busily engaged as we entered We had
passed through two apartments, and reach
ed third, in which were but four players,
playing in pairs {. different tables As we
entered, we sae down at an unoccupied table
for moment, when, as we did so, we heard
one of the two men nearest US say to his op-
ponent-
''Thats the last dollar; luck is yours, and
I'm cleaned out"
'But you wear good ring" said lis op-
ponent. "Sec! will give you chance
for revenge. I'll back my ring against yours
on the next game. It's a ring I won at play
from Kentucky boy that came to New Or
leans to see the sights" said he carelessly
How little did he know those words, so
lightly spoken, had scaled his DOOM
Ono" said his opponent, rising, I'll meet
you to morrow night. I won't pledge my
;auo1rr vet -