Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-04-30
aNisttllaneous.
p11NIsH1NG A DESPERATE.

After the triumph of the American arms
on the fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma, the victorious force hurried across
the Rio Grande, and occupied the Mexican
town of Matamoras. But, unfortunately,
these were not the only invaders, for march
ing with the valiant soldiery, or following
rapidly in their rear, came another host, of
small merchants, Of desperadoes, or gamblers,
and every variety of reckless adventures,
including swarms of assassins and thieves.
Among the numerous gamblers, were three
brothers by the name of Allen. Their art
and dexterity, backed in each emergency by
the Bowie-knife and revolver, soon rendered
them notorious, and promised, in brief Pc
riod, to break every bank in the vicinity.
At that time there was brilliant saloon
kept open, for public amusement and private
profit, by one Fernando Rosa, wealthy but
avaricious Spaniard. The dealer at the
monte table was his daughter, Maria, young
girl possessed of that beauty which so often
distinguishes the females of her nation, and
Notwithstanding her unfavorable and doubt
full situation as principal in the genteel
gambling house, she bore fair fame for vir-
tue as we'll as intelligence: She detested
the position, and filed it only from the COM
pulsion of parental authority, and presided
over the cards in all the evolutions of tickle
fortune with the utmost honesty of conduct
As might be logically inferred such various
and evident attractions combined to render
the establishment place of general resort
for the elite of the army, and all the most
accomplished connoisseurs of chance; and
to insure the exclusion of the plebian class,
the rule had been fixed that the lowest bet
on the board must amount to hundred dol
lars.
1t was in the month of May, when the
three brothers Allen, having swept the coun-
ters of all the inferior banks in Matamoras,
with their pockets full of gold and heavy
sums in paper, entered the saloon of Fernan-
do Rosa, determined to close it by fair or
foul means The apartment was crowded
with lieutenants, and others who had lost
large sums of money that night.
With thatrude elSowipg impetuosity which
more than anything else, marks the soul of
the thoroughbred rufian, the brothers made
their way to the monte table. Nearly every
body fell back from the board to safe dis
tance, and left the contest alone to the three
fraternal gamblers. Even the dealer turned
pale at their appearance, and her fingers
quivered as she shuffled the painted cards.
There was one stranger, who maintained
his stand without as much as glancing at the
intruders, and continued to play. He was a
tall, rather slender shaped man, some fifty
years of age. His dress was plain black,
and displayed strong contrast with the gay
colors, rich rufaes, and barbaric ornaments
of the Aliens.
The latter at the outset, staked thousand
dollars each on the queen of hearts, and lost,
while the stranger, having deposited like
sum on the ace of spades, proved to be the
winner.
"That trick was foul swindling" exclaim-
ed the eldest. At the same time the two
other brothers used insulting language.
The gaze of the spectators was turned to