Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-02-25

Fun ON board of q steams,oat : strong
Came with a Poker Player.
The following which is said TO have occurred
on Western steamboat, was published some
sixteen years ago 10 the ". D. Picayune::
The hero Of she story was Of class Of gamblers
who followed the river. as- far back as 1881. as
regularly as any stsamboatfnen. Whenever seen
upon shore for any great length OF time, you might
be iolersbly sure that meeting was on hand,
or some kind Of gathering where pigeons were
numerous and pluckabe. The fellow ordinarily
wore a species OF green cutaway sporting coat,
decked with perfect mensgerie of b. onze buttons.
We say a menageris because each particular but
ton decorated with the head or foil length OF
some beast bird, and the collection was about IA
numerous as is seen in an ordinary caravan. The
cuffs were larger than common, perhaps 10 enable
the wearer to sleeve q card" occasionally, while
peering out were q couple OF hands, ornatnented
with the usual complement Of long aud nimble fin
gers which were constantly laying about though
stocking imaginary deck OF the documents"
His hat set jauntily upon bis head, did not half
conceal thick growth Of well creased hair. His
eye, Of cold, restless gray, was shaded with drop
sical-lookng blue lines, giving abundant evidence
OF late hours and lamp light. He carried a stiff
cane, upon the end Of the crooked handle OF which
was deliberately carved head oil fox with pink
glass eyes.
A search-warrant would have discovered in his
pockets few dollars (mighty iew) of sure enough
good money, a smart roll Of Brandon and other
, questionable paper to make the pile look respecta-
BILE, couple OF decks of cards. the backs OF which
he knew by heart, and set Of thimbles-ths tools
stock in trade ordinarily carried. by gentlemen OF
his particular calling Such is but a faint picture
OF the worthy we are about to introduce upon the
. hill II. of sba old Inni
steamboats, He had been driven from the upper
cabin for some slow flung" attempt at cheating, as
it was termed, and OF once set about looking out
for victims among the steerage passengers, deck
hands, and hrenen of duty.
He was not long in making up small game Of
poker, nor was he long, by dint of putting up the
cards and other tricks known to the profession, in
transferring nearly all the odd times the lower
deck into his own pockets. He cut, shufied, and
dealt to all appearance fair and gave extra Pokes
to the cards at times TO show that he above
tnking any advantage but at length he caught
in some trick which at once proved to the honest
steambOatmen that they had lost their money BY
foul means
The game, as a matter of course, was blocked at
once and demonst. alton was Immediately made
that the gambler should refund disgorge his ill
gotten gains This be fatty refused to do; he said
that he had won the money fair and on the square,
and that he very clear of parting with what be
had come honestly by. The luck had been a little
in his favor-thst was all. They still PERSISTED
while be still pertnac usy refused manifestiDg,
the same time not little indignation at the idea Of
being accused of unfair play.
The boat at length stopped TO wood, when the
men, finding it useless to attempt regaining their
money by fair means, resorted TO game which the
gambler undoubtedly thought foul. Having gained
the consent of the engineer, who understood the
lark and wished to help it, to the engine while
the boat wooding, they forthwith proceeded to
put their plan in execution
They in the first place tied one end of a rope
around the neck OF the wondering gambler, while
the other they made fast to the end OF the piston
rod, allowing him only two or three feet slack They
then told the fellow that unless he sheed out their
money instauter, they should proceed TO work the
engine at the same time quietly informing him that
they we're responsible for any injuries he might
sustain 10th to give up his gains the gambler
cast searching look at this original system of
tortion coolly calculated 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 id"
No sooner said than done. The machinery was
put in motion, and the gambler was Immediately
chasing the piston rod upon siours, a game he
understood in more senses than one and then backs
ing out of its way; his eye all the time firmly
fixed upon the rod as that Of Gabriel Ravel
and backward several times, one OF his tormentors
put in with
"Don't you think you had better dsgorge"
Don't bother me-" retorted the gambler.
you'll get sick of that game, said another boat
man, the fellow was following the piston.rod up
in the attitude of bear.
mot as you knows on" rejoined the gambler
as he backed out OF its way.
After this fashion they ran upon the poor fellow
for min he onifo a
unwillagness to give up 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
from the crowd was boistsrous and hearty in the
extreme the poor fellow, intent upon nothing
but his own safety, followed the pstonrod up to
prevent his neck from being jerked of, and then
crawfshed out OF its way to avoid being run over
and crushed His looks and actions might be Ii
kened somewhat to those OF an old bear, dragged
by chain up to some point against his will, and
backing out the moment foot OF slack given
him; and then again to q savage bulldog with q
rope round his neck, fercey endeavoring to get at
some prey, and then undergoing the process Of be,
ing dragged back the moment his mouth open
to receive it.
Fire, aud fall back !" was heard from an ind-
vidua in the crowd, and in terms any thing but con
soatOry.
Rot hog or die" came iauntingly from an,
other.
"Twig him-only look I" shouted bystander, in
apparent ecstacies of delight.
Hump yourself or you're a goner !" cried one.
''Here he goes, there he goes" said another.
"Ha, hs, he, he, hi, hi no, no." laughed still
another, unable 10 restrain himself
"Aint he in pretty 6xf" put in a fourth.
''Serves him right" said fifth.
Good enough for him, said q sixth, the piston
rod all the while keeping him in full exercise, with
the perspiration rolling down his cheeks in streams
Not even a side glance did he turn right or left
his eyes all the while firmly fixed upon the
obnoxious machinery before him.
"Ain't you most ready to hand over row? "-
queried one Of the pucked deck hands, thinking he
could not possibly hold out much longer.
Don't bother me-" returned the gambler ''if
you do, I'll lose my lick"
Wont you give up the money!" inquired an
other OF the heeced ones
III do, do; but If | do, Tn id" retorted
the inseparsble companion Of the piston rod. i've
got the hang Of this game understand the princ-
piles Of this machinery now-and you may with
more steam, and work me from one end of the Mis-
sssippi to the other before I'll give up the first red
cent Go aheadl"
In this way the fellow worked without finch.
ing or showing any sign Of giving up, until the boat
was ready to start; when, considering that they
had got the worth Of their money out OF him in the
way Of fun aud that he had afforded more than
sufficient amusement 20 compr nsate for their odd
dimes, the engine was stopped and the mat let
loose.
After Strengthening himself mp, and after putting,
blowing and wping the perspiration from his face,
the gambler looked round upon the crowd with a
seli-sat-6ed air, exclaimng: "You can't come il
over this child with aay OF your common games;
I've stood three pluck TOO often 10 be bIuffed
of, even IL there forty against me- shall go
ashore at the wood pile myself, but hope to you
all ia the fall. And II at any time any Of YOU want
TO get up another small game, and il there's any.
thing to be made by H. you may give me a hand"